I/O Expander advice

[Surinder Singh]

I'm new to the RED Eco system and am trying to put a Scarlet-W package together. I'd like to know whether I should go for the DSMC2 V-LOCK I/O EXPANDER or the DSMC2 BASE EXPANDER and add a DSMC2 V-LOCK BATTERY MODULE.

Looks like the DSMC2 V-LOCK I/O Expander could work out a little cheaper.

And will the DSMC2 V-LOCK I/O EXPANDER support third party V-Lock bricks? It's a little confusing on the RED Store as it seems to suggest that DSMC2 V-LOCK I/O EXPANDER only works with RED Bricks?

Sorry for the Noob questions.

Really looking forward to becoming a RED owner after years of renting lusting

 

[Simran Dewan]

I'm a fan of future proofing and so I'm partial to the Base Expander + Battery Module. If you decide to eventually upgrade to an OMOD or other module that offers certain features you may need, you'll still be able to use your Battery Module.

My $0.02

 

[Surinder Singh]

Thanks for you reply Simran.

Do you know if the DSMC2 V-LOCK I/O EXPANDER will work with third party v-locks like IDX for example?

 

[Simran Dewan]

Yup. I can confirm that IDX, Blueshape and RedBricks work.

 

[Surinder Singh]

Thanks Simran.

 

[Audy Erel]

If you go the $595 V-Lock Battery Module only (without expander), then the $950 Jetpack HDMI is a better and cheaper solution if one day you need external HDMI monitoring output for clients or director screen and you also get a compact lightweight setup with wired power (from the $150 AC adapter or $350 battery clip). We don't have to pay more for feature we rarely or don't use like the HD-SDI that is included in the $1750 Base Expander. Well.. maybe not significantly cheaper, but if you go this way you'll have 2 alternative setups at hand (the super compact battery attached on camera setup and the cabled jetpack setup with HDMI) as opposed to 1 setup only if you go with the Base Expander route, for the same-ish total price

Alternative 1:
DSMC2 V-Lock Battery Module $595.00
DSMC2 Base Expander $1,750.00
TOTAL package: $2,345.00
vs.

Alternative 2:
DSMC2 V-LOCK I/O Expander: $1,900.00
vs.

Alternative 3:
DSMC2 Jetpack Expander HDMI $950.00
DSMC Battery Belt Clip $325.00
TOTAL package: $1,275.00
(or $1,870.00 with the DSMC2 V-Lock Battery Module added)
(and extra $150.00 for the optional AC adapter for cabled studio work).

Hope this helps

 

[Timothy Zelins]

^^^^
This was great analogy.

I am going with the:
DSMC2 Base Expander ($1,750.00)
WoodenCamera Cable-less Gold Mount ($645) ...and yes this can fit on the expander
>>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmeMHryRMaY
Core SWX HyperCore Slim Gold-Mount Battery 14.8V ($259)
______________
=$2,395 obviously the most expensive of the options stated above, but when your spending that amount of money what more is a few-hundred dollars.

I like the Gold Mount even though $50 more than REDs V-Lock Battery Module because you can adjust the battery in different directions so you won't have to deal with interfering with the RED top handle. Plus Gold Mount is more secure and so to say "standard". Either way their are tons of options to go with. You can always go with the V-Lock and just get a 3rd-party top handle that will lean over the battery with breeze.

Good hunting!