The RED ONE video camera is ideal for low-budget film and documentary makers because its modular and lightweight. You can wire it to audio equipment and external video equipment. You can add pieces such as viewfinders and lenses of your choice to customize the way the camera works for you. Here are some tips to get started.
Basics
The point of the RED ONE video camera is to get professional-level high definition digital video recording. This is not a camera for home movies but for making a professional movie. Essentially, the camera body is a foundation to build your own custom movie camera. The body itself has a slot for a Secure Digital (SD) memory card near the front left, but it also has a clip-on hard drive. You can mount it on a tripod or use it on the shoulder. You can use the video monitor that swings and pivots to exactly the position you want, or attach an external, full-sized monitor. Basically, the camera body has rails or tubes that can be attached at the bottom and top to add accessories. Nearly everything is an accessory, too, from the video monitor to the battery and hard drive.
Assemble the Body
To get started, take the basic body and attach the rails. On the top rail, slide on the video monitor and connect it to the monitor socket. Attach the battery and hard drive assembly at the back by sliding them onto the top rods. Both plug directly into the rear of the camera, just below the menu window. On the lower rails at the front, slide on the follow-focus attachment, either right-handed or left-handed to your preference. The on-camera monitor adapter also slides onto the rods at the top and can be positioned to either side, too. To get full use of the camera as a movie-making machine, attach a matte box to the front of the lens. This will give you the film frame aspect and it allows you to add filters in a convenient slot. You can add "French flags" to the matte box to keep out stray and unwanted light.
Using Attachments
To attach a viewfinder, use the row of three connectors on the right toward the front. To connect audio devices for input, use the second row of four connectors. For audio output, use the next row of two sockets near the middle of the right side. You also can use SDI or USB cables in in the next row. There also are four recessed sockets for video output near the front of the right side. The audio and video connectors are not standard. For example, for video out, the RED ONE does not have standard BNC (Bayonet Neill-Concelman) outputs. Connect an adapter cable here. The same holds true for SDI (Serial Digital Interface) and XLR connectors. Once assembled and powered up, you are ready to shoot.
Tags: camera body, hard drive, video monitor, battery hard, battery hard drive
