Red Prep

[gdv]

Has anyone have a list of what need to be checked while preparing a Red camera for a shoot?
Like in 35mm r 16mm the 1 AC will check camera running, scratch test of mags, eyefocusing the lenses when going for a commercial shot, while going for a longer term feature shooting he will even shoot a steady and focus tests.
Some parts of that kind of prep will work for the insurance when apply.
Any thoughts? experience? a list?

[jbeale]

For anything having to do with the lens, of course it is just the same. Of late the firmware updates have been pretty fast so I'd want to verify that as well as that the media (CF or drive) is formatted. Batteries charged. And the troublesome plastic around the edge of the Red battery connector not about to flake out and do you in (see here for details: http://www.reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=15615 )

[Vigen Vartanov]

For steadycam you need AJA downconverter to make Wireless monitoring in PAL .

[Anders Holck]

A good start would be:
- Inspect the equipment exterior for defects, Check Cables for faliure, especially the EVF/LCD and the power cable/mount.
- Flange focus test. If you dry hire it might be out of spec.
- Check for sensor/Chamber dust. Use Sensor loupe or shoot an empty grey test frame with lens stopped down all the way down, check for dust shadows on a computer.
- Check firmware build. The post chain might depend on a specific build.
- Setup the base settings: Format, Projectrate, frameguide, HD-SDI frequency. The DP might want specific setup of keymapping.
- Do a record/Playback test.
- If using non red batteries without fuel gauge, you might want to time how long they last under full load on the cam.
- Polish the RED logo etc...

[BASSAM MSSALATIE]

Thanks Anders for your important notes ..

[Ramesh Jai]

A good start would be:
- Inspect the equipment exterior for defects, Check Cables for faliure, especially the EVF/LCD and the power cable/mount.
- Flange focus test. If you dry hire it might be out of spec.
- Check for sensor/Chamber dust. Use Sensor loupe or shoot an empty grey test frame with lens stopped down all the way down, check for dust shadows on a computer.
- Check firmware build. The post chain might depend on a specific build.
- Setup the base settings: Format, Projectrate, frameguide, HD-SDI frequency. The DP might want specific setup of keymapping.
- Do a record/Playback test.
- If using non red batteries without fuel gauge, you might want to time how long they last under full load on the cam.
- Polish the RED logo etc...
"Polish the Red Logo..." LOL! True..

[sbaechler]

Check all your lenses on the red. Some have a different focus depht on the Red than on a film camera. I had to have the Zeiss HS 50mm adjusted.

And do all the camera adjustments during prep. No reset to factory settings on the set when everyone is ready to shoot ;-)

[Michael Morlan]

Anders, I would add;

Format all media and assure project settings are retained.

It is possible that, when loading media from a previous project, the camera will adopt that older project's settings. Formatting everything during prep will eliminate this hassle on set.

Michael