Making RED more handholdable?

[Bob England]

I apologise in advance if this is against the rules, but I thought it was too good an idea not to discuss here.
Over on the CML in an ongoing thread titled "Is RED a handheld or studio camera?", Dan Drasin, a Producer/DP has posted the following suggestion:
"If the body had rosettes on both sides, low-down at the front, you could attach a handle on the right (a curved design that would end up laterally centered in front), and the viewfinder on the left. A rosette mount would allow you to swing the finder fore and aft as needed, and also lock it very solidly. That's the sort of thing I've been talking about. Simple, compact and rugged, with no arms or appendages that can come loose or snag on things.
Seems to me a simple plate could be designed that bolts onto the bottom of the camera, has integral rosettes up front on both sides, and a wide, curved shoulder pad that can slide fore and aft. This, or something like it, might transform the Red One into an elegantly handholdable camera, with no need to redesign the basic module."

Sound like a good idea? Maybe a for 3rd-party accessory?

[zak forrest]

Element Technica is on this one

[Jaron Berman]

Well a total physical redesign would be a great idea, to fix some of the "revolutionary" mistakes like - rear control panel??? mini connectors (on a full-size body)??? and lack of any forethought into handheld???.

Third parties have been part of the plan since day 1... they just didn't know RED's ID team was out to spite them. Even though essentially ALL purchasers have complained of all of these physical design problems and more, it's not likely the form will ever be changed in favor of function. For that reason, as Zak mentioned, Element Technica, Zacuto, and others are coming up with bolt-on accessories to make it work. With Element's new pieces, it works quite well actually, almost as it should have from the factory. Paraphrasing Stephen's words "our stuff isn't elegant, but it works well." All kitted-up it fits the military look, but its hard to look past the inefficiency of bolting on band-aids to problems that could have been solved a year ago internally. Yes - RED is on a seemingly impossible mission, and right now they're up to their necks trying to get cameras and accessories that go out the door to stay in the field without need for service. No small task for a startup, and so far they've spent a lot of money exchanging parts to keep the early adopters happy. Great service! But because they've exceeded expectations in some areas doesn't mean they get a pass in others. Perhaps this discussion will continue long enough to persuade the powers that be.

RED will be a great camera, and seeing Element's pieces is a huge relief from an operators standpoint. It's just disappointing to get so excited about add-ons that allow the camera to behave in NORMAL ways. Huge step forward in price/image quality, giant leap backwards in user interface.

[Ken Corben]

Have you posters on this thread shot with the camera?

The complete concept of REDONE is modularity. Here are two examples of just that...

Cine style set up that is configured like the handheld Panavision cameras I shot numerous fight scenes with in the past

OR

EFP style as being shot by Gibby in the field. Same camera body meeting the demands of both worlds in a tapeless 4K world. Total redesign? Guess we won't see you at the Emmy's next year while you are waiting for a redesign :-)

[Jaron Berman]

I don't understand Jeffrey, you're trash talking about the Emmy's but saying the same things I did?