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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 :)

WARNING! Do not use Wooden Camera Easy Top Plate!

Hmm, I like the wooden camera stuff . But it seams like they did not have much luck in ther electronical department. First thier V lock plates and now this. A top plate frying cameras seams like somthing that should be possible to stay clear of but I guess its more difficult than that.

Where is the top plate getting power and how can it short the camera?

seams like the monitor conections would just run right trough, what gives the plate power, curious.

Edit saw now it got the start stop not power... how dous this wreck the camera.?
 
Michael Millichamp said:
We are still able to provide this upgrade at no charge
Click to expand...

It's not an "Upgrade" if the purpose of exchange is to correct a design error which might cause property damage. That would be a "Recall", which would grab the attention of anyone using this product on an expensive piece of electronic gear.
 
Zeb B said:
It's not an "Upgrade" if the purpose of exchange is to correct a design error which might cause property damage. That would be a "Recall", which would grab the attention of anyone using this product on an expensive piece of electronic gear.
Click to expand...

Zeb,

We updated the Trigger Module on the Easy Top to draw power directly from the top of the camera instead of using a small battery. There is still power being used in both cases, the upgrade just allows you to not have to replace the batteries over time. The instance described in the original post is something extremely out of the ordinary that we have not seen before and which is why we are trying to get the plate to evaluate it to see what went wrong.

Thanks,
Michael
 
Björn Benckert said:
Hmm, I like the wooden camera stuff . But it seams like they did not have much luck in ther electronical department. First thier V lock plates and now this. A top plate frying cameras seams like somthing that should be possible to stay clear of but I guess its more difficult than that.

Where is the top plate getting power and how can it short the camera?

seams like the monitor conections would just run right trough, what gives the plate power, curious.

Edit saw now it got the start stop not power... how dous this wreck the camera.?
Click to expand...

No one ever said it wrecked a camera, where'd you get that idea? He said monitor. Look how fast the rumors spread... ;)
 
Michael Millichamp said:
Zeb,

We updated the Trigger Module on the Easy Top to draw power directly from the top of the camera instead of using a small battery. There is still power being used in both cases, the upgrade just allows you to not have to replace the batteries over time. The instance described in the original post is something extremely out of the ordinary that we have not seen before and which is why we are trying to get the plate to evaluate it to see what went wrong.

Thanks,
Michael
Click to expand...

Again curious where do you drag power from top of camera what pin/port?

I assume you use the same trigger feature as the red top handle, yes?

Is there a schematic for that port some where?

I assume from reading your post that there is an outgoing low current and a closure needed to trigger. But your closure cable length makes it so that you need a relay and a power source that open/closes the closure close to camera so the low current can poor through, or?

Difficult to see how that would wack the internal boards of the camera.
 
Michael Millichamp said:
Hey James, Michael from Wooden Camera.

We are actively looking for more information on the mentioned incident as a support ticket was never filed. Please reach out to info@woodencamera.com to provide any details you might have and we will thoroughly look into it. If anyone ever has an issue with a Wooden Camera product, please reach out to us directly and we will respond right away. We know you all have a fast paced life and we try to match that with our customer service.

For reference, the upgrade for the Easy Top Weapon is to change from a battery powered communication module to a camera powered communication module. This PCB talks to the camera at start up to enable the run stop capability and does not have anything to do with the LCD/EVF signals. We are still able to provide this upgrade at no charge. Please email us to take advantage of the program: info@woodencamera.com

Thanks,
Michael
Click to expand...

Hi, Michael. Thanks for reaching out. The Easy Top in question was a rental houses' and so you'll likely be hearing from them since they're the owners of the plate. They paid for the repair on my camera, so I'm doing just dandy. I am putting this warning out there as this does not seem to be an isolated incident. I have to leave it there so I'm not putting words in anyone's mouth, but this isn't limited to one faulty Easy Top. I'll shoot you an email with more details so the rental house in question can maintain a good reputation. They did right by me, so there are no hard feelings there. Everyone just wants to solve the problem. I simply say avoid the product until we know how widespread it is.

P.S. I just bought a Wooden Camera Ultra Arm yesterday and it's friggin' awesome!
 
Zeb B said:
Ah yah he did. Read the OP again. There is no "video board" or "$10,000 repair" that would be limited to a monitor

http://www.reduser.net/forum/showth...y-Top-Plate!&p=1782969&viewfull=1#post1782969
Click to expand...

Correct, it was the pogo port on top of my camera that stopped working. My monitor still worked on the side port. In fact, the rest of the camera completed a 9-day shoot just fine then underwent repairs to get the top port working. That cost just shy of $10,000. I was shocked at the repair cost.
 
Michael Millichamp said:
Hey James, Michael from Wooden Camera.

We are actively looking for more information on the mentioned incident as a support ticket was never filed. Please reach out to info@woodencamera.com to provide any details you might have and we will thoroughly look into it. If anyone ever has an issue with a Wooden Camera product, please reach out to us directly and we will respond right away. We know you all have a fast paced life and we try to match that with our customer service.

For reference, the upgrade for the Easy Top Weapon is to change from a battery powered communication module to a camera powered communication module. This PCB talks to the camera at start up to enable the run stop capability and does not have anything to do with the LCD/EVF signals. We are still able to provide this upgrade at no charge. Please email us to take advantage of the program: info@woodencamera.com

Thanks,
Michael
Click to expand...

Hi Michael, This just happened to me with my camera. I have the newer top plate and the electrical board inside my camera was fried. RED is calming that this is the problem and I am now left with a $5500 repair bill. I spend a support ticket with David this morning and will keep you updated.
 
Does anyone know if this is happening on just the newer ones or the older too? I'm hesitant to even continue using wooden camera's top plates now. Very concerning issue here.
 
Tylor Jones said:
Does anyone know if this is happening on just the newer ones or the older too? I'm hesitant to even continue using wooden camera's top plates now. Very concerning issue here.
Click to expand...

Ive been using the WC Top plate (The one without the electronic connection for the handle) without issues.
 
Just chiming in to add more info. I sold my cam a month ago but I had the original top (with the internal battery) ever since it was released working day in day out on my weapon magnesium. No issues.
 
Highly recommend you pass on the information regarding a free upgrade to the Easy Top that’s Wooden Camera offers. Solves the problem and makes it Red Approved. People who don’t upgrade are in danger of damaging their cameras and Red will consider it user error for using unapproved products.
 
Thanks, Tommaso. The damage occurred when my camera was on consignment at a rental house. They handled the repair costs so I’ve been taken care of. Thanks for the concern. But anyone who uses the original version of the Easy Top without the upgrade could end up paying big time! From now on I’ll be checking this page carefully before I buy any 3rd party products: http://www.red.com/third-party-accessories. The listing of the Easy Top only recently was altered to mention the non-battery version.
 
Just an update to my situation. I have been issued a $5686 repair bill to fix my weapon and RED has agreed to handle $1189 of that. I have an email out to Wooden Camera to see if they want to support it any way.
 
Tylor Jones said:
Does anyone know if this is happening on just the newer ones or the older too? I'm hesitant to even continue using wooden camera's top plates now. Very concerning issue here.
Click to expand...

Like some have said here, if you have the Pass through version you are fine, I have a couple of those and love them. Most of WC stuff is great, but most of doesn't have electronic included.
 
Is it the electronics to the three pin pogo for the start stop function causing the problem?
 
I've seen 3 clients of mine come in with non functioning monitors and It all came back to the WC plate. No damage to the camera's that I have seen though. Everything started working again when it was removed. I don't really recommend them.
 
Cody Hurd said:
I've seen 3 clients of mine come in with non functioning monitors and It all came back to the WC plate. No damage to the camera's that I have seen though. Everything started working again when it was removed. I don't really recommend them.
Click to expand...

Were these plates with or without the integrated battery? Which version????

Thanks
 
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