I get to work with a RED on Friday!!

C

cinematical

Well-known member
The title's pretty self-explanatory, but I'm so excited! I'm PA-ing on a production that's filming simultaneously in 16mm and RED, and I just got moved from the 16mm team to the RED team.

So - are there any things you all think I should know before working with the camera?
 
Matty_g said:
got and questions about it?
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Well, just anything that might make me look al intelligent about the tech in front of the DP/Director. I know this is vague, and I have been following the camera pretty closely, but still, users here who have actually USED the camera are going to be much more knowledgeable the me.
 
Are there any tricks to setting things up quickly? Or problems in set-up/operation that we might run in to?

I'll post more questions as I think of them.
 
i doubt as a p.a. you'll be setting up the camera. You might get wrangled into being a data wrangler (dumping the cards)
 
Set up your project first. Once you've double checked your settings, then format your media.

Focus is a critical issue because you have shallower depth of field than a video camera. There is a focus assist button on the left hand side bottom. It magnifies the image by two times. Use it to help get critical focus but don't forget to press it again to zoom out.

If they purchased the focus hook then you can also use that to double check focus with tape measure.

When using the joystick a lot of the detailed setting are done by turning the joystick like a knob clockwise and counter clock wise. Pushing in engages menus. Moving joystick up literally takes you up to previous menu.

For the Red Drives you should unmount them before removing. This is done by pressing first the undo button and while holding it down simulataneosly press the exit button. Wait until you hear a "thunk" sound. That will be the sound of the drive unmounting which is confirmed by looking at the media readout on the back of the camera. It will now have a X in it. Now its safe to remove the drive.
 
craigbowman said:
For the Red Drives you should unmount them before removing. This is done by pressing first the undo button and while holding it down simulataneosly press the exit button.
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Same with the CF cards.
Also, beware of the look around in the viewfinder/lcd and watch your frame guides.
 
Matty_g said:
i doubt as a p.a. you'll be setting up the camera. You might get wrangled into being a data wrangler (dumping the cards)
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I would agree with you, but there's been a bit of a staffing problem with PA's on set (which is why I was moved to the RED team in the first place), so - crossing my fingers.

And, seriously, please keep the suggestions coming. I really do appreciate all the advice everyone has. I think I'll post Friday night (and throughout the 6-day shoot) on a newbie's experience with the RED.
 
Matty_g said:
don't judge the image on what you see in a monitor or waveform because you are recording RAW.
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Hey Matt - this is going to sound really stupid but I'm going to ask it anyhow.
I've never shot RAW, and I've heard many people say don't judge the image on what you see in the monitor, etc - which makes sense. So my question is - what do you judge the image on? Are you shooting with a lightmeter and judging things as you would film? Or is there something else you're doing on set to ensure you're getting what you want?
 
Th Red camera has several user-selectable meters/displays that show you how much of your image is being captured across a brightness scale. I believe it is actually a multiple color display, based on the brightness values. Quite useful from the user comments I've read on reduser.net
 
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