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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

Spike Black... First Prototype photos.

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Cables and ergonomics

Cables and ergonomics

Looks lovely - another step towards reality! :D

A few hopefully constructive thoughts though!!

1) Cable management - with so many connectors coming out the side, right angled connectors, as already mentioned, would be desirable. But these connectors look very close together and are lined up in vertical and horizontal lines.

I'm sure the Red Team has already tried fully populating all the connector sockets to check everything fits and doesn't prevent easy plugging/unplugging??

With the mini-XLR's, rightangled connectors would have to be made up with cables coming out diagonally, which would then obscure or block the adjacent connectors. If they were staggered (one row a half, or third, of a pitch to the side of the row above/below) then cables could drop straight down?

2) Ergonomics - The buttons are small, and very close together (again staggering could help with separation. The diameter of the rear control surface is smaller than the "diameter" of the main body so the available area has been reduced for a nice looking but perhaps unnecessary bevelling?

The two adjustment knobs on the back look cute, but are probably very fiddly to grasp.

With both the buttons and the knobs I'm thinking operating with gloves in cold weather! Also there aren't any protective flanges or covers against accidental operation if brushed against, or damage if accidentally bashed.

Where are the independent knobs for audio level control - going through menus would be horrible.

Also, all the buttons are push to operate type rather than some being "up/down/positional" - sometimes these are preferable because you can tell at a glance if they are in the right position eg audio mic/line, phantom power, video gain level, etc.

I notice the mini-XLRs are mounted below the surface so the release tabs are flush - looks neat, but again does this make operating the release trickier with large fingers or gloves? Actually all the connectors are surface flush - very clean looking, but I'm sure everyone's had occasions where worn cable connector locking mechanisms refuse to release and being able to jam in a screwdriver gets you out of trouble? Obviously this isn't applicable to every type of connector, but something to consider?

I'm all for reinventing, rethinking, simplifying and streamlining concepts from the old guard of cameras, but all those little ergonomic details evolved in response to operator feedback and are tried and tested solutions to making life easier. (Although even then, they don't get everything right every time!)

I look forward to Red's solutions to the same issues!
 
The pix are very pretty and the camera has a nifty look.

Two concerns: the "hump" on the left side may hinder the comfort of the right cheek when operating handheld (a flat surface is preferred, lightly padded even better, a la the Panaflex), and all of those connectors on the right side are a bit alarming from a vulnerability standpoint (imagine sliding backwards handheld through a doorway, and accidentally scraping the right-hand jamb as you go), not to mention the cables will protrude out into the operator's face when operating Steadicam, assuming the rig is flown on the standard left-hand side.
standard left hand side?... i fly right
 
My only worry for a matte coat is that it remains smooth for cleanliness.

There's nothing worse than a rough surface to clean after shooting at the beach or in the desert all day.

2007.....around 4 months away possibly from owning my Red ! :eek:
 
Just to be clear, there is nothing incorrect or "less than" about flying with the rig on the right side, aka goofy foot, I was just implying that the majority of operators fly it on the left and thus this would hopefully be taken into consideration.
 
For studio & on sticks, you can order up a custom cable harness with the needed connectors on a two-foot tail... keep it small & clean with a single quick release connector.

Though there's a lot of connectors on the side, not all will be in use at any one time. And for handheld use a relatively small number of ports will be needed (drive, LCD, power & audio). The most populous connectors are likely for various flavours of video.....
 
Yeah no big deal. I'm still trying to master both sides for flexibility, but the left side just feels so much better...

Btw. I know a camera operator that do left shoulder handheld with the eyepiece overturned to the right side. That won't be comfortable with the location of those connectors. Of course he is absolutely goofy!
 
I think, we'll see a lot more change once we see Spike, loaded up, cables and all. I just hope there is enough time to make those adjustments to cable connections before production.

I think Eric Young is dead on in his advice. I'd still like to see the LCD attached to one side (detachable of course). The one nice thing about a flip out LCD is that it can cover and protect lots of buttons when you are not using them.
 
At the expense of flexibility in positioning of the lcd, and for that matter the option to have one or not.

Exactly, let's not be tied down to a one position lcd. Detachable lcd is good for awkward angles etc.
 
May I allow to give a suggestions here when everytime we power up the RED one camera ?

Like the National songs - USA from the RED one speakers in the body ) Jimi - Hendrix's USA Guitar sound with USA's Flag in the EVF in super high-Resolution ( 1280 x 720 ) in less than 10 ".

It's time to let the world know USA is a leading nation to change and make the world even better.

my best.-

Stewart
 
Hello and Happy New Year!
Congratulation for the result of “spike”. I like everything….
…. except the holes of the connections, I will prefer like in the pictures:




They still on the right side of the camera but horizontal instead of perpendicular …..
and over it, a door that you open from the bottom, that way, you can catch the camera without problem for the cables…
 
So Jarred, are you now a full time salaried Red guy? Oh, you're also the president of the fan club (in case that's not obvious)
 
So Jarred, are you now a full time salaried Red guy? Oh, you're also the president of the fan club (in case that's not obvious)

yes indeed.. have been for awhile.

President of the "Fanclub" is just a nice bonus..
 
I'm in love with that hard annodized black finish...

And I hope those hex bolts are all titanium to save a few grams, hehehe.
 
Puurrty.

What better resume could you ask for, Jarred? I worked with the RED team.

Geez,
Jason
 
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