Ideal temperature ? 35C? 40C? 42C?

[Timur Civan]

Ironing out the Epic-W.

I've heard a few different things from different people.

Whats the optimal temprature? I know the dragon liked to run hot, but what does the Helium like?

 

[Aaron Lochert]

I believe mine is currently black shaded for 43C or 44C. I live in AZ so the stock 36C was an impossible target to even hit.

 

[Timur Civan]

thank youI figure i'll split the middle. 38ish.

 

[John Brennick]

Ironing out the Epic-W.

I've heard a few different things from different people.

Whats the optimal temprature? I know the dragon liked to run hot, but what does the Helium like?

Hey Timur,

I live in LA and I changed my weapon helium to 43 from the default and personally noticed quite a difference with the blackshade. But that's just my own experience.

 

[Stuart Graham]

I tested them all up to 46 & 44 was the best by far.
Auto has the edge over manual but it's slight if you're pushed for time.

I've also maintained 44 in -18 & 52 conditions, it's an effort but all possible.

Stu.

 

[Jan Reichle]

I also have it parked at 44 degree calibration.

 

[Timur Civan]

So why would REDS default setting be 36? Thats how it came out of the box?

44 seems high... Though the dragon ran best at 45.

Does it change the noise signature? cleaner? running cooler or warmer?

 

[Samir Patel]

Think mine is set at 41. Will power up tomorrow to confirm. I think in the 30s the fans would be crazy loud anyway.

 

[Audy Erel]

Is there any test out there that shows the noise or image differences between all the temperature calibrations? I keep hearing that Dragon love the heat..

 

[Stuart Graham]

So why would REDS default setting be 36? Thats how it came out of the box?

44 seems high... Though the dragon ran best at 45.

Does it change the noise signature? cleaner? running cooler or warmer?

I sent my results to RED EUROPE & they confirmed 44 was the sweet spot.
Way lower noise yes.
Cleaner, yes.
"Cooler/Warmer" as in colour temp K? If so: I've not noticed or test it with a 44 vs 39 comparison so that's a confident, no.

S

 

[Robert Berger]

Ironing out the Epic-W.

I've heard a few different things from different people.

Whats the optimal temprature? I know the dragon liked to run hot, but what does the Helium like?

mine is on 44 and is good for long takes and if it is very cold outside, somtimes with carshoots and the camera is outside, i close with some tape partly the top fans, to keep it on temperture.

 

[Samir Patel]

confirmed mine was on 40

 

[Timur Civan]

I sent my results to RED EUROPE & they confirmed 44 was the sweet spot.
Way lower noise yes.
Cleaner, yes.
"Cooler/Warmer" as in colour temp K? If so: I've not noticed or test it with a 44 vs 39 comparison so that's a confident, no.

S

I meant does the physical temprature of 36C vs 44C give you better performance. Well shit. Now i need to recalibrate. 44 it is.

 

[Les Hillis]

I just did a quick Helium sensor test using three calibrations, 39°C/43°C/48°C, while over and under exposing from f/2.8 to f/16 the same subject under the same lighting and using the same shutter speed.

There actually is a visible difference between the calibrations, most noticeable when underexposed and introducing noise, with the 43°C calibration looking better overall in terms of colour and noise.

I wasn't expecting that result.

Don't have the time or inclination to do more thorough testing, but will be using the 43°C calibration from now on.

 

[Stuart Graham]

I just did a quick Helium sensor test using three calibrations, 39°C/43°C/48°C, while over and under exposing from f/2.8 to f/16 the same subject under the same lighting and using the same shutter speed.

There actually is a visible difference between the calibrations, most noticeable when underexposed and introducing noise, with the 43°C calibration looking better overall in terms of colour and noise.

I wasn't expecting that result.

Don't have the time or inclination to do more thorough testing, but will be using the 43°C calibration from now on.

That's great news, I'm not splitting hairs here but the difference between 43 & 44 is worth it. 44 rocks!
As you tested it's in the underexposed areas where you see the BIG difference.

Thanks for sharing, Stu '44 all the way'

 

[Les Hillis]

No worries Stu. I'll do another comparison including 44°C as well.

 

[Patrick Tresch]

I shoot 46 (on Dragon) to have lower fan noise... If you could put it also in your test? ;-)
I suppose you do the black shade for every selected temp?

 

[Les Hillis]

Just had a look at 43°C/44°C/45°C, going two stops over and three stops under, with ISO800 looking like the proper exposure.

Manual black-shading for each temp, and making sure the temps stay on the numbers when I record.

Again, there are differences between all three temps.

From these and the earlier results, I myself prefer the look of the 43°C calibration.

Too many untested variables here to say anything definitive about it though.

Don't make any shooting decisions based on these results alone.



Edit - Removed pics and descriptions to avoid potentially misleading info. The results were valid, but only in and of themselves and as far as that particular test went.

 

[Phil Holland]

I mainly run at 43 for the curious.

 

[rand thompson]

Thanks for the extensively detailed Tests Les!!