RED camera - what a diseaster!

Patryk Rebisz wrote on 4/14/2008, 12:09 AM

After gruealing 2 days of shooting on a music video i gotta say it's the last time i'm working with this camera as i don't want to subject another director to similar BS.

I mean codec errors... even if i shoot to the Flash Cards??? Dropped frames for no apparent reason. Sometimes the hard drive working/recording flawlessly then out of no-where it chooses to give you the the codec errors. Simple bugs like the frame-rate displaying inproperly on the LCD screen but then properly in the menus... Simple things that still take extra time to find the simple work-arounds/fix. I mean the list is never ending. The manual that makes it look so simple while in reality it should be filed with warnings about all the things that can and WILL go wrong.

The quotes/jokes made on the set about the camera are just pure gold:

An AC calling it "Charlie Chaplin camera" because it makes the filmmaking clunking as if it was last century.

The director calling it RED bacause all the errors that flash on the screen.

Here, we managed to gell all that we needed to get, but you ain't talking me into using this camera again.

Comments

farss wrote on 4/14/2008, 3:52 AM

I'm not surprised you had so many issues.
What does surprise me is that anyone would take such a camera onto a shoot without thoroughly testing it first. I know whoever supplied it should have done their job but when it's kit that you're not familiar with you need to test it in your environment.

Bob.

ushere wrote on 4/14/2008, 4:52 AM

i have to agree with bob - i've never undertaken a professional job with 'new' equipment. at the very least i'd have run through the kit with the hire company and done a test shoot to make sure it was all working correctly before taking out the door.

with equipment i buy, i certainly 'play' extensively before going out with it on a paid job.

leslie

Avanti wrote on 4/14/2008, 9:10 AM

So, what was the make and model number of this camera?

rmack350 wrote on 4/14/2008, 9:22 AM

It's a Red. There's just one model.

The Red website isn't responding right now but here's an alternate description of it:

[linl]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RED_Digital_Camera_Company[/link]

Rob Mack

Patryk Rebisz wrote on 4/14/2008, 9:42 AM

I did play with it and had my AC spend conciderable amount of time with it so he knows what's up. The very same way when i shot firts time with Sony's F900, or Panasonic's Varicam or HVX200, or any other camera -- camera is a camera is a normal assumption, there might be dofferences and small issues but not a total meltdown. The problem is that noone tells you that RED is still in an experimental mode unlike the other cameras i mentioned above, so while i generaly expect other cameras to work this one just didn't.

Coursedesign wrote on 4/14/2008, 10:19 AM

Patryk,

You must be wishing that you had read the ProVideoCoalition comparison of RED, F23 and EX1 before your shoot.

Lots of useful info in the article, and lots of useful info (as well as garbage) in the many comments.

Coursedesign wrote on 4/14/2008, 10:55 AM

You shot with a RED One?

Sorry, obsolete.

Red.com says the company is offering $17,500 trade-in towards the new Red Epic 5K.

4K is so 2007!

:O)

Patryk Rebisz wrote on 4/14/2008, 11:15 AM

it can barely record 4k withour errors and now they are pushing it to 5k????

Lets develop a time machine and fast forward 6-12 mothns then when they iron out all the issues i might touch it again.
P

Coursedesign wrote on 4/14/2008, 11:26 AM

Well, if you're worried about their 4K, they are now pushing their 3K Scarlet camera.

I'm really glad somebody is developing bleeding edge gear.

But it won't be my blood on the edge.

Patryk Rebisz wrote on 4/14/2008, 11:48 AM

"But it won't be my blood on the edge."

--best quote ever!

farss wrote on 4/14/2008, 2:40 PM

In the case of Red, I'd be more worried about tetanus than blood loss.
Bob.