Getting a SmallHD monitor for the Komodo... is the Camera Control neceessary?

[Stephen Ford]

I'm curious if purchasing the monitor and the license is needed, or can I simply display the feed on the SmallHD with SDI?

 

[michael fetner]

You don't have to get the camera control. The monitor works as a viewing monitor when connected via SDI.

The camera control allows you to use the smallHD as a touch screen monitor for the Komodo, instead of using the komodos screen. Without the camera control you have to use the komodo top screen to cycle through menus and functions.

 

[Christopher A. Bell]

My .02... The camera control isn't quite ready for prime time. Using a friends on a shoot recently, it was more of a hassle than anything. It's a process for the monitor and camera to connect to each other. Unless they just didn't set something up properly, it's not automatic when you turn them on and it feels like an eternity waiting for them to connect and then finally get an image on the monitor. And it's another cable in the way.

 

[Eric Haase]

I got the Cine7 TX from Small HD. Has a Teradek transmitter in it. I did NOT buy the Komodo control. I guess it would be nice, but currently not worth the money. I do not like the idea of paying extra for software features like this, especially on a monitor that is already almost 3k. It would add slight convenience but the Komodo touchscreen will suffice for now.
I detest the idea of having another cable attached to the monitor. Already an SDI cable is attached, and sometimes power from P-tap as well. Is the cam control a third cable or does it plug into the power port and then you have to use battery power?

I do wish I could just have 2 programmable buttons on the Komodo body that I could set to iris in the rare occasion I am doing true doc shooting with EF lenses. Changing the iris is a chore in a handheld config on the komodo touchscreen, and it might be slightly easier if I used the SmallHD monitor. So for most of my use cases I really don't need the menus accessible aside from the Komodo touchscreen. Hearing that the SmallHD camera control isn't fully baked also now has sealed the deal that I will hold off until I have a real need for it.

 

[M Harvey]

Is the cam control a third cable or does it plug into the power port and then you have to use battery power?

It's an entirely separate control cable. (So yes, it'd be three cables in your example.) Another annoyance: you'd need to switch control cables based on whether you plug directly into the EXT port on the Komodo or into the control port on a breakout box (like the Wooden Camera B-Box or the Red Komodo Expander). That's not SmallHD's fault, of course.

I hold out hope for some good control interface solutions for Komodo in the near future. While the top screen works pretty well much of the time, I do find that accessing it in some common configurations (e.g. with a standard top handle) can be frustrating. The Red Control app is great, but in my experience so far not reliable enough for professional purposes-- and the vagaries of wifi may mean that this will always be a challenge.

 

[Eric Haase]

It's an entirely separate control cable. (So yes, it'd be three cables in your example.) Another annoyance: you'd need to switch control cables based on whether you plug directly into the EXT port on the Komodo or into the control port on a breakout box (like the Wooden Camera B-Box or the Red Komodo Expander). That's not SmallHD's fault, of course.

I hold out hope for some good control interface solutions for Komodo in the near future. While the top screen works pretty well much of the time, I do find that accessing it in some common configurations (e.g. with a standard top handle) can be frustrating. The Red Control app is great, but in my experience so far not reliable enough for professional purposes-- and the vagaries of wifi may mean that this will always be a challenge.

yeah 3 cables is a no go for me. wish they would control the cam wirelessly. wifi/cam control/streaming doesn't have to be unreliable. My $900 DJI drone can be controlled wirelessly and stream video from 2 miles away. Yet my Komodo skips and is laggy with the wireless connection from 2 feet away. I don't know, it sounds like a software issue to me. I love this little camera and it is quite amazing, but RED's continued wi-fi unreliability over the years is very frustrating.

 

[Christopher A. Bell]

While the smallHD monitor control isn't all it's cracked up to be, the app is pretty darn cool. Me and my friend were both able to access, see and control his camera simultaneously from each of our iPhones. We definitely weren't expecting to be able to do that. We figured it would only allow one at a time. Range was pretty decent, but that is 100% dependent on the specific environment you are in at that moment. The only real problem we had was getting out of playback that was initiated from the app. We ended up just having to hit the physical playback button on the camera to get out of it.

 

[Mikael Lubtchansky]

The only real problem we had was getting out of playback that was initiated from the app. We ended up just having to hit the physical playback button on the camera to get out of it.

When in playback just tap on RED DOT on top button row to switch back to preview / record...

 

[Eric Haase]

Can someone please make a receiver that receives the Komodo wifi signal but outputs SDI video to a monitor?

 

[Christopher A. Bell]

When in playback just tap on RED DOT on top button row to switch back to preview / record...

Thanks.

 

[Dana Neibert]

If your monitor is on camera, then the SHD control is really kind of not needed since the Komodo screen is right there with all the controls.

 

[Lars Wikstrom]

I considered it too but the price was I think around $1700 for the SmallHD. I opted for the 3000 nit OSEE 4K for $700 and a larger iPad to run RedControl. It's nice shooting with 2 people because one person operates the ipad and record starts / stops and makes needed adjustments which is to me is faster then using the camera. But I would replace the OSEE if RedControl had focus peaking too, for tri pod work.

 

[Andrew Reese]

Simple Answer for Komodo = Less cables and access to EXT Port for use of other accessories > Second level of camera control. The Komodo touch screen / Buttons (directly below the monitor) are enough in my opinion. Remember you also have RED Control for monitoring / camera control as a secondary interface as well.

SmallHD Camera control for DSCM2 however is another story as the standard non-ultrabrite DSCM2 monitors in my opinion definitely lack the necessary brightness needed for accurate monitoring of levels and peaking but without a DSCM2 monitor you would need the DSMC2 Sidekick Module of the Fool Control App for camera control. This is where SmallHD camera control would make more sense.

 

[M Harvey]

If your monitor is on camera, then the SHD control is really kind of not needed since the Komodo screen is right there with all the controls.

It works well most of the time. But for me, I'd really like to be able to change settings when the top of the camera is hard to access, for example when it's shoulder-mounted or on a tripod at eye level.