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Wow! What a week. The market is overflowing with new cameras. But none has got me more excited than the official release of the RED Komodo 6K camera from RED Digital Cinema.
Okay, I know I’m probably biased here, because I’ve been a part of the RED Komodo Stormtrooper program for a while, and have tested the camera in its beta form.
While most of the Stormtrooper edition of the camera are white, the official release camera is black.
And I’m in love with this camera. Never before have I seen this kind of image quality and features in such a small form factor.
So what is the RED Komodo Camera?
In short, the RED Komodo is a small box-shaped camera with a 19.9 MP Super 35mm sensor that allows you to shoot in 6K at up to 40 fps and 4K up to 60 fps.
The RED Komodo has a global shutter, shoots in REDCODE RAW, and ProRes Raw, and supports the IPP2 color workflow.
It comes with the versatile RF mount that lets you use adapters for EF, PL, and other lens systems.
It uses CFast 2.0 cards to capture the high bitrates.
RED Komodo uses Canon BP-975 or 955 batteries or compatible batteries from selected third-parties. It is also possible to use, e.g., a V-mount or Gold Mount battery plates from selected third-parties.
You can control the camera wirelessly via the RED Control App or a browser, or by SDI via selected monitors like the SmallHD Focus Pro 5″, the SmallHD 702 Touch, or the SmallHD Cine 7.
The RED Komodo was initially designed as a crash cam and is being tested as such on The Matrix 4.
What are the RED Komodo Specifications?
Below you can see a table of the specs for the RED Komodo. This is still subject to change, as new firmware versions are rolled out with updated functionality.
For example, I’ve heard that continuous autofocus will be updated, and there are also mentions that time-lapse modes will be implemented.
| Feature | Spec |
|---|---|
| Sensor | KOMODO 19.9 MP Super 35mm Global Shutter CMOS |
| Sensor Size | 27.03 x 14.26mm (Diagonal 30.56mm) which is a bit bigger than a normal S35 sensor |
| Dynamic Range | +16 stops |
| Mount | Canon RF-Style Mount (requires adaption to another lens mount) Supports Canon EF with full electronic communication via compatible RF mount adapters. |
| Max Available REDCODE Settings | REDCODE HQ and MQ at 6K Full Format (6144 x 3240) up to 40 fps REDCODE HQ and MQ at 4K Full Format (4096 x 2160) up to 60 fps |
| REDCODE RAW Formats | 6K Full Format (6144 x 3240) 2:4:1 and 16:9 up to 40 fps 5K Full Format (5120 x 2700) up to 50 fps 4K Full Format (4096 x 2160) up to 60 fps 2K Full Format (2048 x 1080) up to 120 fps |
| ProRes Formats | 4K (4096 x 2160) at ProRes 422 HQ and ProRes 422 up to 60 fps 2K (2048 x 1080) at ProRes 422 HQ and ProRes 422 up to 120 fps |
| Media | CFast 2.0 Cards |
| Color Science | Image Processing Pipeline (IPP2) Supports 33x33x33 3D LUTs Supports import of CDLs |
| Microphones | Integrated dual-channel digital stereo microphones Integrated 3.5mm audio jack |
| Audio Formats | Uncompressed, 24-bit 48kHz |
| Integrated Monitor | 2.9″ 1440 x 1440 touchscreen LCD with 720p preview and camera control |
| Monitor Outputs | 12G-SDI up to 4096 x 2160 4:2:2 (60p) 6G-SDI up to 4096 x 2160 4:2:2 (30p) 3G-SDI up to 2048 x 1080 4:2:2 for 60p 1.5G-SDI up to 2048 x 1080 4:2:2 (30p, 24p) SMPTE Timecode, HANC Metadata, 24-Bit 48kHz Audio |
| Camera Control | The camera can be controlled via external monitors and the RED Control Cable. |
| Battery Type and Slots | Two slots for Canon BP-955 and BP-975 series batteries |
| DC Power Input | +7 to +17V DC via the integrated 2-Pin DC-IN port |
| Weight and Dimensions | 2.10 lbs (1kg) (aluminum body only without cap and CFast card) Approx. 4″x4″ (10.16 cm x 10.16 cm) |
Summary
This was just a brief announcement, and I’ll write a more extended review when I’ve used the camera in more situations. There’s still a lot of new stuff to learn, and I look forward to the upcoming firmware upgrades.
Check the current deals for the RED Komodo on Adorama.
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