Non changeable olpf

[Mark Tipple]

Just realized my Epic Dragon doesn’t have an interchangeable olpf (I bought it used and failed to ask that question), any idea if this can be upgraded/added these days? It has the skin tone / highlight inside and no other options in the menu, and the physical olpf won’t budge. I’m assuming ‘it is what it is’ since end of life/2021 etc, but here’s hoping?

 

[Phil Holland]

Your DSMC1 Epic Dragon has a fixed STH OLPF? There's no 4 small bolts holding it in?

DSMC2 moved to a different easier mechanism.

I don't recall any OG Epic having "fixed" OLPF. Stock OLPF at the time was the LLO. STH came later.

 

[Joshua Wilson]

Just realized my Epic Dragon doesn’t have an interchangeable olpf (I bought it used and failed to ask that question), any idea if this can be upgraded/added these days? It has the skin tone / highlight inside and no other options in the menu, and the physical olpf won’t budge. I’m assuming ‘it is what it is’ since end of life/2021 etc, but here’s hoping?

Dragons do not have a Fixed OLPF. I've recently seen this problem and have been working trying to figure out why that's happening. It can be repaired via a board replacement.

 

[Alex Lubensky]

I can assume it's the novel "M" version ) M versions tend to have some weird stuff - bad design OLPF's that where replaced by Red on request, fans and boards replaced etc etc etc

In 2021 I'd say - stay away from M versions on the used market, they might come with some wild things that MX or production Dragons don't have.

 

[Joshua Wilson]

I can assume it's the novel "M" version ) M versions tend to have some weird stuff - bad design OLPF's that where replaced by Red on request, fans and boards replaced etc etc etc

In 2021 I'd say - stay away from M versions on the used market, they might come with some wild things that MX or production Dragons don't have.

I've seen this happen in both M and X versions. It something with how the boards are accepting the firmware load.

 

[Phil Holland]

I've seen this happen in both M and X versions. It something with how the boards are accepting the firmware load.

You can enter which OLPF you have on DSMC1. DSMC2 brought the registration pin system that didn't require any of this.

 

[Mike P.]

I can confirm that some original Dragons with fixed OLPF had STH. During pre-interchangeable OLPF, when they were toying with different versions (the *original* original LLO and what would become the STH) you got to choose when you ordered, but it was still fixed (actually have a long email chain with bomb squad to figure it out).

Installing the interchangeable OLPF system does *not* need a board replacement, but it does need a custom firmware/flash file that uses the camera’s ID/serial number (if you use a different cameraID, I think it’ll brick your camera), and you need to remove the gasket. There is a how-to video on RED’s Vimeo page and a PDF (even though they stopped supplying the gasket removal tool).

Best bet is to contact BS and ask if you can get the camera specific firmware… presuming you’re willing to remove the gasket yourself. I know it feels like the fixed OLPF won’t budge, but that’s because the gasket is actually glued to the fixed OLPF which holds it in place. You literally pry/rip the OLPF off the fixed gasket when upgrading to the interchangeable OLPF system (and the new gasket is on each of the interchangeable OLPFs, no longer on the camera side.)

 

[Joshua Wilson]

I can confirm that some original Dragons with fixed OLPF had STH. During pre-interchangeable OLPF, when they were toying with different versions (the *original* original LLO and what would become the STH) you got to choose when you ordered, but it was still fixed (actually have a long email chain with bomb squad to figure it out).

Installing the interchangeable OLPF system does *not* need a board replacement, but it does need a custom firmware/flash file that uses the camera’s ID/serial number (if you use a different cameraID, I think it’ll brick your camera), and you need to remove the gasket. There is a how-to video on RED’s Vimeo page and a PDF (even though they stopped supplying the gasket removal tool).

Best bet is to contact BS and ask if you can get the camera specific firmware… presuming you’re willing to remove the gasket yourself. I know it feels like the fixed OLPF won’t budge, but that’s because the gasket is actually glued to the fixed OLPF which holds it in place. You literally pry/rip the OLPF off the fixed gasket when upgrading to the interchangeable OLPF system (and the new gasket is on each of the interchangeable OLPFs, no longer on the camera side.)

I'll have to check More into this because if it just needs a different software load that would help me tremendously. I have quite a few boards with this problem and have found (until now) now other way to get the full OLPF menu back beside changing the board to one the has the full menu.

 

[Joshua Wilson]

You can enter which OLPF you have on DSMC1. DSMC2 brought the registration pin system that didn't require any of this.

I know about changing the olpf but it literally does have the option beside skin tone. Trust me I tried for a week trying to figure it out.

 

[Mike P.]

When I’m back on my computer, I should still have links to everything… the installation PDF says ‘send your Camera ID number to RED at olpf@red.com and you’ll get the custom interchangeable OLPF flash file [only use your ID custom file; don’t use another camera’s file as it’ll break it.]’ (paraphrasing, of course).

And yes, it’s the custom flash file that puts in the different OLPF options in the drop-down menu. The worst thing is, without installing that you aren’t even able to change the OLPF override decode in RCX after capture (so even if you did the physical mod to use different OLPFs, colours couldn’t be forced to decode properly later.)

I still have the gasket removal tool. It basically looks like a metal hearing aid, that sits in the OLPF cavity and has a little clamp on the bottom that grips the fixed gasket, allowing you to stretch it and cut it close to the sensor cavity wall.

 

[Mark Tipple]

Thanks for the info all, and Mike it sounds like I'm in the position you were in. I've played around with removing the four screws and pulling/stretching the gasket to see if it would give way but didn't go too far as I don't know what I'm doing.

If I'm reading you right - it's just a physical cut of the old gasket as close to the sensor as possible and loading the serial number specific firmware?

If you have the pdf would you mind emailing to mark@marktipple.com?

 

[Mike P.]

Copy; sending pdf.

I can't find the link to the original video. Even though it makes the process look much easier than it is, it's good to see as it fills in the gaps that aren't quite clear in the pdf's pics.

In any case, you have to get the preset install file, otherwise you're SOL (the email address is actually dragonupgrade@red.com... if it pings back with a delivery failure, just use your BSrep; that's what I did... Granted it was a couple years ago... Like literally right before the deadline for DSMC1 Dragon support which was Dec. 8th 2019). Hopefully it works out, as judging by your profile icon the H2O OLPF would be a benefit to you (if you can find one).

 

[Mark Tipple]

Update - all good. Huge thanks to Mike for the guidance, we talked a bit through email so I'll relay everything here for future.

This YouTube link shows what needs to be done physically, basically trimming away the remaining rubber gasket once the existing olpf has been removed. My olpf came unstuck with a bit of force, leaving the gasket behind. I simply used some tweezers and a blade, took a few grabs to get it to come out smoothly. [url]https://youtu.be/MqYV2kbBdtI[/URL]

Next is the firmware / preset I had to chase through Red Support - support@red.com - olpf@red and dragon@red bounced back, but Gary helped me join the dots (thanks mate!)

I chased the firmware / preset first and make sure it installs correctly before cutting out the gasket.

Gary needed the pin (on the bottom of the camera body, mine is 6 numbers followed by 3 letters), and made a custom preset that basically adds the other olpf options to the menu > settings > maintenance > olpf. Previously mine only showed Skin Tone Highlight, wheras it now shows all available olpf's.

The preset instal is detailed in this pdf (links to my personal dropbox) https://www.dropbox.com/s/zsxs1rufh...eable OLPF Installation Instructions.pdf?dl=0

This took only about 10 seconds, and from what I can see is all working fine and with the Low Light Optimised olpf installed and selected in the menu the color profile switches accordingly.

I might be the last to query this update for a camera from 2013, but it is possible, thanks all for the help!

Mark.