New dovetail needs to be bought?

[sander kamp]

I am one of the people who have a dovetail and a bottom plate that don't fit. My dovetail is a machined piece and the bottom plate a cast one. They seem to fit alright but put the camera on a tripod and there is so much play that when I grab the top handle I can move it sideways about one centimeter. It just doesn't feel safe.

Rather than complaining in the forum I emailed RED and asked if I could send it back. I got an answer that RED is aware of the problem and working on a new dovetail. I asked if I could exchange my dovetail for the new one but got an email today that it needs to bought rather than replaced.

I am very disappointed in this policy of RED. I am one of the early believers and am now being punished by having to buy a replacement for accessory that that I bought but doesn't do what is it is supposed to - place the camera firmly on a tripod. And what happened to the one year warranty?

[CJ Roy]

I swear my dovetail was rock solid at first, but just recently I started getting play in it. We found that you can kind of bend the baseplate just slightly, by hand, to get it more solid.

Not a permanent solution by any means, maybe a temporary one.

[lisa hayse]

If it was just purchased it should be retunable Right?
what does the policy hold? What is the warranty for?

Any piece of gear that doesn't work properly often happens in this business
but customers should not have to pay for that mistake.
The seller should always do what they can to keep customers happy.
That is how business grows and that's what keeps customers coming back.


Lisa

[Paolo Tinari]

I swear my dovetail was rock solid at first, but just recently I started getting play in it. We found that you can kind of bend the baseplate just slightly, by hand, to get it more solid.

Not a permanent solution by any means, maybe a temporary one.

same phenomenon here. and she just started wobbling on a real set, maybe scared of rude technicians.
A little embarassing, but, yah, someone here said that is supposed be used for shoulder only so some wobblings are ok...

I'm still waiting for my eternally backordered Arri 19 btw, the solution

[Finner]

Pay a little more and get accessories of higher quality that last for life.

elementtechnica.com

[Matt Uhry]

-> What Finner said. The element baseplate and dovetail are solid and industry standard. Highly recommended.

Matt Uhry
www.mattuhry.com

[Ivan G]

Can we purchase element technica products through RED's website? Because I just paid with a check and need to get this nightmare resolved before I kick myself for not doing so. Yes, I'm very excited about receiving my RED but not with all negative feedback on accessories.

[Brent@RED]

I know Jarred and I have posted in other threads but I will address again.

First, the DOVETAIL was never designed to be a rock-solid tripod mounting option. That is why we offer the CHEESE PLATE. The DOVETAIL was to be used primarily for handheld work - but does have mounting holes should you want to put it up on sticks, etc.

Second, like we have also said, we have listened to your feedback. While we (RED) thought it was very clear the usage scenarios for the DOVETAIL, you have stated that the expectation is for more solid mounting with the DOVETAIL and without using the CHEESE PLATE. And, like we have said, we are looking into options to meet that end. There are no guarantees other than we are looking at options based on your feedback.

Thanks, BC

[Kokinos Fotographos]

So Brent, any ET guys, what us the best mount solution for my Sachler V20 head and chroziel 16x9 matte box and rod system? I'm not home to check what rod system I have. Money is no object for structure and support of my soon to be purchased Red. I want to be able to go handheld easily too.

[Brent@RED]

Speaking from the RED side, I know a lot of people will have two BOTTOM PLATES - one with CHEESE PLATE and one with DOVETAIL so it is only a matter of changing 4x hex bolts to swap. Usually people us 24" RODS on handheld config and leave 18" RODS on the tripod one. Then just a matter of swapping UNIVERSAL MOUNTS of any mounted gear on bottom RODS. Just a solution we see frequently....

BC