Shock-mounted Drive Inside Cradle?

[Medavoym]

Hi!

Did anyone figure a way to prevent the RED DRIVE from getting dropped frames when experiencing vibrations, and STILL keep it inside the Red Cradle?

I'm thinking to drop the RED's standard way to mount the drive in the cradle - I'll just remove the stock mounting system (the two sliding plastic rods). Instead, I'm thinking to either just wrap the drive in bubble wrap and simply slide it inside, or permanently attach foam to the top and bottom of the cradle's insides, leaving enough space to just slide the drive in between the foam.

Before I start, I'm wondering if anyone did something similar already, with good results (zero dropped frames).

Thanks!

PS I don't plan to move to ET's shock-mount system or anything like that, since I already bought the cradle and would like to keep using it.

[zak forrest]

I've had better results than the cradle by just gaff taping the drive to the top of the camera with a sock between the camera body and the drive.

I've also wrapped the drive in a winter hat and slung it next to the camera on a car mount to prevent dropped frames.

both of these mcguyver rigs worked better than the cradle.

http://www.zf-films.com/pictures/lightred/lightred2.jpg
http://www.zf-films.com/pictures/lightred/lightred1.jpg

[Wil Klassen]

Ha! Diggin the mcguyver style rigs! Whatever works, lol.

[Joel Kaye]

My latest setup is similar to Zak's here. I'm using foam rubber under the drive and strapping it to top rod's with rubber bands. I need to stress test it, but I think just about anything that removes the all metal connections might be enough for most situations. I've also moved the battery off camera to a belt plate.

The cradle is OK though. And it's really not that heavy if you remove the heavy battery plate that's on the V-Mount. I'd think foam in that securing the drive would work fine.

[zak forrest]

I only did this a few times, and the car mount thing once. Usually the cradle is okay, but it's too damn heavy. You will be surprised when you get rid of that cradle at how much lighter your rig is.

The ET drive mount should cure all these shenanigans..

Mike Prevette does something similar too, he posted pics a while back, I think it was the most elegant drive mounting solution. If memory serves correct it was a drive just laid on top of the ET top cheeseplate with some foam underneath.

The rig in the blue pics was devised in a few seconds backstage before filming a band, hence the hair ties and gaff tape. But it actually worked fantastic and we kept using the same technique for the rest of the tour..

[Michael Morlan]

Same here. Shot some motorcyle footage in the Central Texas hill country from the back of a U-Haul flatbed trailer. There were constant dropped frames until I simply gaffed the drive with some terry-cloth shop towels to the back rods. Not a single dropped frame after that.

Michael

[Jason Diamond]

we've been testing the ET shock mount and its been amazing. we did a little "follow car" type handheld thing yesterday on a feature and it was beautiful, no dropped frames for any reason.

we also have the ET V mount battery plate and both drive and battery have the speedy clamp for attaching to any Rod anywhere. they will be added to the must have accessories list when they're released for sure.

[zak forrest]

Is it possible to mount the drive on top of the camera and not on a rod? just screwed in or something? If so could you post a pic? That would be awesome

[James Brundige]

we've been testing the ET shock mount and its been amazing. we did a little "follow car" type handheld thing yesterday on a feature and it was beautiful, no dropped frames for any reason.

.

What's that shoulder mount?

[Jason Diamond]

Is it possible to mount the drive on top of the camera and not on a rod? just screwed in or something? If so could you post a pic? That would be awesome

in our case no, but you could put the drive across the rods overhanging in the back on top or bottom. all you need is the room for the speedy clamp which is approx 2" max, and space for the overall unit.

i guess you could possibly screw the shock mount plate, without the vmount piece attached, directly to a cheese plate or ET top plate but i think that may possibly add more vibration but it would bear more testing.

[bobbystone]

Can you show us a pic of the other side of those mounts? It seems to me that the drives would be more stable flat. That way the arms that the heads were on would be less susceptible to up/down movement.

[Jason Diamond]

the cams out on set but as soon as i can i'll take detailed shots of the pieces.
the best part is its very steady any way you mount it. and honestly flat may introduce more motion to the platter.