RED Komodo-X

[Uday Bhaskar Karra]

Until we see the Cine lenses coming in RF mount, i don’t think we can expect Red to include Internal ND’s. If you are using EF/PL/LPL lenses, a module is available with ND’s. If you using RF lenses for run&gun like me, its a nothing burger… thats why i pick C70 for that work and comes with reliable AF.

 

[Nick Vera]

Until we see the Cine lenses coming in RF mount, i don’t think we can expect Red to include Internal ND’s. If you are using EF/PL/LPL lenses, a module is available with ND’s. If you using RF lenses for run&gun like me, its a nothing burger… thats why i pick C70 for that work and comes with reliable AF.

I'm a little confused with how it's better and efficient as a customer of any camera brand to buy multiple lens adapters with nd filters for a camera...

*mind you they collect more dust, you shorten your flange distance, and chances are you will not be able to control them wirelessly, unless you buy REDs. it's also assumed RED will be making E-VND systems for EF/PL/LPL. and if they do that remember, you are probably going to have to switch out to a clear cartridge when you don't want to use an E-VND, increasing your chances of the glass in front of the sensor and the ND getting dust*

vs. a camera just having an internal ND filter system from the get go?

I'm very curious about the logic on the positives of excluding an internal ND system ?

 

[Phil Holland]

I'm very curious about the logic on the positives of excluding an internal ND system ?

I personally would like to see RED develop both their eND as well as Mechanical ND solutions. I don't mind it being built into a mount as that can be swapped out, which has big advantages both optically and in terms of serviceability.

The main reason I don't use the internal ND on other cameras is the majority of the time they are a far cry from the best filtration currently available. Particularly that pesky 1.8 or when stacking filters. But I have no doubt that the convenience factor outweighs that in a major way to most. More or less if a DP hasn't experienced the downsides then they aren't downside to them. That's fine.

The other reason it's a bit of a frustration for many is when that mechanism breaks, the whole camera goes down. Anybody who has experienced that, particularly in the middle of a remote area far from a rental house, will describe that chaos in detail. And RED does cater to a big market of having reliable hardware that can at least handle a decent amount travel shaking in the back of a safari truck or picture car.

Either way, RED has a solution for PL mount on the horizon via eND and there are plenty of other rear of the lens ND solutions going from RF to other mounts. I agree it would be beneficial behind the RF Mount. Unknown if it's beneficial in terms of added cost, weight, and size however. All camera hardware isn't exactly apples to apples. I'm impressed for instance what DJI packed into the X9 camera head, but I understand that doesn't fly necessarily in other platforms as the space is used for other things.

 

[James Sielaff]

Cinema camera should have a 1 and a 2 stop ND base option. That way you can still work with a Mattebox and not have to change iris or swap filters for just 1 or 2 stop changes.

Nothing cinematic about 3 stop jumps, and nothing convenient about the first step being 2 or 3 stops. For example, when working with vintage lenses wide open, the moment you touch the iris, the character of the shot changes drastically.

mich easier to work with external 3 stop ND filters in the mattebox, and the 1,2,3, stops internal ND to make quick work of minor changes. Only run n gun shooters need those huge swings of internal ND.

 

[James Sielaff]

Obviously one size doesn’t fit all, so that is the beauty of the Kippertie Revolva. User swappable cartridges are fantastic.

 

[Phil Holland]

easier

Easier is fine, but best practices are not to stack any ND filters. Creative on top, fine, but ND stacking is not ideal.

 

[James Sielaff]

Easier is fine, but best practices are not to stack any ND filters. Creative on top, fine, but ND stacking is not ideal.

true. Not ideal at all.


1 stop stacking is better than losing light.

i just meant that working with a Mattebox and external ND is easy. It is not a lot of time to put a 0.9 in the frame. But when working with available light, the choice is often between iris, iso, and filtration. 1 stop of internal ND has less of a stylistic effect on the image than iris or iso.

 

[Han Vogen]

Another image

 

[James Sielaff]

Actually looks like a baby DSMC now.

 

[Nick Vera]

I personally would like to see RED develop both their eND as well as Mechanical ND solutions. I don't mind it being built into a mount as that can be swapped out, which has big advantages both optically and in terms of serviceability.

The main reason I don't use the internal ND on other cameras is the majority of the time they are a far cry from the best filtration currently available. Particularly that pesky 1.8 or when stacking filters. But I have no doubt that the convenience factor outweighs that in a major way to most. More or less if a DP hasn't experienced the downsides then they aren't downside to them. That's fine.

The other reason it's a bit of a frustration for many is when that mechanism breaks, the whole camera goes down. Anybody who has experienced that, particularly in the middle of a remote area far from a rental house, will describe that chaos in detail. And RED does cater to a big market of having reliable hardware that can at least handle a decent amount travel shaking in the back of a safari truck or picture car.

Either way, RED has a solution for PL mount on the horizon via eND and there are plenty of other rear of the lens ND solutions going from RF to other mounts. I agree it would be beneficial behind the RF Mount. Unknown if it's beneficial in terms of added cost, weight, and size however. All camera hardware isn't exactly apples to apples. I'm impressed for instance what DJI packed into the X9 camera head, but I understand that doesn't fly necessarily in other platforms as the space is used for other things.

Amen

 

[Scott Balkum]

I hope Komodo X doesnt signify the end of support for Komodo. Lot of people mocking Komodo on other sites saying it is still a "beta" camera. I really hope Komodo is still updated/supported, also does Grame still work for Red?

To quote Jarred, “This is not a Komodo 2. This sits beside Komodo”. To be clear, Komodo will be around for a whille!

 

[Brian Timmons]

also does Grame still work for Red?

Nice Andrew. You actually got me to log into my virtually unused LinkedIn account (inherited from my old Lynda.com account) just to check this.
Graeme Nattress Is still listed as working for RED which is much appreciated by many of us for his great work.

Was there a specific reason you thought he left?

Brian Timmons
BRITIM/MEDIA

 

[Bastien Tribalat]

Another image

So no NDs then. But damn she looks nice and DAMN AGAIN the fact we can use THIS monitor solution is so cool.

 

[Phil Holland]

THIS monitor solution is so cool.

I'm very curious to see how the DSMC3 Touch and Top LCD on Komodo-X interact with each other. Like can you use both or is there a lockout. My favorite weird workflow discovery during Komodo's launch was to run my Exposure Tools on the Top LCD the Focus and Framing Tools on a 7" or 5" monitor. Was a clean little workflow.

But yeah. Real big deal to not need the extra gak when it comes to cables. Komodo-X makes me curious if we see a smaller Touch and that could save some power draw as well.

This shot shows 6K 80fps again. Pretty much an extra 20fps than many were expecting. More and more it looks like Komodo-X is about doubling the frame rates which gets it pretty darn close to was OG Dragon's base specs were. Except this body is smaller, global shutter, and all that.

CFx bay looks identical to V-Raptor in size and function. So that answers that.

Real questions remaining are if there are more specs we don't know about. What the bloody thing weighs, etc. Komodo is about 2lbs. Is this 3lbs naked with the additional length?

I am personally extremely happy with the change to V-Mount. BP was fun and useful, but on Komodo I basically used a V-Mount adapter about 95% of the time and that did add about the same length if not more to sort of match what we have now.

 

[Stephen Pruitt]

I am personally extremely happy with the change to V-Mount. BP was fun and useful, but on Komodo I basically used a V-Mount adapter about 95% of the time and that did add about the same length if not more to sort of match what we have now.

Yes, but what that V-mount adapter got you was POWER for your accessories. Those of us who use Komodos for our A-cams (and I realize there may not be many of us), got a couple of 14.8 D-tap and Lemo outlets, and a 5V USB out, as well. For the new design to do that, we'll need a V-mount adapter attached to a V-mount, which is hardly the sturdiest thing ever conceived. Not only that, but your antenna is sticking out the back now just waiting to be snapped off, whereas before it was on the side and out of the way. and protected by the body. Bottom line? I don't like the new form factor, but apparently that's just me.

 

[Han Vogen]

To quote Jarred, “This is not a Komodo 2. This sits beside Komodo”. To be clear, Komodo will be around for a whille!

Yeah, but Jarred also said there is a new Komodo Mk2 in the works. And Red is rightly be mocked for the Komodo Mk1 as relates to the seemingly endless beta status. The last stable release was over a year ago. That’s just fudding nuts:




What I honestly don’t get… Red makes many larger cameras. Komodo was supposed to be a small, light, stick anywhere camera. I’m just finding it hard to get onboard with the bloating up of this body. I’m fine with the option to add a V-mount solution, but that should be optional; So when needed it can be configured to be small again. Built in eVNDs is, again… about keeping the shooting package small.

I really feel Red has lost what made Komodo so appealing to so many.

 

[James Sielaff]

Yeah, but Jarred also said there is a new Komodo Mk2 in the works. And Red is rightly be mocked for the Komodo Mk1 as relates to the seemingly endless beta status. The last stable release was over a year ago. That’s just fudding nuts:

filedata/fetch?id=3815843&d=1683981924

The Gemini Ranger got EOL’d months after release along with DSMC2 line. When I purchased I asked the rep, is this DSMC2? Is there a discount? And they said, “no, we cannot discount, this is our latest tech and sensor…” but come two months later, tech support is telling me no more updates because it is DSMC2.

I wouldn’t trust RED at their word.

 

[TYLER STOOKSBURY]

Yes, but what that V-mount adapter got you was POWER for your accessories. Those of us who use Komodos for our A-cams (and I realize there may not be many of us), got a couple of 14.8 D-tap and Lemo outlets, and a 5V USB out, as well. For the new design to do that, we'll need a V-mount adapter attached to a V-mount, which is hardly the sturdiest thing ever conceived. Not only that, but your antenna is sticking out the back now just waiting to be snapped off, whereas before it was on the side and out of the way. and protected by the body. Bottom line? I don't like the new form factor, but apparently that's just me.

It’s ok for it to not be best for you. I totally get that.

For myself, the jobs I’ll take this out on, I’ll be plenty happy with the I/O here. Especially if I get the DSMC3 monitor. We also haven’t seen the modules that RED is coming out with. I would imagine we will see one with some nice power options.

 

[Patrick Tresch]

How is the picture?

I would love to see that. Like even a stupid Xyla chart or even a R3D grab from a city at night, a face, or some forest...

Is it in par with Mysterium-x, Dragon, Monstro, Raptor?

 

[Phil Holland]

To perhaps lighten the doom and gloom crowd, Komodo's last Beta Firmware was April, 2023. Last month. And that typically means once all is working and/or worked out, a stable release build is on the near horizon.

The last Betas have added a lot of features as well. If anything, that is something to look forward to.

I won't tell everybody to use Beta Firmware on production shoots, but I do pretty often. Currently rollong with my Raptors now on the latest build. Otherwise, just standby until a release build comes.