Hardlined EFP

[Julian Banos]

Has anyone done any testing setting up Red with a EFP Production Truck? I have a head engineer from a Network (hint: they make a ton of soap operas) asking me about this feature. And this company in interested in testing with a couple of RED cameras for a weekend.
Gibby any pointers on this issue?

[Dylan Reeve]

I don't believe the RED is especially suitable for this, it has none of the standard hardlined EFP features that purpose-built EFP cameras do (intercom, remote image control, return video) and I believe there are genlock issues too.

Although at it's most basic I guess it would work, it will spit out 720P HD-SDI which should be able to feed a production truck (the genlock issue is going to be the only major headache there). But lack CCU will mean that there's no guarantee of match video, which is a big issue with live switched production.

I've worked on a show that was live-cut from non-CCUd cameras and it was a massive pain. In a controlled situation (soap opera) it might be more manageable, but certainly painful for live event production.

[Steve Gibby]

As I mentioned in my EFP & ENG with RED sticky at the head of this forum, hardlined EFP is not RED ONE's strongest intended use. That said, RED ONE has some of the features needed for hardlined EFP: RS232, 12v auxiliary power for powered zoom and record/stop when using B4 2/3" HD EFP/ENG zooms, and genlock. There are workarounds for return video and intercom.

Can RED ONE be used for hardlined EFP? Yes. Is it RED ONE's strongest use? No.

Thinking out loud though, RED ONE is a very capable non-hardlined EFP B-camera to use for pickup shots to augment a hardlined EFP production - creative b-roll where cinematic, S35mm DOF were desired for montages to cut and roll into the hardlined production.