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New dovetail needs to be bought?

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sander kamp

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I am one of the people who have a dovetail and a bottom plate that don't fit. My dovetail is a machined piece and the bottom plate a cast one. They seem to fit alright but put the camera on a tripod and there is so much play that when I grab the top handle I can move it sideways about one centimeter. It just doesn't feel safe.

Rather than complaining in the forum I emailed RED and asked if I could send it back. I got an answer that RED is aware of the problem and working on a new dovetail. I asked if I could exchange my dovetail for the new one but got an email today that it needs to bought rather than replaced.

I am very disappointed in this policy of RED. I am one of the early believers and am now being punished by having to buy a replacement for accessory that that I bought but doesn't do what is it is supposed to - place the camera firmly on a tripod. And what happened to the one year warranty?
 
If it was just purchased it should be retunable Right?
what does the policy hold? What is the warranty for?

Any piece of gear that doesn't work properly often happens in this business
but customers should not have to pay for that mistake.
The seller should always do what they can to keep customers happy.
That is how business grows and that's what keeps customers coming back.


Lisa
 
CJ Roy said:
I swear my dovetail was rock solid at first, but just recently I started getting play in it. We found that you can kind of bend the baseplate just slightly, by hand, to get it more solid.

Not a permanent solution by any means, maybe a temporary one.
Click to expand...

same phenomenon here. and she just started wobbling on a real set, maybe scared of rude technicians.
A little embarassing, but, yah, someone here said that is supposed be used for shoulder only so some wobblings are ok...

I'm still waiting for my eternally backordered Arri 19 btw, the solution
 
Pay a little more and get accessories of higher quality that last for life.

elementtechnica.com
 
-> What Finner said. The element baseplate and dovetail are solid and industry standard. Highly recommended.

Matt Uhry
www.mattuhry.com
 
Can we purchase element technica products through RED's website? Because I just paid with a check and need to get this nightmare resolved before I kick myself for not doing so. Yes, I'm very excited about receiving my RED but not with all negative feedback on accessories.
 
I know Jarred and I have posted in other threads but I will address again.

First, the DOVETAIL was never designed to be a rock-solid tripod mounting option. That is why we offer the CHEESE PLATE. The DOVETAIL was to be used primarily for handheld work - but does have mounting holes should you want to put it up on sticks, etc.

Second, like we have also said, we have listened to your feedback. While we (RED) thought it was very clear the usage scenarios for the DOVETAIL, you have stated that the expectation is for more solid mounting with the DOVETAIL and without using the CHEESE PLATE. And, like we have said, we are looking into options to meet that end. There are no guarantees other than we are looking at options based on your feedback.

Thanks, BC
 
So Brent, any ET guys, what us the best mount solution for my Sachler V20 head and chroziel 16x9 matte box and rod system? I'm not home to check what rod system I have. Money is no object for structure and support of my soon to be purchased Red. I want to be able to go handheld easily too.
 
Speaking from the RED side, I know a lot of people will have two BOTTOM PLATES - one with CHEESE PLATE and one with DOVETAIL so it is only a matter of changing 4x hex bolts to swap. Usually people us 24" RODS on handheld config and leave 18" RODS on the tripod one. Then just a matter of swapping UNIVERSAL MOUNTS of any mounted gear on bottom RODS. Just a solution we see frequently....

BC
 
Brent@RED said:
I know Jarred and I have posted in other threads but I will address again.

First, the DOVETAIL was never designed to be a rock-solid tripod mounting option. That is why we offer the CHEESE PLATE. The DOVETAIL was to be used primarily for handheld work - but does have mounting holes should you want to put it up on sticks, etc.

Second, like we have also said, we have listened to your feedback. While we (RED) thought it was very clear the usage scenarios for the DOVETAIL, you have stated that the expectation is for more solid mounting with the DOVETAIL and without using the CHEESE PLATE. And, like we have said, we are looking into options to meet that end. There are no guarantees other than we are looking at options based on your feedback.

Thanks, BC
Click to expand...

I may be wrong but I don't remember a message on the forum from before February where it said that the dovetail was never meant for solid mounting on a tripod and that you needed the cheese plate for that. As far as I know it is only after people started complaining that RED started saying that and changed the text on the website.

The dovetail also doesn't seem to be made primary for handheld shooting. It is far too heavy for that and the padding is too small.

When I sent a email to RED I got an answer 'This is something that we are all very aware of, and there is a retrofitted dovetail that will be available very soon, but the solution for now is the cheese plate.' Basically acknowledging that there is a problem and a solution is on its way or you can buy the cheese plate for now.

Anyway, since I am not getting the new dovetail from RED, what is going to happen when I send this one back? Do I get one that at least fits better?
 
The Arri plates do not provide solutions for those with Sachtlers and Vintens and others, if I understand correctly. Is that right?

The base plate and dove tail not originally being meant for a solid mount is definitely a new spin I have not heard before. That fact would have influenced my buying decision.
 
wshultz said:
The Arri plates do not provide solutions for those with Sachtlers and Vintens and others, if I understand correctly. Is that right?

The base plate and dove tail not originally being meant for a solid mount is definitely a new spin I have not heard before. That fact would have influenced my buying decision.
Click to expand...

I think that we all need to wait for an official statement from the guys@red.

I have two "bad" dovetail too. And four "poor-cast" side handles.

But I'm not worried.

I know that they need the time to bring some decisions about that.

At the same time, I'm already happy about their decisions, even if the response will be "nothing to do, this is the piece, no return".

I've reserved two cameras two years before the ALPHA stage.

And I'm really happy today, even with two choppy dovetail and four cast handle.

I want to give to Jim (and to the whole team) all the time and all the respect that they deserve.
 
wshultz said:
The Arri plates do not provide solutions for those with Sachtlers and Vintens and others, if I understand correctly. Is that right?
Click to expand...

Then you must look at the ADT 1220 from E.T. with your Arri base plate
 
Elcurado said:
I think that we all need to wait for an official statement from the guys@red.

I have two "bad" dovetail too. And four "poor-cast" side handles.

But I'm not worried.

I know that they need the time to bring some decisions about that.

At the same time, I'm already happy about their decisions, even if the response will be "nothing to do, this is the piece, no return".

I've reserved two cameras two years before the ALPHA stage.

And I'm really happy today, even with two choppy dovetail and four cast handle.

I want to give to Jim (and to the whole team) all the time and all the respect that they deserve.
Click to expand...


Just to say (again, sorry...) that I'm here, watching (and grading) 4k images on my home MacPro. All the materials are arrived here on a small Lacie portable fw800 drive.

And I have to worry about a slight defect in tolerance in a dovetail? No way.

Just my 2c. Really don't want to bother o make an offense to anyone.
 
wshultz said:
The Arri plates do not provide solutions for those with Sachtlers and Vintens and others, if I understand correctly. Is that right?

The base plate and dove tail not originally being meant for a solid mount is definitely a new spin I have not heard before. That fact would have influenced my buying decision.
Click to expand...

ditto - You mean the base production pack doesn't work for putting the camera on a tripod?

What's the solution for us Sachtler owners?

Does the cheese plate hold the 19mm rod system?
 
Brent@RED said:
Speaking from the RED side, I know a lot of people will have two BOTTOM PLATES - one with CHEESE PLATE and one with DOVETAIL so it is only a matter of changing 4x hex bolts to swap. Usually people us 24" RODS on handheld config and leave 18" RODS on the tripod one. Then just a matter of swapping UNIVERSAL MOUNTS of any mounted gear on bottom RODS. Just a solution we see frequently....

BC
Click to expand...

That is completely unworkable for documentary production. We need to pull the camera off the sticks with a quick release and go. Life doesn't wait for 4 hex bolts and swapping the gear off the rods.

Can the cheeseplate and shoulder mount co-exist:?
 
Brent@RED said:
I know Jarred and I have posted in other threads but I will address again.

First, the DOVETAIL was never designed to be a rock-solid tripod mounting option. That is why we offer the CHEESE PLATE. The DOVETAIL was to be used primarily for handheld work - but does have mounting holes should you want to put it up on sticks, etc.

Second, like we have also said, we have listened to your feedback. While we (RED) thought it was very clear the usage scenarios for the DOVETAIL, you have stated that the expectation is for more solid mounting with the DOVETAIL and without using the CHEESE PLATE. And, like we have said, we are looking into options to meet that end. There are no guarantees other than we are looking at options based on your feedback.

Thanks, BC
Click to expand...

Sorry for my confusion, but with no hands-on, its hard to imagine how your system works. How do the cheeseplate and dovetail attach to the base plate?

Not trying to hound you, I just need to make some purchasing decisions within a few days. I have a production waiting for my soon-to-be-delivered camera.
 
Elcurado said:
Just to say (again, sorry...) that I'm here, watching (and grading) 4k images on my home MacPro. All the materials are arrived here on a small Lacie portable fw800 drive.

And I have to worry about a slight defect in tolerance in a dovetail? No way.

Just my 2c. Really don't want to bother o make an offense to anyone.
Click to expand...

It's all wonderful, no doubt. But have you heard the expression "but for a nail the battle was lost"?

It's no small thing to spend $1200 on a base production pack and then have it rattle on the sticks. My wonderful 4K picture can not be used if it suddenly shifts in mid-pan or tilt.
 
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