Red Camera Tips

I’m collecting a summary of tips for shooting on the Red One camera (with original Red One chip, as per the model we have available at the VCA). Culled from other useful references are the Red manuals and various forums and interviews.

TIPS FOR SHOOTING RED ONE

• COLOUR TEMPERATURE
  • Shoot daylight colour temp where possible as sensor operates better when blue channel activated – LEDs, Kinos, blue gels –  add some blue into mix with tungsten if necessary (e.g. a quarter blue on a backlight/fill with key tungsten)
  • The color temperature look you give in the Red menu is not “baked in” – this is stored as metadata and can be altered later
• EXPOSURE
  • Approx 10 stops of latitude, but linear instead of logarithmic curve (see below)
  • Under-expose footage a little in general (opposite to film) – rate the camera at 320, 400, 500 or 640 ASA (it is rated at 200)
  • Linear exposure curve (as opposed to film’s logarithmic curve) means highlights (particularly) and shadows (not as much) not as detailed as film so
    • If you want detail in highlights, expose them in the 70-80% range
    • Flesh-tones recommended to expose at 40-50% range
    • Or in particular situations if worried about noisy blacks – rate at 100 ASA
  • Options for using meters to expose conservatively
    • Traffic lights only just activating on each RGB channel (just clipping)
    • Wide exposure curve on histogram, not cut off too much at either end
    • False colours – minimum exposure is purple, max is red – keep highlights pink
    • Zebras – dual zebras set to Zebra 1 (NW/SE) highlights (90% – 109%) and Zebra 2 (NE/SW) skin tones (44% – 47%) – these are defaults, you can change them in menus (e.g. highlights to 70% – 80 %
• ROLLING SHUTTER AND OTHER DIGITAL EFFECTS
  • Flash bulbs can appear in half the frame only if flash is shorter duration than e.g. 1/10^th second – test flash effects first and/or use adjustable strobes
  • Panning can cause “leaning” vertical lines – be conscious and test first
  • Fast handheld can look wobblier than it would otherwise (jellyvision) – test first if extreme movement is used
  • Moire and other aliasing effects – fine detail on things like striped business shirts or grates can cause “moire effects” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moiré_pattern
    • be conscious of this with wardrobe / production design and location scouting
    • can hide by putting area out of focus
    • some filters are available to counter this
• RESOLUTION
  • Plan for any unusual frame-rates. Camera can’t shoot faster than 25fps at 4K resolution. Shoot any scenes requiring faster frame-rates at appropriate lower-resolution so all shots will match within the scene .e.g.
    • Up to 50fps at 3K
    • Up to 100fps at 2K
  • NOTE THIS CROPPING OF SENSOR CHANGES LENS CALCULATIONS e.g. you will need a a 25mm lens on 2K to match the frame-size of a 50mm lens on 4K, so the widest lens in your kit will not be nearly as wide anymore.
  • Any re-framing can’t be done at VCA in the online – must be done in After Effects and re-imported prior to online. Note: resolution will be lost when cropping frames.
• LENSES
  • ALWAYS check back-focus when checking gear – refer to manual for how-to http://www.red.com/support
  • PL mount lenses
  • Lenses will respond as close equivalent to 35mm film cameras (at 4K res)
• RECORDING MEDIA
  • Unmount media before ejecting (hold down UNDO + EXIT)
  • Compact Flash cards hold 50% of minutes vs. gigs e.g. 16GB card will hold 8 minutes of footage at 4K
  • Use Shotput Pro to transfer files to PC/Mac (purchase license)
  • Backup to two external hard drive
    • Preferably LaCie Rugged – keep in two separate locations after shoot
  • • Preferably using RAID data redundancy
  • FORMAT media when inserted ready for shooting each time
  • Set up data wrangling station and tape off on location – no entry, secure power
• AUDIO
  • Camera has 4 x mini-XLR audio inputs (need mini-XLR – XLR adapters) and phantom power option
  • Set input levels with tone from external mixer/recorder (e.g. PD204)
• HANDHELD
  • Weight
    • Weight of individual Red camera parts as many configurations possible (PLUS matte box, filters, follow-focus, etc.) http://visualnary.com/2010/01/15/weigth-of-red-one-camera-and-accessoires.html
    • How to assemble as ultra light-weight http://www.wonderhowto.com/how-to-assemble-red-one-camera-into-light-weight-mode-244725/
    • Expect 15kg – 25 kg depending on configuration (before shoulder mount or easy-rig)
  • Viewfinder is mounted badly by default – look for EVF adapter mount to enable this to be mounted level with eye, rather than poking down
  • Handheld mount options
    • CHECK any options below will work for the Red configuration you have – some other accessories may be necessary to fit these mounts properly
    • Mantis, a swivelling adjustable shoulder mount with much better EVF mount (if included) – http://www.elementtechnica.com/hand-held-kit/background.php
      • When using special EVF mount, flip base-plate on viewfinder (so RED label is facing out, but upside down) or it will hit matte box
    • Easy-Rig, a backpack / overhead cable design which distributes weight to hips and back rather than shoulder – can shoot at shoulder, hip and knee level http://www.lemac.com.au/sales/EASYRIG/Easyrig.htm
    • Steadicam Flyer LE / Archer (need more info on other options for this) http://www.tiffen.com/video_flyerle.htm
  • It’s a computer – doesn’t like extreme movement esp. when using hard drives
• SETUP
  • Set programmable buttons on side to desired functions e.g. zebras/false-colour & digital zoom (to crash in and focus)
  • Set project resolution e.g. 4K
  • Set timecode e.g. input from sound recorder
  • Set audio recording format, channel mix & levels
• IT’S A COMPUTER
  • Takes 90 seconds to boot – SO PLAN TO CHANGE BATTERIES EARLY
  • Each camera has its own quirks (odd software anomalies)
  • CHECK FOR DROPPED FRAMES – on LCD or EVF after each take
  • CHECK PLAYBACK OF PRINT TAKES – to ensure file is recorded properly
  • Doesn’t like
    • Extreme movement (will drop frames when using hard drive)
    • Extreme temperature esp. heat (may shut down – can use ice packs to help cool)
• OTHER TIPS
  • Default gain (NO GAIN) is “1” not “0”. Must be set to 1 for image to appear.
  • Option to create QT proxies after each clip is recorded – set this in the PROJECT menu (but camera can’t roll again until these files are created)
  • Ensure a lens is ALWAYS mounted or back plate mounted on camera (especially in dusty conditions) as cleaning of camera difficult and easily damaged

• RED CAMERA ASSISTANT CHECK-LIST – AC KIT
  • RED Manuals and RED menus maps
  • Set of Allen keys – CHECK they are complete sets of imperial and metric
  • Ice packs for over-heating (find freezer for these if hot day)
  • Checklist of Red Camera parts and accessories in kit (from hire company)
  • Standard film AC kit
    • Tool belt / fanny-pack / pouch / waistcoat to hold following gear
      • Rosco Lens tissue & Lens fluid
      • Camera tape x2 colours & Gaffer tape & Safety stripe tape
      • Blunt-nose scissors, knife & mini screwdriver set – or leatherman
      • Cable ties
      • Chinagraph pencil, pencil, pen, permanent marker, dry eraser, chalk
      • Notepad
      • Small LED Flashlight
      • Soft measuring tape, hard measuring tape & digital tape measure
      • Water bottle attached to belt with carabineer, panadol
    • Bag with spare phone charger, muesli bars, water, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, insect repellent, bandaids, tissues, eye-drops, rain jacket, jumper, spare jeans & t-shirt, underwear, socks, toothbrush & paste
  • Store these accessories in AC kit
    • Whip (follow focus extension)
    • Focus mark rings