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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 :)

Taking the side handle on and off...quickly?

Erik O'Neill

Erik O'Neill

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I feel very dumb and I feel like I am just missing something.

On our Epic-X the side handle could be removed in about 5 seconds and put on our gimbal.
Now on our Epic-W the DSMCII side handle requires you to loosen 1 tool-less screw and then 3 other. The top right screw however is almost impossible to remove using the RED tool. You have to use the tool at an angle and I'm really afraid I am going to strip it constantly going on and off our gimbal.

I'd really love for someone to tell me that I'm very dumb and just completely missing something here.
 
Daniel Kelly Brown said:
Get one of these: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000KFV9C8/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Click to expand...

The screw is an allen, using a torx wrench isn't ideal. I've been having a hard time finding the right size allen in a a straight wrench like that Stanley in the link. Using a tool like this is the only way. I need to get a set of screws because two different ops I know have just about stripped that single screw completely, even when being extremely careful.
 
Andrew R Lewis said:
The screw is an allen, using a torx wrench isn't ideal. I've been having a hard time finding the right size allen in a a straight wrench like that Stanley in the link. Using a tool like this is the only way. I need to get a set of screws because two different ops I know have just about stripped that single screw completely, even when being extremely careful.
Click to expand...

The screw has a 2.5mm hex head. You need one of these: https://www.amazon.com/Bondhus-4065...&qid=1486701873&sr=8-2&keywords=bondhus+2.5mm

I pack this screw driver in the same box as my side handle... that way I always have it with me.

Coincidently the MoVI tool kit includes a 2.5mm driver.... so if you are pulling the handle off to put the camera on the MoVI then you probably already have the nessisary tool nearby.
 
Spencer Weaver said:
The screw has a 2.5mm hex head. You need one of these: https://www.amazon.com/Bondhus-4065...&qid=1486701873&sr=8-2&keywords=bondhus+2.5mm

I pack this screw driver in the same box as my side handle... that way I always have it with me.

Coincidently the MoVI tool kit includes a 2.5mm driver.... so if you are pulling the handle off to put the camera on the MoVI then you probably already have the nessisary tool nearby.
Click to expand...

Your screw has a hex head, mine does not. It's an Allen. I like your screw driver though. I have the Ronin, haven't graduated to MOVI yet!
 
Daniel Kelly Brown said:
Strange on my side handle the top right screw is defiantly a torx screw and not an allen. Perhaps yours is different?
Click to expand...

I thought for sure the allen head was a design decision since that screw is particularly hard to access with the handle installed, and the allen head is more forgiving and actually designed to work at angles.
 
Andrew R Lewis said:
Your screw has a hex head, mine does not. It's an Allen. I like your screw driver though. I have the Ronin, haven't graduated to MOVI yet!
Click to expand...

Tom Dowler said:
Isn't hex and Allen the same thing??
Click to expand...

Hex and Allen are the same things, yes.

Torx is the name of the 6-pointed "star" shaped bit. Many of the screws on RED are T20 / Torx 20.

"Allen" is a brand name like Bondus... or Kleenex. Many people call facial tissue "Kleenex" but that is of course a brand name.

The more proper name is Hex... referring to the six-sided hole in the head of the screw.

And as you pointed out Andrew, the hex/allen head is an advantage because you can get a rounded hex driver (like the one I linked to above) which allows you to use the tool from an angle. Torx can't do that.
 
The new sidehandle is one of the most frustrating things to me.

Like the old DSMC1 version, I need to remove and replace quickly. Takes maybe 4 minutes WITH a wobblehead/ball allen key specifically for the top right fastener. Horrible design. Used to take 10 seconds. I would recommend getting a ball head allen key though. You can then come in at it from an angle and clear the handle.

Mine also boots without discovering the handle maybe 30% of the time. Both my Raven and Epic-W.

And my last point of issue with it. The old one used little pressure pads for the electrical connection. The new one has a plastic plug with many pins. 5-6 of my pins are already bent or deformed. Still works, but I need to press the pins back in with a tiny flathead screwdriver prior to mounting the handle.

The new sidehandle, along with the new LCD pogo connection is a big step backwards IMO.
 
Matt Johnston said:
Mine also boots without discovering the handle maybe 30% of the time. Both my Raven and Epic-W.
Click to expand...

Mine fails to boot up sometimes as well, have to go into the menu and hit rediscover hardware and reboot to get it to find it again.

I assume this has probably been fixed in the latest firmware update, but I could be wrong.

You should grab one of these to avoid the bent pins: http://www.red.com/store/products/dsmc2-side-module-cap
The side handle should have come with one of these in the first place, RED must like repairing things:)
 
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