Komodo Missing Features - Can They Be Added?

[Han Vogen]

It’s my understanding that the Red Komodo 6k was designed to replace action cameras such as the GoPro. I find it strange that given the use case, the Komodo had no image stabilization. Nothing in camera and no data for post stabilization. All action/crash cams have stabilization. Actually, they all have really good stabilization.

OK, so maybe it’s not really a crash/action cam. Why are there no options for XLR inputs? I don’t understand why Red did not allow for an option to add an expansion module that would support XLR and phantom power?

So could these thing be added via firmware and/hardware modules? Are there plans to address these omissions?

 

[Luka Sanader]

So could these thing be added via firmware and/hardware modules?

i dont think they will be adding any XLR's via firmware updates but if they do then Red would become real game changer

jokes aside i personally think that Komodo was intended to re popularize the brand and penetrate a section of the market that is exclusive to Blackmagic and DSLR shooter. I also believe that they had clear vision of the Reptor before they launched Komodo and that Komodo was sort of survey product for new DSMC3 line. Unfortunately i think Komodos future will be similar to Ravens

 

[Han Vogen]

i dont think they will be adding any XLR's via firmware updates but if they do then Red would become real game changer

That’s why I said firmware/hardware… FYI: I’m an engineer by trade.

 

[Chris W.]

Unfortunately i think Komodos future will be similar to Ravens

Dang already? I thought the camera was still in beta and some new features/accessories would be coming. I do hope RED or some other company releases a new global shutter camera with good DR. Maybe gyro data for stabilization, was hoping the komodo would be that

 

[Han Vogen]

I think we should have the option to start/stop recording with timecode also. Lots of audio recorders support this feature. It could definitely be added in firmware.

 

[Brian Timmons]

I think we should have the option to start/stop recording with timecode also. Lots of audio recorders support this feature. It could definitely be added in firmware.

EDIT: I misunderstood your statement.
I see you're referring to trigger start/stop recording.





Are you referring to Time of Day timecode?

If so, it is supported but you have to activate
in the audio menu each time you power cycle the
camera.

Brian Timmons
BRITIM/MEDIA

 

[Phil Holland]

I think we should have the option to start/stop recording with timecode also. Lots of audio recorders support this feature. It could definitely be added in firmware.

That actually would be a hardware update if it's not in there already.

One thing that might be in there that there hasn't been word on is a gyroscope. Enabling that could provide the per frame metadata. As it stands Komodo is pretty much one of if not the best camera for gimbal use with the global shutter.

I think "action cam" means a lot of different things to different people. Komodo's core design if you remember that interview from ages ago was to replace certain non-RAW mirrorless cameras with highly compressed mezzanine codecs or H.265. GoPro by proxy is in that family, but I don't think Komodo was designed to be a GoPro.

I've always placed it as a utility camera that for many could find itself being an A-Camera. I think that's pretty much what's happened in the last year. I saw a full television show even switch over to Komodos because it fit their workflow nicely. I've been using it as a hyper portable/compact camera and "action camera".

Next up that we know of is timelapse stuff, which considering the power efficiency and small form factor is going to be super welcome. Hoping that November update has a few goodies.

 

[Han Vogen]

That actually would be a hardware update if it's not in there already.

I’m going to say you are wrong on this Phil. Komodo can clearly detect when a timecode signal is sent as it displays the status both on the top LCD panel and in the App. It seems to me it would be a simple enough matter to add a function that starts/stops recording when the timecode status listener detects timecode signal status changed… detected/lost.

It’s unequivocally possible from the app side. I say this without even reviewing the code. The callback listeners are already there or else the TC status display could never be updated.

The tricky part would have been detecting the timecode status in the first place, which Komodo can already do. Am I missing something here?

 

[Clovis Libert]

Its my understanding that the Red Komodo 6k was designed to replace action cameras such as the GoPro. I find it strange that given the use case, the Komodo had no image stabilization. Nothing in camera and no data for post stabilization. All action/crash cams have stabilization. Actually, they all have really good stabilization.
...

there is other way to stabilize your footage, try out steadXP using the jack port to sync the data.
Also the global shutter should be a better option for post stab.

Nevertheless, no matter what is the saying of RED about the "Crashcam komodo" i beilieve it is more a first entry camera for newcomer than a actual crashcam, and there is a all lot of feature they dont need (such a xlr). As i noticed at my rental store, Komodo is widely used on music video with Ronin s2. like a lot! it is overtaking the BMD market by far in midrange production.

 

[Tom Rothrock]

I've never opened any RED hardware up to see what's inside, but I would not be surprised if much of the brain besides the sensor is just a big FPGA. What to some might seem like a "simple source code change" is not so simple when you realize you have to modify one or more FPGA cores. And then there's the whole verification and validation process to make sure a modification hasn't broken something or caused a regression.

As for XLR w/phantom power audio input, RED does list in their 3rd-party accessories page (https://www.red.com/third-party-accessories) the Beachtek DXA-RED (https://beachtek.com/product/dxa-red). I'm sure there are other devices that can do much the same thing too.