Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Log in
  • 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 :)

Urgent help! On location Epic stuck

Ethan Knight said:
Eric: We've done all of our tests without the +1, as it was the first thing in our logic to offload.

Maybe I should clarify that the side handle's display is not turning on. Also tried to roll back to previous firmware but to no avail.

I'm in contact with RED and will post the eventuality as it happens.

Rob: Although that in principal I agree with you on all points raised, especially that the workflow is only as strong as it's weakest link, It's damn hard to digest that I've become a statistic.

I've shoot in many remote places before with a variety of camera gear without a hitch, so in a way there's an expectation from RED and it's high end gear.
Click to expand...

It's a gutwrenching thing when there's a problem with gear that you personally own on a paid gig, and you can't fix it - sympathies!
 
Mike: no they don't.

Mark: I've responded to Rob's line with the utmost subtlety that in this current catastrophe i'm able to produce, don't push it.
 
Quick question - is the side handle needed for the shoot?

Can you go with Touch screen instead (or Redmote?).
 
So it's clearly a side-handle issue, which is better than the alternative (a brain issue). Could water have gotten on it somehow? What are the shooting conditions? Was it dropped since it was used (yesterday)? Is it your own camera or a rental?

I know it doesn't help, but realistically you did bring a back-up (the c300), which is arguably better for documentary work anyway (unless you were shooting 5k vistas and/or landscapes for the doc.)
 
Andy White said:
Quick question - is the side handle needed for the shoot?

Can you go with Touch screen instead (or Redmote?).
Click to expand...

The problem is that he is powering off Redvolts only (and I'm inferring he does not have a Rear Battery Module available), so needs the Side Handle to power the camera, not for control.
 
Sorry to hear your camera is not working. Unfortunately I hear a lot of people complaining that RED tends to be unstable on set. I own a SCARLET myself and I am scared that it will not work on set, when I need it. Already had my own issues with monitors (see other posts) thanks god I am in Berlin, where you could get help from a rental store too. But again, this is one of the reasons why people love the Alexa here, never heard any issues on stability with that cam.

So : good luck. !
 
Its unfortunate experience.
Ive had epic in Kenya, in Africa since early 2012, over 250 hours on camera, shot in Kenya and Uganda, no issue with the camera whatsoever. And you can imagine there is no support or techs here. In general I think the redvolts are not so great for heavy field use, outside more developed countries. I still use the red bricks from my old red one, had since 2009, and they work great. Only thing was recently my old red one battery plate died on me... after 4 years of heavy use.

So, these reliability issues ive been hearing about since '09... just never seen it in the field under very hard circumstances. Battery life and ergonomics are my big issues with heavy use in remote locations.

i totally feel for you... i just hope that its all put in perspective. my 2 cents.
 
Steffen Baermann said:
Sorry to hear your camera is not working. Unfortunately I hear a lot of people complaining that RED tends to be unstable on set. I own a SCARLET myself and I am scared that it will not work on set, when I need it. Already had my own issues with monitors (see other posts) thanks god I am in Berlin, where you could get help from a rental store too. But again, this is one of the reasons why people love the Alexa here, never heard any issues on stability with that cam.
Click to expand...

Baloney! EVERY camera ever made failed at some crucial time, even the Alexa. So, poppycock to that notion.

Ethan, apologies if it came across as piling on, wasn't my intent.
 
Ethan, very sorry to hear about your situation. In general I like to make sure I have at least one alternative. For example, I always carry a belt pack and V-Locks, even if I plan to shoot with RedVolts. Carry both EVF and LCD even though I only need one. This is true for any system, not just Red.

If something goes wrong you need to just be able to switch rather than down tools to solve the problem.

Addressing the issue of reliability, remember there are thousands and thousands of Reds out there. Some will have issues. I for one have never had an issue and, for me, they have been incredibly reliable. Of course this doesn't help those having trouble but is important to balance the conversation when reputations are at stake.
 
I hope you get it sorted out, Ethan. It may be cold comfort to know that most people who pack redundant systems do so because they have been exactly in your shoes (I know I have) and it really sucks. I'm very sorry to hear about your issue. Sometimes the only thing you can pull out of the wreckage is a lesson.
 
I'm absolutely LIVID with red, 36 hours have passed, and were not even close to any kind of solution. This is a mid-day nightmare and my eyes are wide open

First of all, here's a lesson that emerged from the wreckage - shoot ALEXA. the production has done a 180° and closed the doors on the EPIC. We've shot the entire day today on a rented ALEXA. Worked beautifully without any excuses, and will continue for the rest of the production.

Now my biggest problem is that I'm booked on another shoot back-to-back in Spain in another 4 days. RED support is telling me that there are no available Side Handle till Monday the 15th and my shoot starts on the 16th.

which brings me to lesson number 2: Don't book shoots when NAB is on, cause RED support is non-existent or any available spare parts.

3rd lesson: It seems to make no difference that my EPIC is 12 days old... I mean with an experience like this straight of the gate what else am I to expect from this 34K$ paper weight.

Here is how I see it: Buy a brand new EPIC / schedule work to pay for EPIC / send brand new EPIC parts to get fixed / associate your name with an unproductive shoot / possibly lose another job due to laxed service.


Say what you may in regards to having a backups of everything, but assuming this logic RED should put the following on their web store "Please consider buying two of everything as we can't guarantee it won't break down"


THANKS FOR A GREAT START RED
 
Felix K. said:
Sympathies! Wish someone in Israel could help!
Click to expand...
Ethan called me today, I was on a remote place in the north of Israel.
I personally don't have an Epic, I still own one Red One M-X but prefer to work with Alexa, especially after an Epic froze in a middle of a shoot some 9 months ago.
I gave him names of other Epic owners but it looks he did a wise thing and switched to Alexa which is more trusty camera no doubt.
 
Ethan - sorry it's not working for you.

But, the Alexa the production hired isn't field/user upgrade-able (unless it's yours) - and you can't run beta software on it. Plus it's power solution is fixed - and it'll be in shoot ready condition from the rental house.

You went with a new Epic and Redvolts only... and ran beta software. A recipe that hasn't worked out.

I'd (at least) grab a couple of Redbricks, a battery belt (DSMC) - if you get the Red One battery clip you'll need a 2B to 1B adaptor.

Now, I am not defending Red, just pointing out that you went in without a backup option (at least two power options would have saved you - if you'd have had a battery module you'd have been golden).

Maybe talk with your rep about alternate power solutions (presume the side handle is really just there for power in your case?).

The Alexa is more 'all in' pack. One that certainly shows it's value at times. Sadly, this has been one of them.

Hope all goes well for this shoot and beyond.
 
Ethan Knight said:
I'm absolutely LIVID with red, 36 hours have passed, and were not even close to any kind of solution. This is a mid-day nightmare and my eyes are wide open
...
Now my biggest problem is that I'm booked on another shoot back-to-back in Spain in another 4 days. RED support is telling me that there are no available Side Handle till Monday the 15th and my shoot starts on the 16th.

which brings me to lesson number 2: Don't book shoots when NAB is on, cause RED support is non-existent or any available spare parts.
....
Here is how I see it: Buy a brand new EPIC / schedule work to pay for EPIC / send brand new EPIC parts to get fixed / associate your name with an unproductive shoot / possibly lose another job due to laxed service.
Click to expand...

Ethan, while I know you are under the spotlight on your production and are extremely frustrated, I just wanted to address a few points.

You say you are not close to a solution and you got no support due to NAB. However, I found your support ticket, the replies from our tech support team that same morning, etc. I did not see a frustrated tone in those emails that you are showing here on the forum? You had an issue and we responded to it. I do not see where NAB affected anything in your scenario. And to claim our support is "non-existent" when there are emails in front of me to that contrary?

Also, I see we determined via the log files it was a Side Handle issue, not camera issue. Hence, we have issued an RMA and are sending you out a loaner side handle as well. So I am not sure where the "laxed service" comes into play?

I am even having Nick, our product support manager, reach out to you (if he has no done so already) as I understand your frustration given the circumstances. I can assure you that our quality assurance metrics show a very, very small percentage of returns. Every camera company - heck, every company - will have a certain percentage. Unfortunately, while ours is extremely small, this did seem to bite you. For that I apologize.

Thanks,
BC
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top