Komodo Mk2 coming soon?

[Han Vogen]

In a recent livestream with YouTuber Carlos Quintero, Red CEO Jarred Land joined the chat and posted that it’s like they have a crystal ball, referring to user requests for an updated Komodo version. He later joined the video livestream as a guest and went on to hint that not only was a Komodo Mk2 in the works, but also a new camera that would sit between Komodo and Raptor. Price expected to fall around the $12k mark.

Here is the video:

 

[Brian Timmons]

What we know:

S35
8K 40fps
Larger body size than Komodo OG.

Hey Andrew,
Are these confirmed specs by RED?
Haven't heard of any confirmations on features
other than it likely not having mini sdi.


Brian Timmons
BRITIM/MEDIA

 

[Phil Holland]

Are these confirmed specs by RED?

Jarred popped on my instagram live earlier today and it sounds like a few things mentioned elsewhere are close to spec. Nothing mentioned here however.

I'd say from previous conversations and teases, these are likely:
- Locking RF Mount
- CFexrpess Media
- Likely 6K w/ higher fps, could be higher res, but RED won't eat their currently lineup of premium cameras
- Format size unknown. Could be the same, could be different size. We do know it will be a new sensor though.
- Likely more compatibility with DSMC3 AKS, like the 7.0" Touch and RMI
- Very likely a more industry standard battery mount too, but hard to say

We were joking, and it's not clear if Jarred was, but Komodo-X might be the name. Might not either. Komodo XL, which many have been saying, certainly isn't the way to think about it.

 

[Brian Timmons]

Jarred popped on my instagram live earlier today and it sounds like a few things mentioned elsewhere are close to spec. Nothing mentioned here however.

I'd say from previous conversations and teases, these are likely:
- Locking RF Mount
- CFexrpess Media
- Likely 6K w/ higher fps, could be higher res, but RED won't eat their currently lineup of premium cameras
- Format size unknown. Could be the same, could be different size. We do know it will be a new sensor though.
- Likely more compatibility with DSMC3 AKS, like the 7.0" Touch and RMI
- Very likely a more industry standard battery mount too, but hard to say

We were joking, and it's not clear if Jarred was, but Komodo-X might be the name. Might not either. Komodo XL, which many have been saying, certainly isn't the way to think about it.

Thanks Phil.
Those basic specs sound about right though I have a feeling RED is still feeling things out.

I actually sort of prefer staying 6K S35.
To me, the appeal of Komodo is not as much in the specs as it is in the user experience particularly related to the size, low power draw, and wireless connectivity among others.
Komodo always felt like it took some of the physical and technical "overhead" away from the filmmaking process. Or in short, it made filmmaking a bit more "fun".

The trick with a higher end Komodo is balancing updated specs and keeping that same user experience if not improving it.

Brian Timmons
BRITIM/MEDIA

 

[Brian Timmons]

With the talk of B&H dropping prices on the Dragon X I took another look at the specs on that camera.
If RED and made a new/higher end Komodo that matched Dragon X's major resolution & frame rate features they will likely hit the sensor specs most people might want.

Interesting though that while I like Dragon X, I would not be enthusiastic with RED just releasing a Dragon X style camera at a $10-12k price point.

I still think the revolution in the Komodo is in the size, low heat/low power, wireless features, and the versatility the sum of those characteristics brings.

That feature balance brings such a easy going/less stressful filmmaking experience that again transcends specs.
Further building on the concept of what Phil called the "utility camera" would be a good starting point.

For a lower end RED, the idea of the utility camera might be a decent approach of differentiating a Komodo line from the higher end RED cameras beyond just lower specs.

Brian Timmons
BRITIM/MEDIA