Should I bought the Red Gemini 5k, Dragon X or Komodo?

[Stiven]

Ey there! I been shooting in BMPCC4k for a while (maybe arround 5 years) And recently the bmpcc4k screen just stop working and then I know that It's being time for an update, I already shoot with Komodo up today (it's not mine, it of a client that bought for film his music videos) but when I'm not filming with him I have to keep filming with my bmpcc4k with the screen not working... so I see that dsmc2 camera prices drop down really hard, and I see options in lot of places, mainly Facebook market place and Adorama, I made of how much a list of the accesories and brain camera would cost to me and it's arround 5000$ or 6000$ for monitor, v lock I/O expander, side grip, mini mags, EF and PL mounts and reader... I'm mainly interested to bought the Gemini 5k but my plan it's to buy a camera that last arround 7 or 10 years working till a next update... I would like to know if it's a good idea to buy a Gemini 5k in 2025 for long term use, or if it's just better to save some bucks into a dragon sensor or it would be better to buy a more updated Komodo camera...
I plan to use this camera as a main camera for music video for well known artist of my country, commercials and if things go well maybe a feature

 

[M Harvey]

All of these cameras are good an capable options for shooting music videos, commercials, and even features.

A couple things to consider:
-if you’re looking to have the camera last 7-10 years, consider that the older the camera, the less likely it is to be repairable for that time period.
-in my opinion, the DSMC 2 cameras are typically better designed for working with a crew, which you might have on a larger shoot. A cage and different control options can make a Komodo more suitable, however (for use with heavier PL lenses, lens motors, having an AC able to change camera settings quickly, more monitor outputs, etc.)
-these cameras have different frame rates and low light capabilities and file sizes. Determine if these things matter to you.
-do you use gimbal a lot? You might prefer the ability to strip down the Komodo to a very small and light package, it opens up options to use cheaper, less robust gimbals.

The other main thing to consider is what your market wants, if anything.

 

[Alex Lubensky]

Ey there! I been shooting in BMPCC4k for a while (maybe arround 5 years) And recently the bmpcc4k screen just stop working and then I know that It's being time for an update, I already shoot with Komodo up today (it's not mine, it of a client that bought for film his music videos) but when I'm not filming with him I have to keep filming with my bmpcc4k with the screen not working... so I see that dsmc2 camera prices drop down really hard, and I see options in lot of places, mainly Facebook market place and Adorama, I made of how much a list of the accesories and brain camera would cost to me and it's arround 5000$ or 6000$ for monitor, v lock I/O expander, side grip, mini mags, EF and PL mounts and reader... I'm mainly interested to bought the Gemini 5k but my plan it's to buy a camera that last arround 7 or 10 years working till a next update... I would like to know if it's a good idea to buy a Gemini 5k in 2025 for long term use, or if it's just better to save some bucks into a dragon sensor or it would be better to buy a more updated Komodo camera...
I plan to use this camera as a main camera for music video for well known artist of my country, commercials and if things go well maybe a feature

All of those cameras are ok to work with, just make sure to go with DSMC2 unified brain (not Scarlet-W, Epic-W, Weapon etc). I highly doubt that any camera will last 7–10 years, not in terms of how long-lasting they are, but in terms of being actual. Usual cycle for a camera was 4–5 years in 2010-2015, and it's 3–4 years after 2015. I'd suggest thinking twice on what type of shoots are you doing mostly, and which lenses are you planning to use - a lot of people switched to Sony FX6 because it ticks a lot of boxes for them (internal NDs, AF, dual base ISO etc), and it might be just the case for you. Keep in mind that any RED uses more power than Komodo (like 2 times more), so typical amount of Wh to last a day is 1Kw for a 10-hour shoot (or 10x 100Wh v-mount batteries, or 4 280Wh).
Gemini has better DR than Helium and Dragon, while Helium has some more resolution that can come handy as time passes (4k is a standard today, 8k will become a standard really soon).
Forget about the repair service, they will charge you more than an actual used brain costs nowadays, so basically it's use till it fails and buy a spare one if one does fail (luckily accessories are interchangeable and replacing a brain today is way cheaper).

 

[Stiven]

All of these cameras are good an capable options for shooting music videos, commercials, and even features.

A couple things to consider:
-if you’re looking to have the camera last 7-10 years, consider that the older the camera, the less likely it is to be repairable for that time period.
-in my opinion, the DSMC 2 cameras are typically better designed for working with a crew, which you might have on a larger shoot. A cage and different control options can make a Komodo more suitable, however (for use with heavier PL lenses, lens motors, having an AC able to change camera settings quickly, more monitor outputs, etc.)
-these cameras have different frame rates and low light capabilities and file sizes. Determine if these things matter to you.
-do you use gimbal a lot? You might prefer the ability to strip down the Komodo to a very small and light package, it opens up options to use cheaper, less robust gimbals.

The other main thing to consider is what your market wants, if anything.

My equipment last really well, cos I don't rent it and I use just me, it handle really well... My bmpcc HD still works and I still use my first photo camera (Eos 6D) so I tought that I wouldn't have big issues in that part... in the best scenario, I hope when I do the next update that gemini could still work as a B cam hahaha like what the bmpcc4k would do now
I work with a crew, a small one. But works well, an art director, a producer and a 1AC/Gaffer/Grip hahaha I have fear to work with large crews since I got bad experiences some years ago, and a crew of 4 are really suitable for most proyects (I'm sure tat if I wanna make a feature, at least would be better to shoot with 10 or 15 crew max also)
I'm planning to buy DZO Arles, but I'm 100% sure, I like what I see, but the name brand does not give me 100% trust, also I have a B option of a Zeiss Cp2 in a really good price tag, or complete the set of Canon Cn-e lenses, cos my brother already have de 50, so I would bought the 35 and the 85. Also for selected proyects I plan to have a soviet lens set rehoused (helios, jupiter, mir1V
And yeah usually for flexibility I use a Gimbal, in order to replace dolly mainly and it worked to me really well... just last time shooting with blazar anamorphics for how the focals was really close I switched my entire workflow to slider, and worked well
Also I feel that Komodo has a more kind of black magic style image, I dunno. I feel a lot of users find more pleasin the images produced by the dsmc2 cameras than what komodo produces, I'll try to go to a rental house to see by myself, but it would be nice to know if you feel the same

 

[Stiven]

All of those cameras are ok to work with, just make sure to go with DSMC2 unified brain (not Scarlet-W, Epic-W, Weapon etc). I highly doubt that any camera will last 7–10 years, not in terms of how long-lasting they are, but in terms of being actual. Usual cycle for a camera was 4–5 years in 2010-2015, and it's 3–4 years after 2015. I'd suggest thinking twice on what type of shoots are you doing mostly, and which lenses are you planning to use - a lot of people switched to Sony FX6 because it ticks a lot of boxes for them (internal NDs, AF, dual base ISO etc), and it might be just the case for you. Keep in mind that any RED uses more power than Komodo (like 2 times more), so typical amount of Wh to last a day is 1Kw for a 10-hour shoot (or 10x 100Wh v-mount batteries, or 4 280Wh).
Gemini has better DR than Helium and Dragon, while Helium has some more resolution that can come handy as time passes (4k is a standard today, 8k will become a standard really soon).
Forget about the repair service, they will charge you more than an actual used brain costs nowadays, so basically it's use till it fails and buy a spare one if one does fail (luckily accessories are interchangeable and replacing a brain today is way cheaper).

I still din't catch the difference between scarlet-w epic-w and weapon, what's the difference between those and a dsmc2? I was planning to buy 2 Cores of 98Wh, but now that you tell this to me maybe I would consider to buy 2 bigger ones too, cos with Komodo it the most ard shoots just swith maximun 3 times battery
I know what sony offers, my brother has de fx3, just it's that I don't like the colors produced by sony, also r3d I thought it's the best codeq ever ever ever made and fx3 just record raw externally hahaha soooo for my kind I think I'm ok
I'm not sure if 8k would be the standard, cos it's being 10 years of the 4k and even a lot of content still being delivered in HD... also exactly I choose gemini for the reason it's 5k, because I already has not too much money for invest in larger hard drives to save those tons of information, so 5k it's more than perfect for me
And yeah, maybe when my gemini brain stop working would be good momento to swith to a monstro brain hahahha

 

[Alex Lubensky]

I still din't catch the difference between scarlet-w epic-w and weapon, what's the difference between those and a dsmc2? I was planning to buy 2 Cores of 98Wh, but now that you tell this to me maybe I would consider to buy 2 bigger ones too, cos with Komodo it the most ard shoots just swith maximun 3 times battery
I know what sony offers, my brother has de fx3, just it's that I don't like the colors produced by sony, also r3d I thought it's the best codeq ever ever ever made and fx3 just record raw externally hahaha soooo for my kind I think I'm ok
I'm not sure if 8k would be the standard, cos it's being 10 years of the 4k and even a lot of content still being delivered in HD... also exactly I choose gemini for the reason it's 5k, because I already has not too much money for invest in larger hard drives to save those tons of information, so 5k it's more than perfect for me
And yeah, maybe when my gemini brain stop working would be good momento to swith to a monstro brain hahahha

They've released 3 different brains at first, all capable of different resolutions, ratios etc. Weapon was the most powerful one, while Epic-W was the middle one and Scarlet-W was the cheapest one. Every version could have different sensors installed that were available at the moment. It did complicate things a lot, thus they've moved to DSMC2 unified brain, which basically is a Weapon brain with variety of sensor options, making those cameras more capable in terms of resolutions, frame rates etc compared to the older Epic-W and Scarlet-W options. Also, this means that DSMC2 unified brain is newer, because it was released later on (several years later). Despite that, there's a confusion that DSMC2 is a name for the line of cameras, while at the same time it's a name for a brain. Just stick with anything that says DSMC2 unified, it's the best option among DSMC2 line of cameras.

Speaking of resolutions - it highly depends on what's your market and clients demand, but basically - all of my monitors and tv sets are at least 4k ones since 2020, and you won't find anything less than 4k on the mass market now as an option - it's better to be safe for the next gen, because when it comes everyone will demand deliveries to be no less than that. I was pretty happy with 5K till about 2024, when I've started working more with 6K, and having more vertical resolution in a world, where client always wants a vertical cut - is a dealbreaker, at least in my market.

 

[M Harvey]

And yeah usually for flexibility I use a Gimbal, in order to replace dolly mainly and it worked to me really well... just last time shooting with blazar anamorphics for how the focals was really close I switched my entire workflow to slider, and worked well
Also I feel that Komodo has a more kind of black magic style image, I dunno. I feel a lot of users find more pleasin the images produced by the dsmc2 cameras than what komodo produces, I'll try to go to a rental house to see by myself, but it would be nice to know if you feel the same

The gimbal use suggests that the Komodo might be a good fit. (Though certainly you can put a DSMC2 on a gimbal, you usually need a larger one.) I also like using the Komodo on a slider, because it can be stripped down and used on a smaller lightweight slider (I have a Rhino slider with carbon fiber rails, and I find it can be difficult to use with even a Sony FS7 if you're only supporting centrally mounted on a single tripod or stand.)

I'm not sure what you mean by a more "black magic style image" with the Komodo. With any high quality camera, I think you have a lot of flexibility in what kind of image you create, but it takes time experimenting with image settings, lenses, diffusion, lighting, and color grading to develop the look you want. That said, definitely test at a rental house, and get a DSMC2 camera if you strongly prefer the look.

 

[Eric Santiago]

Sorry if it was mentioned already but keep in mind the support and purchase of the extras (eco-system) of the said camera.
I for one stayed with the older due to the many extra parts I've accumulated over the years.
So much that I would not be able to move forward without losing a lot.
The great thing is that I started with a 2012 BT SCARLET and moved to a 2015 DRAGON 6K DSMC1.
The ROI on all parts (since 2012) are still holding strong.