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View Full Version : Ruggedness/ Shock Tests?


Harry Clark
03-20-2007, 05:10 PM
Just wondering, as the prototypes start coming together, has the Red team put Natasha or Boris through some serious shaking?
I have spent the last two weeks on a large Hollywood movie's stunt unit doing absolutely horrific car crashes in New York City. We had 4 Eyemo cameras in Clairmont crash housings for the really dangerous positions. But there was plenty of bouncing around on car rigs for the 435s and 235s as well. One rig involved 2 cameras mounted on a slide rail system, inside a picture car that got pulled 300 degrees around by a ram/ cable system. On a certain cue, a special effects guy pulled a cable/ pulley system and both cameras rocketed along the slide rail at the actor and stopped (REALLY) abruptly at the end of the track. We also had the grips rig up a hammer drill to one of the 235s to shake the image (why they didn't rent Clairmont's excellent camera shaker device is a mystery to me)
Anyway, the 235 that got the hammer drill shot film flawlessly, but after a short time, any shaking/ hammering made the IVS video tap cut out. It got me thinking: how would an electronic camera fare under these conditions? I've had my HDX-900 on a car rig before, but not under such extreme vibration. I have seen rollercoaster and fighter-jet footage shot on video where the video image shorts out at times (although admittedly, footage from the 80's and 90's, so maybe cameras have improved here)
I figure at some point these cameras will get used on all sorts of productions, and it's only a matter of time before one goes on a vibrating car rig, so I was just wondering if some thought has gone into shock absorbency within the Red body, especially around the sensor (presumably the most sensitive part)
Red team, how about it?
Cheers,
Harry
Brook Willard
03-20-2007, 05:12 PM
With a flash-based recording device, there should be no moving parts in the RED ONE. At least to my knowledge.
Harry Clark
03-20-2007, 05:15 PM
It's not moving parts that I fear for, but sensitive electronic components...
Eirik Tyrihjel
03-20-2007, 06:04 PM
Fair questions, definetly in the area where I would hate to thrust a hard disk system.

IŽd love to know how the RED would handle all the noise (electronic and otherwise) onboard a helicopter.
MikeCurtis
03-20-2007, 06:36 PM
My opinion - for any kind of intense physical environment, solid state is CLEARLY the way to go. I do recall hearing about how Oakley had a huge shake & bake lab (heat & other environmental factors) that they used on their own stuff. Since Jim started Oakley and started Red, and I know the kind of rigors he wants to put his own personal camera through, I figure he'll do some pretty serious testing on some units at some point. Boris/Natasha/Silk may be too early/fragile/rare/expensive to do that to, but I'll betcha at some point some kit bashing will take place. Long term, I think these guys will be pretty "on it" in terms of those kinds of issues. Mayhap this is why the weight went up? Jim did mention "tank like" I think at one point....or was that somebody else?

-mike
Jarred Land
03-20-2007, 06:51 PM
We have been testing Boris, Natasha as well as the Red Proto's that have come before for durability and to see where things break.. and we have put them through some serious G-Shock tests and other real world random assaults.. learned alot along the way.

When you guys pick up the RED ONE.. and if anyone ever gets the opportunity to look inside.. you will see how solid the camera is.. it literally is built like a tank.
Craig Bowman
03-20-2007, 07:04 PM
Remember the old Timex torture tests from years ago...

"We strapped a Red One and its operator to the propeller of this modern high speed racing boat and ran the boat for a 1/4 mile at full throttle. The operator is torn to shreds, but the Red is still capturing in full 4K! That's the Red titanium difference!"
Brook Willard
03-20-2007, 09:06 PM
When you guys pick up the RED ONE.. and if anyone ever gets the opportunity to look inside.. you will see how solid the camera is.. it literally is built like a tank.

Any chance of posting some innards pictures someday? Presumably after NAB/the camera has shipped... I really wanna see under the hood.
Moir
03-21-2007, 03:27 AM
.. it literally is built like a tank.

Speaking of tanks, and apologies for being a mile OT, but if anybody is interested in collecting this sort of stuff, there is a very cool Zeiss WW2 German tank periscope for sale in an antique shop close to my office.
Emmanuel Cambier
03-21-2007, 06:45 AM
Well when you say OT, you sure do mean OT my friend :)
Zakaree Sandberg
03-21-2007, 07:35 AM
for the hard-drive issue...why not build some sort of gyroscope shock mount housing for the red drive? so that even if there is extreme movement the drive should not be too affected
Stuart English
03-21-2007, 08:00 AM
Its a good ideaa, but we didn't because a) the human body - i.e your shoulders, back and knees - do a very effective anti-shock job, and b) using flash memory will be a much less expensive and reliable alternative to a complex mechanical design if a) is not an option.
Zakaree Sandberg
03-21-2007, 01:58 PM
Its a good ideaa, but we didn't because a) the human body - i.e your shoulders, back and knees - do a very effective anti-shock job, and b) using flash memory will be a much less expensive and reliable alternative to a complex mechanical design if a) is not an option.

no i know.. im not saying red make it.. im saying.. IM GUNNA MAKE IT:)
Mainly for use when running with the camera... mounting it on a jib or car mount...