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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

KOMODO....

Is there a way of finding out exactly where you are on the shipping list? When I purchased mine it said 7-10 days but when i returned to the sight 30 minutes later it said 3-4 weeks.
 
The silence on the RF mount question is concerning. I hope RED hasn't done an about face on RF capability. Giving them the benefit of the doubt I'll go with their last official position that support for RF is forthcoming, but the gentleman in the video calling it a "RF style" mount right off made my spidey sense wig a little bit.

Right? Felt awkward the way he talked about it. It gives the understanding that it won't happen, that electronics are, and will only be available using an RF-EF adapter. I'm interested on this because I'm a photographer 1st, and want to get into the video world, this year we had so many good cameras coming (and the year is not over, waiting to see Sony FX6), and to be able to use RF lenses is essencial to me so I can make informed purchase of my gear.
 
For My Beautiful Wife | Utah Fall | RED Komodo


By
TJ Izzy




"Filmed on the new RED Komodo Stormtrooper with a Sigma 18-35mm f/1.8 DC HSM Art Lens. I just used the LQ compression ratio, which is around 8:1 and 6K 2.4.1 in 23.976 & 50p, imported into a 5K timeline"
 
Right? Felt awkward the way he talked about it. It gives the understanding that it won't happen, that electronics are, and will only be available using an RF-EF adapter. I'm interested on this because I'm a photographer 1st, and want to get into the video world, this year we had so many good cameras coming (and the year is not over, waiting to see Sony FX6), and to be able to use RF lenses is essencial to me so I can make informed purchase of my gear.

Yes, it depends a lot on how complicated the protocol is for RF lenses and what effort Canon has made to keep it proprietary. It took RED awhile to implement their own EF mount and firmware protocol and it was limited to individual lenses that they had been able to profile and verify. And this was after the protocol had been out for 20 years and already reverse engineered by other companies, and many of the lenses had been around for years.

RF mount was only announced two years ago this month and new lenses are coming out all the time. Not to mention we don't know how Canon felt about their EF mount being reverse engineered. If Canon is trying to hide the RF protocol - at least for a few years while they sell their own lenses (and in many ways lenses are the blade (where the most money is made) and cameras are the razor) - it is likely the encryption meethods are much more sophisticated in 2018 than in 1987. Lenses are the area that makes it so Canon can potentially provide much more bang for the buck in the camera because the camera can be a breakeven or even loss leader item and they make it up on the lenses.

It is quite possible that it is not technically or economically feasible for RED to reverse engineer the RF protocol in any near term and it may also be that you have no idea how close you are until you actually break it.

Komodo is still a great camera even if we never get RF control because the flange distance means you can adapt almost any other type of lens - all of the old manual lenses and many of the other brands of electronic lenses that have been around for quite awhile. The extra pins on the RF mount can act like the internal pins on DSMC1/2 that connect with the various RED mounts - only in this case you don't have to change the mount that's attached to the camera.

However, it is a problem for users like me that want to use a dual camera hybrid approach since even having both cameras is less than a $10K investment - but can't justify two sets of lenses.
 
As I understood it, RF support was always a future option. I dont recall any promise of RF support at launch or anytime in the immediate future, and I dont believe Canon provides the protocol to 3rd parties...so if you are needing RF support, this isnt the camera for you. The mount was chosen for easy adaptability to pretty much any mount with inexpensive adapters (except the very similar L mount)

Since RF lenses are completely electronic...they are not usable at all without support and thats no small feat without access to the Canon RF protocol.
 
Just learned something about the Canon BP-9xx batts. I've heard that Canon has in-fact discontinued them, BUT licensed them to BlueShape.

1598285875_IMG_1406974.jpg

That seems very strange, since they are indeed still manufacturing BP-955's...I just received a third order from my dealer that was dropped shipped directly from Canon and manufactured in September.
 
That seems very strange, since they are indeed still manufacturing BP-955's...I just received a third order from my dealer that was dropped shipped directly from Canon and manufactured in September.

That's great for everyone if Canon is still manufacturing them. When the rumor popped up recently, I thought it sounded a little strange and just chalked it up(more than likely) to interference in the normal manufacture and shipping chain caused by CV. But when I later heard it again from a certain person I know, I put more stock in it, because they are in a position to know these types of things.
 
Right? Felt awkward the way he talked about it. It gives the understanding that it won't happen, that electronics are, and will only be available using an RF-EF adapter. I'm interested on this because I'm a photographer 1st, and want to get into the video world, this year we had so many good cameras coming (and the year is not over, waiting to see Sony FX6), and to be able to use RF lenses is essencial to me so I can make informed purchase of my gear.

I was just a little surprised that by the time the "release" version materialized, that there was no RF support. It made sense during beta testing, but for a release camera to not be able to use its native mount seems kind of odd and I suspect was not the original intent. Clearly Red ran into problems here and decided to release with an update to come later supporting the RF mount. I am in a similar situation to some, in that I have no EF nor RF glass, but don't want to buy EF glass to get autofocus since it is not as good as RF from if nothing else a size/bulk perspective. I am considering getting an RF to PL mount and have a good set of PL primes, but these are large and heavy, which distracts from the benefits of a small and nimble camera. Made me hit the pause button.
 
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I was just a little surprised that by the time the "release" version materialized, that there was no RF support. It made sense during beta testing, but for a release camera to not be able to use its native mount seems kind of odd and I suspect was not the original intent. Clearly Red ran into problems here and decided to release with an update to come later supporting the RF sensor. I am in a similar situation to some, in that I have no EF nor RF glass, but don't want to buy EF glass to get autofocus since it is not as good as RF from if nothing else a size/bulk perspective. I am considering getting an RF to PL mount and have a good set of PL primes, but these are large and heavy, which distracts from the benefits of a small and nimble camera. Made me hit the pause button.

Yeah that's pretty much where I'm at also. I do have several EF lenses that I quite like, but RF glass looks to be overall the best newer glass you can buy before getting into much pricier cine offerings and even then the RF stuff holds it's own.

If RED is having trouble implementing RF protocol it isn't a deal breaker for me, but I do think it would be proper to disclose that to the customers who have ordered Komodo with the understanding that RF will be supported. Just having some dude on a video stress that it is now an RF "style" mount before continuing on with unclear information about which information gets passed to which adapted whatever isn't helpful.
 
Violent Soho - Slow Down Sonic (Official Video)


By Violent Soho



Featuring the new RED Komodo Stormtrooper, Atlas Orion Anamorphic lenses




Violent Soho - Slow Down Sonic BEHIND-THE-SCENES


By Graetzmedia

https://vimeo.com/456758083

 
I was just a little surprised that by the time the "release" version materialized, that there was no RF support. It made sense during beta testing, but for a release camera to not be able to use its native mount seems kind of odd and I suspect was not the original intent. Clearly Red ran into problems here and decided to release with an update to come later supporting the RF mount. I am in a similar situation to some, in that I have no EF nor RF glass, but don't want to buy EF glass to get autofocus since it is not as good as RF from if nothing else a size/bulk perspective. I am considering getting an RF to PL mount and have a good set of PL primes, but these are large and heavy, which distracts from the benefits of a small and nimble camera. Made me hit the pause button.

For a little perspective, when Sony released the Venice, the native E-Mount(Sony’s own mount), was not functioning.
 
Yeah that's pretty much where I'm at also. I do have several EF lenses that I quite like, but RF glass looks to be overall the best newer glass you can buy before getting into much pricier cine offerings and even then the RF stuff holds it's own.

If RED is having trouble implementing RF protocol it isn't a deal breaker for me, but I do think it would be proper to disclose that to the customers who have ordered Komodo with the understanding that RF will be supported. Just having some dude on a video stress that it is now an RF "style" mount before continuing on with unclear information about which information gets passed to which adapted whatever isn't helpful.

Well, in fairness, they have discussed that on a few of the video guides about the Komodo on their YouTube channels... As well as on the official specs sheet here : https://www.red.com/komodo
Accepts Canon RF mount-based lens adaptors for diverse lens choices
Supports Canon EF with full electronic communication via compatible Canon RF mount adapters, and supports mechanically operated RF lenses (electronic control of Canon RF lenses not supported at this time)
 
Am I missing something here? Will the RF mount never be supported for native RF lenses? Is this a Canon thing locking Red out of implementing control through RF? If that is the case, that is terrible for Komodo. RF lenses have vastly improved AF motors and optical quality. I was aiming for getting the 15-35mm RF lens for the purpose of specifically use it with the new AF system on the new Ronin gimbal.

But as far as I can see, it's listed as "not supported at this time", so surely it should be possible? I mean, they've been clear to point out that they are adding EF lenses first to the support list, which makes sense to do first. If the idea is to solve RF support half a year from now, I don't see a problem really, just use EF glass until then.
 
Am I missing something here? Will the RF mount never be supported for native RF lenses? Is this a Canon thing locking Red out of implementing control through RF? If that is the case, that is terrible for Komodo. RF lenses have vastly improved AF motors and optical quality. I was aiming for getting the 15-35mm RF lens for the purpose of specifically use it with the new AF system on the new Ronin gimbal.

But as far as I can see, it's listed as "not supported at this time", so surely it should be possible? I mean, they've been clear to point out that they are adding EF lenses first to the support list, which makes sense to do first. If the idea is to solve RF support half a year from now, I don't see a problem really, just use EF glass until then.

I think you answered your own question here ;-)
I'm pretty sure Jarred said somewhere that RF electronic support will come later. ;-)
(and since most people owning Canon compatible glass have them in EF mount, as you pointed out it makes more sense if they have to focus on one at a time, to choose EF first)
 
Hi, anyone using the Komodo with Teradek RT to control focus on EF non-cine glass without mounting external motors?

For example does this work?

Teradek RT thumbwheel -> Latitude -> CTRL input port on Komodo

Thanks

For those interested: I contacted Teradek directly and they say they are actively working on getting products to interface with the CTRL input on Komodo, but it doesn't work yet (other than start/stop directly into the EXT port).

There must be some advantages to the change in RCP. Does anyone know what these are?
 
I'm pretty sure Jarred said somewhere that RF electronic support will come later. ;-)

Ok... so why are people complaining? Ugh, it's one thing to criticize a lack of technology or questionable choice from a camera manufacturer, but complaining about features that will happen later just boggles my mind. "Let's just wait for everything to be in place so we can start filming with the Komodo in two years from now", or we can start using it now with lots of possibilities and when the time comes it will increase in value of features. The AF system isn't even in its final form yet so the full benefits of RF lenses and the AF system wouldn't even be there even if it had RF support. I don't see the reasoning behind the complaint if it's just a matter of time before we get RF lens support. It seems to be the biggest complaint going in circles right now... ugh.
 
Ok... so why are people complaining? Ugh, it's one thing to criticize a lack of technology or questionable choice from a camera manufacturer, but complaining about features that will happen later just boggles my mind. "Let's just wait for everything to be in place so we can start filming with the Komodo in two years from now", or we can start using it now with lots of possibilities and when the time comes it will increase in value of features. The AF system isn't even in its final form yet so the full benefits of RF lenses and the AF system wouldn't even be there even if it had RF support. I don't see the reasoning behind the complaint if it's just a matter of time before we get RF lens support. It seems to be the biggest complaint going in circles right now... ugh.

I think not to get disappointed, You should buy what is available today if you like it, then if things improve in the future then great. Now I think red for sure will improve Komodo and it will very likely get RF lens control. But again things doesn't not allways play out as planned, still we have no Red laser projector, Meitzler Module etc.
 
I think not to get disappointed, You should buy what is available today if you like it, then if things improve in the future then great. Now I think red for sure will improve Komodo and it will very likely get RF lens control. But again things doesn't not allways play out as planned, still we have no Red laser projector, Meitzler Module etc.

RF native electronics has never been a dealbreaker for me. But it would be disappointing if it never gets that support since the AF would work much better. But this isn't like the laser projector or Maitzler module, since those were external products. The RF hardware is already there, with the pins already transferring lens data over to the EF lenses and back, so this is a firmware thing only with the only thing standing in the way of RF support would be something like Canon locking down others ability to use their new mount, which makes zero sense when their EF lens mounts are used by many outside of Canon.

I understand proprietary locks so that products only work with other products from the same company, but that kind of capitalism will always slow down technology progression and innovation. People want to revolutionize tech and the human condition, but only if you can squeeze every dollar out of every part of the tech you innovate. If Canon has a "lock" on the RF mount, that would be the most stupid way to do business since they would earn much more selling more RF lenses if more people have their mount.

But this just seems to be a simple bottleneck of support protocols from Red, they are busy making the camera ready for official models and the first out of beta firmware, so coding new support for lenses is not a priority and even after that they would need to add more EF lenses first. It's probably just lowered on the list because of the larger advantage of using adapters with EF lenses over RF. RF lenses won't have any benefits until the AF system is fully complete.
 
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