PLEASE HELP!!!! EVF big problem!!!

[huascar]

Hi everybody!
I'm in the middle of the productions of a commercial and I have a big problem with my RED EVF. We are shooting during the day, exteriors, with very cold temperatures (about 0° C). The RED records images perfectly, shows images throught the LCD perfectly, BUT throught the EVF images are like SOLARIZED!!! I tried everything: shut down, restart, changing EVF cables, powering with the AC adaptor... EVERYTHING!!!
During my last job the EVF was fine, then I rent the camera to a crew, and now I have this problem... Someone can help me!? I'd like to understand if it's a hardware/software setting before sending it to support... I don't know if cold temperature can be the reason. If I have to tell the truth, testing the camera inside studio, the solarize seems to be less... I attach some pictures..
I notice the LUMA test is different shown in the lcd and in the evf, I attached files...

PLEASE HELP!!!!


huascar

 

[Jeff Kilgroe]

The EVF does not like cold temperatures. You get close to freezing and that's it, solarization to start and then as it gets colder, it just won't work.

I made myself a heating solution out of an old coat sleeve. Works pretty good stuffed with hot packs. Also tried one of the electric warmers inside and it performed similar to the hot packs, but drained batteries. I found neither solution to be adequate once I got below -14°F / -25°C for any extended period of time. At those temps, cables are stiff and could be brittle, the LCD likes to freeze as well, backfocus can be thrown off, it's an adventure...

The upcoming BOMB EVF will hopefully be a lot better.

 

[huascar]

Thanks Jeff!! I was going crazy!!!
During the day the evf didn't work, at evening, back home and testing it worked... TEMPERATURE ISSUE!!

Now I know...


Thanks

huascar

 

[David Battistella]

Some people have suggested using hot packs (like the ones you find to insert in gloves or mittens) with a sock to keep the EVF warm.

David

 

[PatC]

yowza. I used usb warming gloves and hot packs on a shoot i did in below freezing temps and we never had solarization issues like you are having.

 

[Ryan S]

When I was shooting cold temps (around -20C), I'd tape Hot Paws to the batteries, lcd, evf and drive. I don't know if there's a generic term for Hot Paws, but they're those lovely little dealies that look like tea bags, full some sort of chemical. Expose them to air for a minute and they become toasty warm, and stay like that for hours. They're intended for winter gloves/boots, but a few of those on the cold-hating Red pieces, and everything worked fine.