VF | Brook's APU Battery Plates [IDX & AB, REDmote charging cable!]

[Erfort Kuke]

Here is the link

http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?69774-View-Factor-still-hope

thank you

 

[Brook Willard]

Hey all, my apologies for being MIA lately. Time to answer some questions.

Whats your availability status? Thanks Guys.

Lemo connectors are currently backordered for a few weeks - we have a zillion of 'em on order but every distributor in the country is out of stock! We have heaps of plates ready to ship, we just need power connectors and we're back in business. That's been the shipping holdup [as well as the holdup on longer cables]. Sorry for the delays, guys!

Has anyone used this plate in combination with Bebob batteries?

Yep! It works just fine.

Any word on when the USB to DTap adapter or other secondary accessory power options are coming along?

Looking like January 15th or so, we're just waiting on packaging and trying to build up enough stock for the first shipment. They're ready to go!

Hi Brook, I'm back to you with the question of a PAGLOK adapter for Epic/Scarlet do you plan to do one ? if not, can I use the adapter below on your IDX ?

I don't have any plans to make a PAGLOK version of the plate, but that's only because it's not an interface that I've ever come across on set. I don't see why that adapter wouldn't work. If there's enough demand, we could start making a PAG version... but we'd need some demand to offset the development costs.

Can I buy the removable plate only? I have my own AB plate

Officially no but shoot Curt an email and we'll see if we can do something for you.

Hi Brook,
I was wondering if it is possible to use the Contineo Anton Bauer battery plate on the RED's Tactical Cage, and power my Scarlet that way instead of getting the Anton Bauer plate. Or does the Contineo Anton Bauer battery plate have a different power plug that cannot plug directly into the Scarlet? Anyone else have experience with this, or know the answer?

The Epic and Scarlet use a special 6-pin Lemo built specifically for RED. This means that the power connectors for VF's other products wouldn't work with the Epic or Scarlet.

When do you think these will be back in stock?

According to our Lemo distributor it should be in three weeks. So... maybe five. Distributors are funny.

Just curious, since I haven't used mine yet is everyone that has a Scarlet having a hard time fitting it to the back? Also is there any plan for it to show percentage on the Scarlet? Or is that dependent on the Battery used?

We'e seen about 5 or so Scarlet owners with fitment problems, most of which can be addressed with finding a solid balance by loosening and tightening the screws until they are pleased. There seems to be some mild inconsistencies in the camera body casting [we're talking a few thousandths of an inch, nothing major] that are just enough to make it a bit tricky for some. The vast, vast majority of people have had no issues. Let us know if you have any issues by emailing VF, they'll get you taken care of.

There are no plans to add the necessary circuitry to support battery percentage. Since the Epic reads battery voltage I decided that putting the percentage circuitry in the plate would add unnecessary complexity and cost. I personally find voltage to be more useful and informative, particularly across multiple power sources [block batteries come to mind].

This looks like an amazing product. I am sure this question has been answered 100 times, but I don't wish to look through almost 50 pages.

What are the different battery options, and how long does it last in 24 4K mode? also if the battery dies does it automatically adjust to using the red volt?

Since there are literally hundreds of V-mount and Anton Bauer mount batteries on the market, listing them all would be crazy! Your run time will vary depending on the capacity and chemistry of the batteries.

I've read that if a battery is removed, it will automatically switch to Redvolt, but if the battery dies, the camera will shut off. Is that true?

I don't have my camera handy to confirm, but I'll see if I can track down some gear to test.

Curt,

Is there no way to use the FMJ and sidearms without the bottom plate to age the Epic? I have the DSMC Quick release platform, and apparently using that in conjunction with the bottom plate will put me above arri AKS height....also is the remote usb charger available yet?

There is currently no way to use the Sidearms with RED's baseplate - it's outside of what we designed the system for. We're still analyzing different approaches to make a system which is compatible with RED's. You'll know when there's news, don't worry.

The PTAP-USB is still a few days away, but it's close. See above!

Hello Curt

I see you answer this thread regularly, but when we are asking some update about the Wireless FF unit, i don't see your answer. Even in your web page there is no more updates since 11/14/11. Do you think is fair not to answer to people like me that have payed you almost 3 years ago? Or is your time so expensive and your words so valuable not even to say how things are going?

I don't like the fact that you are writing in a thread that you are selling products and not writing to people that have payed you before.

I opened a thread in the Accessories for DSMC with the title View Factor still hope?, it is in the second page now and it would have been good to have your answer. Like this i am getting the impression that you only speak when you have immediate interest.

Well to tell you the truth i have never bothered you, never asked for money back because i liked the product and i kinda understood the problems that you ran into, but keep in mind that i still don't have a follow focus unit and that money hes been send to you long time...

The minimum that you can do is answer back, so that people don't get the impression that when they buy something from you even a battery plate, you will not disappear when you have problems.

Thank You

I have no connection to the wireless FF in any way, but I can assure you that he's working like a madman to get it done. I'll see if I can get an update for you.

 

[Erfort Kuke]

Hello Brook,

Thank You for your for your answer I appreciate it

 

[Curt von Badinski]

Hello Curt

I see you answer this thread regularly, but when we are asking some update about the Wireless FF unit, i don't see your answer. Even in your web page there is no more updates since 11/14/11. Do you think is fair not to answer to people like me that have payed you almost 3 years ago? Or is your time so expensive and your words so valuable not even to say how things are going?

I don't like the fact that you are writing in a thread that you are selling products and not writing to people that have payed you before.

I opened a thread in the Accessories for DSMC with the title View Factor still hope?, it is in the second page now and it would have been good to have your answer. Like this i am getting the impression that you only speak when you have immediate interest.

Well to tell you the truth i have never bothered you, never asked for money back because i liked the product and i kinda understood the problems that you ran into, but keep in mind that i still don't have a follow focus unit and that money hes been send to you long time...

The minimum that you can do is answer back, so that people don't get the impression that when they buy something from you even a battery plate, you will not disappear when you have problems.

Thank You

Erfort, I generally don't spend a lot of time on Reduser so I hope you understand why I did not see your thread. Additionally, if it looks like I disappeared then I apologize. I have stated on a few occasions that if anyone has any concerns or questions they can write to us at info@viewfactor.net or call us - our number is on our website. I do my best to reply quickly to any of our Impero and Inclino customers. I appreciate your patience and I assure you that we are still working very hard to get the follow focus systems shipped. My substantial update for December was that we were getting an engineer - I posted that in a few threads on RedUser but forgot to post it on our forum - once again, I apologize. As before, I will update our forum when/if anything changes but for now I'm programming.

 

[Erfort Kuke]

Erfort, I generally don't spend a lot of time on Reduser so I hope you understand why I did not see your thread. Additionally, if it looks like I disappeared then I apologize. I have stated on a few occasions that if anyone has any concerns or questions they can write to us at info@viewfactor.net or call us - our number is on our website. I do my best to reply quickly to any of our Impero and Inclino customers. I appreciate your patience and I assure you that we are still working very hard to get the follow focus systems shipped. My substantial update for December was that we were getting an engineer - I posted that in a few threads on RedUser but forgot to post it on our forum - once again, I apologize. As before, I will update our forum when/if anything changes but for now I'm programming.

To tell you the truth, i got nervous when i saw you here in reduser in this thread and not answering the other thread. It feels like you get left behind and the concentration goes to other things. I know that is very good for you to sell other products so that you can get back in track with the finances after the FF problems, but please give some updates. I have tried to follow you without bothering, i have checked your web page and don't expect you to stay in the reduser.

But since nothing was coming up anymore, i called 2 times no answer and i decided to write in this thread.

Anyway is good to communicate.

I apologize to Brook for bringing this issue on his thread.

 

[Curt von Badinski]

No need to apologize... We are slowly working out the phone situation, If I don't pick up then Josh does. Otherwise if you leave a message we try to get back asap.

 

[Jeffrey Loewe]

Thanks for the answer Brook. Just letting everyone know with a RED Brick on Scarlet it does not show percentage. Didn't bother me. I just push the button on the brick for an update. It lasted about 3 and 1/2 hours for me yesterday in very cold weather. I'm assuming this is because the fan didn't have to run as much.

 

[Brook Willard]

Thanks for the answer Brook. Just letting everyone know with a RED Brick on Scarlet it does not show percentage. Didn't bother me. I just push the button on the brick for an update. It lasted about 3 and 1/2 hours for me yesterday in very cold weather. I'm assuming this is because the fan didn't have to run as much.

Exactly - it will not show battery percentage since the plate isn't built with that ability in mind.

The cameras like to run above 12.0v. When your camera gets down to the ~12v range, it's time to start thinking about a change. The "Input voltage out of range." warning will fire up around 11.5v depending on the current [and voltage consistency] of the battery.

Voltage is what I've always used to judge a battery with the R1 and Epic. I prefer it as the most consistent and realistic "no BS" answer to what's going on with the power. The great news is that the Epic and Scarlet last for *ages* on even a small onboard battery. Just wait for the voltage indicator to get around 12.0v and change!

 

[Brook Willard]

Oo, I forgot that I have more pictures of the P-Tap in action...

 

[Blair S. Paulsen]

I am quite sure that when a brick fed via the LEMO dies it will seamlessly switch to the side handle Red Volt battery.

I seem to remember swapping a brick once while it was still the active power source, and having the camera power down but I could have sworn another time I did that and the handle battery kept the camera going. Perhaps in the heat of the moment there was some variable that I missed that would explain that (maybe the handle battery was low).

In any case, I am a happy owner of the Brook/VF plate and love the fact that if the brick (I use the BeBob 90's and get at least an hour of runtime, typically more) dies while I'm not paying enough attention it switches to the side handle battery without intervention - thank you RED.

FWIW I share Brook's affinity for voltage readout as the most informative metric and agree with his notion that simpler is better.

BTW, I also have an Impero/Inclino wireless FF on order that I paid for in full in April of 2008 and still have not received. Like the other poster I don't waste Curt's time asking for updates, in part because it's my sense that as soon as he has working units he will not keep the news to himself ;-)

Cheers - #19

 

[Tony Rudenko]

Hello Curt and Brook, I was wondering if it would be able to purchase the APU minus the power source, as I understand that the Lemo's are on backorder from the manufacturer?

TYIA!!
-Tony

 

[Brook Willard]

Hello Curt and Brook, I was wondering if it would be able to purchase the APU minus the power source, as I understand that the Lemo's are on backorder from the manufacturer?

TYIA!!
-Tony

Shoot Curt an email, we'll see what we can do!

 

[mike kovacs]

Just posted on another forum page, but since Mr Willard is on this thread now thought I would give it a shot here.

what top plate do I need to order to work with the scarlet? X or m?

thanks!
Mike

 

[Brook Willard]

Just posted on another forum page, but since Mr Willard is on this thread now thought I would give it a shot here.

what top plate do I need to order to work with the scarlet? X or m?

thanks!
Mike

The X version is what you want for the Scarlet.

 

[Joel Arvidsson]

I feel like there was never an officially official answer about the RED top handle... so here's the officially official answer!

RED Bricks just fit with some contact when using the top handle.

If you unscrew the back cap, there's no interference at all.

Just in case anybody was still wondering! Forgive the lousy pictures, I just wanted to be able to post a definitive answer.

Have you rotated the sliding to handle. Mine have the "lock" to the front rather than under? Is the backap glued or is it real threads?

 

[Brook Willard]

Have you rotated the sliding to handle. Mine have the "lock" to the front rather than under? Is the backap glued or is it real threads?

Here you go:

Depending on when you purchased it, RED changed the orientation of the core. The original models shipped with the tie-down lever under the handle itself, putting the 1/4-20 tapped holes on the *front* of the handle where they are accessible. At some point they started reversing the assembly of the handle, putting the tie-down lever out the front of the handle and the 1/4-20 tapped holes inaccessible under the handle. I suspect your handle is assembled in the latter backwards fashion, which would shift the grip a few millimeters further back on the camera body.

 

[bert tan]

Oo, I forgot that I have more pictures of the P-Tap in action...

Hi Brook,

Where can I order the d-tal to USB ? Is not on your website .

Bert tan

 

[Brook Willard]

Hi Brook,

Where can I order the d-tal to USB ? Is not on your website .

Bert tan

The parts are in and the page is built, they're just wrestling with the website side of it. The entire website is going to change very soon... for the better.

 

[George Su]

Brook,

Do you know if the APU plates will need any mod to attach to the new red modular plate/quad module?

 

[Brook Willard]

Brook,

Do you know if the APU plates will need any mod to attach to the new red modular plate/quad module?

Yep! It will. Here's a quote from the first post in this thread... although admittedly I never posted the picture!

The part that excites me the most is what I can't show you yet - the APU Interface Adapter. I'll be able to post pictures tomorrow in the post below.

The APU Interface Adapters are adapter plates based around the quick-release mechanism we've built into the plate. The adapters enable you to mount the plate in any way that you prefer.

Want to mount the APU on your Epic Backpack? Just snap in the Interface Adapter for the Backpack and the battery plate now has a compatible dovetail to slide right in. Want to mount it on the FMJ or Stealth Plate? Just snap in the screw-through Interface Adapter and you can add the quick release interface wherever you want it. Want to mount the APU to the back of your camera, no matter what Epic module you have? No problem - just install the appropriate Interface Adapter and you're in business. You can always have the APU at the back of your camera no matter what.

The first few adapters will ship soon, I'll keep this thread posted.