Welcome to our community

Be a part of something great, join today!

Register Log in
  • 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 :)

Raptor X - Komodo X Beta 2.0.1 Face Auto Focus tests (compilation)

Rofocale said:
Huge thanks for compiling these. Not too sure why they haven’t popped up on my feed.
Click to expand...

Glad i could help.
Most of these are from smaller Youtube channels meaning you have to actively search for them.

Brian Timmons
BRITIM/MEDIA
 
Haven't tested Z specific gains, but I can confirm this AF is "mo betah" and improved. Did some stuff with me jumping in the camera like everybody, but also took the camera in the world. I have a busy couple weeks, but I'll try to edit some sample stuff.
 
Looks much improved. have not installed beta yet.

Hoping to see a mode to not jump to the background if the face exits frame.

Also wondering if it works well on dark skin tones?
 

Below are from the recent CP+ camera show which I believe is the largest camera show in Japan.
Of course, use closed captions to understand our brethren from Japan.


 
Last edited:
Brian Timmons said:

Below are from the recent CP+ camera show which I believe is the largest camera show in Japan.
Of course, use closed captions to understand our brethren from Japan.


Click to expand...

Haha, I was at the show and had the chance to test those very cameras as well as quiz the folks at RAID (RED’s distributors in Japan). Had some good presentations over the event.

There’s also a trend in Japan to sling your Komodo over your shoulder and have it hanging at your hip like a little Leica. Just the brain and a tiny kens. Great to see RED finally get some love outside production and rental houses over here.

Edit :: wish I could say I’m having a good experience with the new AF. Even with yesterday’s new stable firmware release there’s a ton of frantic micro hunting (like a jittering) even on static interview subjects. Bit disappointed as AF is one of those things that’s either reliable enough for a production, or it’s not. No middle ground. So close, but so far.
 
Rofocale said:
Haha, I was at the show and had the chance to test those very cameras as well as quiz the folks at RAID (RED’s distributors in Japan). Had some good presentations over the event.

There’s also a trend in Japan to sling your Komodo over your shoulder and have it hanging at your hip like a little Leica. Just the brain and a tiny kens. Great to see RED finally get some love outside production and rental houses over here.
Click to expand...

Cool to hear. Seemed like RAID had good people working their booth.

I've been looking into ways to really scale down the Komodo into featherweight street photography style rig so this Leica inspired setup sounds interesting.

Rofocale said:
Edit :: wish I could say I’m having a good experience with the new AF. Even with yesterday’s new stable firmware release there’s a ton of frantic micro hunting (like a jittering) even on static interview subjects. Bit disappointed as AF is one of those things that’s either reliable enough for a production, or it’s not. No middle ground. So close, but so far.
Click to expand...

You might send the shots with the micro hunting to RED perhaps with a recording of the screen to show the position of the AF box to help them troubleshoot the problem. I'm sure the Face autofocus needs refinements and this might help RED & Nikon to do that.

Brian Timmons
BRITIM/MEDIA
 
The AF is really going to be lens dependent. Most of my Sigma Art EF work very well now, some have slower focus motors though so speed can vary lens to lens.

Tokina 11-20 a bit more sensitive but easy to dial back sensitivity.

Still lens focus motors are only so smooth though.

You know makes me wonder if there is any way for them to use the image based AF algorithm to drive a focus motor. Like a little tilta motor connected to EXT port or something to get the data.
 
What Andrew states is correct. And I need to spend more time "tinkering", but things like the Canon 24-70 f/2.8L and most of the Nikon S I've tested so far work really well. I think the speed adjustment is a valuable tuner, but this is Nikon Z mount exclusive for now, probably for a while as part of the hardware upgrade provides more juice up there. I have a few E Mount lenses I'm testing and even some of the Zeiss Batis primes work pretty nicely.

There are lenses that are sort of "butt" motion AF however. Either too slow, motors that don't do the thing well, or whatever variable leads to it.
 
Brian Timmons said:
Cool to hear. Seemed like RAID had good people working their booth.

I've been looking into ways to really scale down the Komodo into featherweight street photography style rig so this Leica inspired setup sounds interesting.
Click to expand...

With M-adapters they’re using Leica mount mirrorless lenses and a battery. It’s also a popular setup for folks using their Komodo OG/KX for photography. There were a few presentations by established photographers on using RED cine cams as still cams. One was even on using a KX to capture film negatives on Timelapse threaded through an attachment on the lens and developed in lightroom. Having met and talked to a lot of the folks, it’s really a thrill to be part of this grass roots creative community.

IMG_2757.jpeg

IMG_1961.jpeg

Both chaps here have shoulder slung Komodos. Nakamura San (on the right) is a great guy and super knowledgeable. He’s also an avid shooter and that’s his personal Komodo OG. If you ever reach out to RAID he’s the fellow that will likely respond.

Brian Timmons said:
You might send the shots with the micro hunting to RED perhaps with a recording of the screen to show the position of the AF box to help them troubleshoot the problem. I'm sure the Face autofocus needs refinements and this might help RED & Nikon to do that.

Brian Timmons
BRITIM/MEDIA
Click to expand...

I will do. Will first arrange a few more lenses for testing. I’ve only really put my RF L glass through their paces and most people claiming they aren’t experiencing hunting are using EF adapted glass.
 
A couple of shots of some interesting rigs from a video shot by a fellow RED shooter.

IMG_1973.jpeg

IMG_1975.jpeg

What on this bloody blue earth is that viewfinder???

IMG_1976.jpeg

IMG_1977.jpeg

Nakamura san’s sling for his OG Komodo.

Right, back on topic.

Why does the AF on the current firmware release have better luck focusing on faces when it’s not in face priority mode? Is it the tracking algorithm? If so, I’m hoping that’s something that might be resolved with a software update.
 
Rofocale said:
A couple of shots of some interesting rigs from a video shot by a fellow RED shooter.

View attachment 3835352

View attachment 3835353

What on this bloody blue earth is that viewfinder???

View attachment 3835354

View attachment 3835355

Nakamura san’s sling for his OG Komodo.

Right, back on topic.

Why does the AF on the current firmware release have better luck focusing on faces when it’s not in face priority mode? Is it the tracking algorithm? If so, I’m hoping that’s something that might be resolved with a software update.
Click to expand...

Rofocale, these are excellent images and video.
Very interesting to see these rigs.
Thanks for posting.

Brian Timmons
BRITIM/MEDIA
 
For some reason it never occurred to me to run that GDU wing upside down I like that.

It’s cool to see QD sling stuff get popular in the camera world it’s a great setup.

I have been messing around with a compact shoulder setup. The GDU baseplate with L pad is nice.

IMG_0327.jpeg

IMG_0330.jpeg

I am a big fan of little wing grips with QD sockets and a sling also.
 
andrewhake said:
For some reason it never occurred to me to run that GDU wing upside down I like that.

It’s cool to see QD sling stuff get popular in the camera world it’s a great setup.

I have been messing around with a compact shoulder setup. The GDU baseplate with L pad is nice.

View attachment 3835361

View attachment 3835362

I am a big fan of little wing grips with QD sockets and a sling also.
Click to expand...
At the risk of totally derailing this thread…

Thanks for sharing pictures! Love me some rig shots. Really wish I’d gotten the GDU wing grip instead of the stock RED one. Stuck on a long list of extras to pick up on the next supply run. The L pad from GDU also looks pretty sweet. I usually just use the battery as a buttress when shoot chest hight, but that looks way more comfortable, and still room enough to stick a tentacle on the battery.

Cheers also for naming the QD sling. Never asked Nakamura San what it was, but since getting back from CP+ I’m really taken with the idea for a stripped down setup with some Thypoch lenses.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top