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Red Cradle Alternatives?

T

Thom Steinhoff

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I have the Red Production pack and the drive Cradle seems pretty bulky and I'm having trouble mouting it anywhere but at the back bottom. I'm looking for any and every way to cut and redistribute the weight.

It seems to me that something could be made to hold the drive and battery separately to put one on the top and one on the bottom or on a side handle?

To hold the drive: maybe a half cage to give the rails on the side of the drive something to slip in to, but then have a flat plate at the back to mount it directly to a side handle.

The Quick plate seems like an option for the battery, but it's expensive and I already have the plate and cable that I could unscrew from the Cradle--it seems like a lot of money to get a metal plate and hinge for $500 (when I would end up with a duplicate of the plate and cable).
 
Here's What I came up with... I put the battery on the right because the soon to arrive EVF is quite heavy. The Drives slide in and lock solidly, I'm happy with how it works and how it keeps the camera small light and with a decent CG. Top handle removes easily, I found Red's to be too short while shooting and too tall in while it's in the camera case...

Matt Uhry
www.mattuhry.com


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Matt, I like it a lot. Did the guys at ET machine the hard drive bracket? Where did you get the handle? Looks familar, does this also work well for you in low mode?
 
Andrew Benz said:
Matt, I like it a lot. Did the guys at ET machine the hard drive bracket? Where did you get the handle? Looks familar, does this also work well for you in low mode?
Click to expand...

I have a primitive machine shop in my basement... A little bored during the writers strike... It's getting busier now.

I've shown it to ET... I think they are making something that holds the drive, if you don't like what they come up with ( doubtful, but possible ) we can bug them to make something more like mine. Similar story with the handle, I think they are on it.

Matt Uhry
www.mattuhry.com
 
Matt,

Looks great. looks like it could easily be bolted to the side handles as well. That would be perfect.

Notes to self:

1) Put a machine shop in my basement
2) Buy tools
3) Make top mount for drive

Wait. I live in California--on a slab of concrete.

1) Buy jackhammer...

Wait...

1) Wait until someone else offers one for sale


:)
 
I don't have a RED drive yet and I hate the bulk and weight of that awkward dual hinged thing so I made something myself the other day.

Made out of 3 mm aluminum and spray painted so it's going to chip. It is sturdy enough so but maybe I will make a second version that is a bit more stiff. I detached the battery plate from the cage which is very easy. For the weight-conscious: there is a 3 mm steel plate at the back of the battery plate that seems to have no other function than to add weight. Without it is feels just like a very light weight piece of plastic - probably because it actually is.

This would be very easy to make if you go to a basic metal workshop.
 
nice work Sander...
i was wondering...with all these brilliant new accessories (from ET and SIM) and creative innovations by guys like matt and sander...do i still need the base production pack anymore??
 
Matt,

I think that that HD bracket is very well thought out. That whole rig you have looks pretty light and easy to haul around.

David
 
flowerchildprojekts said:
nice work Sander...
i was wondering...with all these brilliant new accessories (from ET and SIM) and creative innovations by guys like matt and sander...do i still need the base production pack anymore??
Click to expand...


We wrestled with the same question, but the Base production pack is such a good deal for the price, that you should get it, even if you only need a few parts from it.
 
kinobairn said:
We wrestled with the same question, but the Base production pack is such a good deal for the price, that you should get it, even if you only need a few parts from it.
Click to expand...

well, i've read that the cradle is really bulky and the handles are still slipping....so if you can replicate wat matt and sander has done...then you save quite a bit and put that money on a Sim Video or ET handheld package.
 
The most essential accessories you should get from Red are in my opinion:

Red bottom plate $600,-
Battery plate $175,-
Top mount $250,-
Universal mount $125,-

Which adds up to $1150,- After which you have to find or make your own rods, handles and battery plate holder.

Better to get the base production pack and work from there.
 
sander kamp said:
The most essential accessories you should get from Red are in my opinion:

Red bottom plate $600,-
Battery plate $175,-
Top mount $250,-
Universal mount $125,-

Which adds up to $1150,- After which you have to find or make your own rods, handles and battery plate holder.

Better to get the base production pack and work from there.
Click to expand...

You guys are rite...i cancelled my order initially but put it back just in time before Dan processed the cancellation...thanks fer the advice!!

yean
 
Matt Garrett said:
Hey guys. Bumping this thread because I was looking to see if there is anything out yet that's a lighter way to mount the drive.
I'm in a rush and not as handy as Mr. Uhry.
Thanks.
Click to expand...

If you're in hurry this might not do, but in my humble opinion, to this day, the single best way to mount your drive on a Red camera :
is with the RED RAID Shock (isolated) Mount from Element Technica. Only problem is, it is not available yet, but apparently they are very close. You can see it here :
http://www.elementtechnica.com/development/

To answer some of the older posts on this thread, if I were ordering a Red today, I would skip on the Base Production pack, because :

I have replaced my Red Bottom Plate with an Arri Base Plate.
I have replaced my steel rods with ET aluminium rods
I will be replacing my Cradle with the ET Shock isolated mount and the Action Product Swappack
I've replaced the handle(s) with a set of Tangohead Blue Handles

All I'll be keeping in the end (from my Base Production Pack) is the top mount, the top handle and a universal mount, cost $525

Now of course all the other accessories are a lot more expensive than the Base Production Pack, but they are lighter, stronger, better designed, more widely compatible, more feature rich, etc.

I'll just mention once again, and if you agree with me, please say so to Red, that the Arri 19mm Base Plate is overpriced. There is no reason for it to cost $900, while it's 15mm equivalent cost $600, that's a 50% increase. The only reason I see for this, is to differentiate it from the equally overpriced Red Bottom Plate.

So Red please, for your own good reputation, loose the Bottom Plate, the Shoulder Dovetail and the Cheese Plate ; and offer the Arri Base Plates instead, and at the same price please (ie. $600) !

Cheers,
Damien

PS If I make critical comments, it's because these parts don't live up to all the other great things Red are doing. I love my camera :-)
 
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