The Digital Bolex was literally calibrated to an internal camera temperature that raised the random thermal noise floor above the fixed pattern noise, so you never see it. The random noise has a very nice fine grain quality to it if you dial out some of the chroma noise. Balance it right there is more detail and texture in the noise floor as well as giving the image some life rather than getting that flat plastic look when overdone
RED Komodo to start limited shipping soon for $6k
- Thread starter ahalpert
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The Digital Bolex was literally calibrated to an internal camera temperature that raised the random thermal noise floor above the fixed pattern noise, so you never see it. The random noise has a very nice fine grain quality to it if you dial out some of the chroma noise. Balance it right there is more detail and texture in the noise floor as well as giving the image some life rather than getting that flat plastic look when overdone
John Brawley
Well-known member
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Guest
Guest
Grug
Veteran
Yep. And it's not like they hid it or anything. Use Sony's own false colour monitoring, and a middle grey card won't show up as a correctly exposed "green" on the F55 until exposed at 800 ISO.
I think (ultimately) you're limited to about a 2-stop push from any native ISO on any camera, before things really start to break down.
G
Guest
Guest
Here is one that shows some iso 2500 and 3200 with noise reduction, right around the 24min mark. yes, it is a long @ss talking review, and I didn't watch the whole thing either.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=20&v=7Iz33HKdlrI&feature=emb_logo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=20&v=7Iz33HKdlrI&feature=emb_logo
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ahalpert
Major Contributor
Wrong thread for this but we had discussed the benefits of Leica rangefinder design earlier and JB mentioned how some thought that subjects react more personably to the camera because it doesn't shield the shooter's face as much. I saw this shot of Daniel Craig using one and I definitely had an emotional reaction to his face/smile instead of the camera:
Definitely a factor, as is the very low noise of a focal plane shutter with no clacking mirror mechanics. I shot many events for publicity with a Leica rangefinder when I worked for the local art museum, gallery openings, fundraising galas. Easy to disappear in the crowd and get great candid shots, all available light, no flash.
sleekmedia
Well-known member
Yes, the baseplate is called the RED Komodo EXT Base Expander. It utilizes the EXT Port as a "breakout" connection in which the box mounts to the bottom of Komodo like a standard baseplate and plugs into the EXT port to provide breakout adaptor inputs for Timecode, GPI, Genlock, and CTRL functionality, essentially acting like the RED DSMC2 Base Expander except it mounts to the bottom of the camera instead of the back. The Komodo EXT Base Expander also has a built in GDU quick release plate on the bottom so it mounts directly to GDU "Touch and Go" systems (without the purchase of an additional plate) which is pretty cool, especially since I already use them with my RED cameras and my shoulder rig, gimbals and tripods for quick movement between each type of camera support on set or on location.
I actually own a Stormtrooper Komodo and may end up picking up the Komodo EXT Base Expander at some point, but for now I have been using the Wooden Camera Komodo EXT cable adapters to keep weight down. https://woodencamera.com/collections/red-komodo-accessory-kits WC also makes a similar styled breakout box (B-Box), but instead it mounts to the back of Komodo in one of the BP-series battery mounts and provides R/S, Timecode, CTRL, Genlock and a 5V USB port. https://woodencamera.com/collections/red-komodo-accessory-kits/products/b-box-red-komodo I don't like how the WC Komodo B-Box takes up one of the battery mounts though, as I don't plan on using Komodo with a rod mounted V-Mount/Gold mount plate to keep size and weight down since that is how I intend to use Komodo in its smallest and lightweight form factor as a dedicated gimbal and B-cam so I need to be able to run 2 BP series batteries at all times for prolonged battery life and the option to hot-swap so I think the Komodo EXT Base Expander from RED is a better option for now or to simply use cable adapters when you need to attach accessories. if the WC B-Box was a mountable insert plate with passthrough for still running both BP-series batteries but provided all the additional connections off to the side I think it would have been much more appealing.
Also just FYI, but for anyone that is not aware, The RED Komodo uses RCP2 which is a different UART language than DSCM2 cameras, so at the current time most follow focus companies (i.e. Tilta) have not upgraded firmware or their cable infrastructure to enable wireless record triggering of the camera with the hand grips or follow focus hand units. So even with a breakout box or cable adaptors for CTRL or R/S functionality it still does not work on Komodo due to the fact that Komodo is still not a "Production Camera" and companies are slacking on updating the firmware on the Nucleus-M and Nucleus Nano systems and their cable infrastructure in order to get RED EXT to CTRL cables to work for record triggering on Komodo. I spoke with Tilta directly about this and they said they should have new cables or firmware out within about 1-2 months and definitely guaranteed by the time Black "Production Model" Komodo's come out.
I actually own a Stormtrooper Komodo and may end up picking up the Komodo EXT Base Expander at some point, but for now I have been using the Wooden Camera Komodo EXT cable adapters to keep weight down. https://woodencamera.com/collections/red-komodo-accessory-kits WC also makes a similar styled breakout box (B-Box), but instead it mounts to the back of Komodo in one of the BP-series battery mounts and provides R/S, Timecode, CTRL, Genlock and a 5V USB port. https://woodencamera.com/collections/red-komodo-accessory-kits/products/b-box-red-komodo I don't like how the WC Komodo B-Box takes up one of the battery mounts though, as I don't plan on using Komodo with a rod mounted V-Mount/Gold mount plate to keep size and weight down since that is how I intend to use Komodo in its smallest and lightweight form factor as a dedicated gimbal and B-cam so I need to be able to run 2 BP series batteries at all times for prolonged battery life and the option to hot-swap so I think the Komodo EXT Base Expander from RED is a better option for now or to simply use cable adapters when you need to attach accessories. if the WC B-Box was a mountable insert plate with passthrough for still running both BP-series batteries but provided all the additional connections off to the side I think it would have been much more appealing.
Also just FYI, but for anyone that is not aware, The RED Komodo uses RCP2 which is a different UART language than DSCM2 cameras, so at the current time most follow focus companies (i.e. Tilta) have not upgraded firmware or their cable infrastructure to enable wireless record triggering of the camera with the hand grips or follow focus hand units. So even with a breakout box or cable adaptors for CTRL or R/S functionality it still does not work on Komodo due to the fact that Komodo is still not a "Production Camera" and companies are slacking on updating the firmware on the Nucleus-M and Nucleus Nano systems and their cable infrastructure in order to get RED EXT to CTRL cables to work for record triggering on Komodo. I spoke with Tilta directly about this and they said they should have new cables or firmware out within about 1-2 months and definitely guaranteed by the time Black "Production Model" Komodo's come out.
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Thanks for the the information, I am very interested in this camera and waiting for the final production release. So far the auto focus capabilities look very promising.
While the first footages from Komodo were crappy, ruined by noise, with a narrow DR, all this comparison with arri amazed me a lot.
This small box clearly outperforms the fx9 and c300iii of it's image quality. Global shutter is also a benefit vs AF or NDs for my needs. But how to built a cinema-ready setup on it's base - still a question for me.
This small box clearly outperforms the fx9 and c300iii of it's image quality. Global shutter is also a benefit vs AF or NDs for my needs. But how to built a cinema-ready setup on it's base - still a question for me.
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NorBro
Major Contributor
The camera has its shining moments but the IQ just doesn't feel the same to me as the others. Still early though as it's not even available to everyone.
Many of us talk about the business and what the Japanese do, and it would be silly not to apply the same criticisms to other companies, and I'm not sure RED is willing to provide their visual best for this price.
Many of us talk about the business and what the Japanese do, and it would be silly not to apply the same criticisms to other companies, and I'm not sure RED is willing to provide their visual best for this price.
First of all, i'm not a fanboy on anything: manufacturer, system, musician, director, football team etc. Just like some things, some not.
My opinion about Komodo and C300iii's image quality is subjective, based on the youtuber's tests and some original footage that was taken on these channels.
There wasn't any head-to-head comparison, but to my eye, Komodo helds the highlights much better. C300iii's rolloff is narrower and dslr'ish to my eye. The sky is overblown on mosf of shots. C300iii has an opportunity in the shadows, but for my needs it's less important. Also redcode is 16 bit vs 12 bit crl, 6K>4K in terms of resolution, global shutter giving improventments to some sort of shots as well. C300iii is a great camera with a great features for a reasonable price, but i cannot imagine a feature cinema shot on it.
Maybe I'm wrong in my assertion - always glad for opposites, but without of labels like fanboism etc
komodo
c300iii
Haven't seen any cinematic nonplastic footage from the C300iii yet,would be pleasant if you show some. No kidding.
Komodo is within a half a stop DR of its siblings. Resolution aside, overall IQ is nearly identical to Helium, with better color science and slightly lower noise levels. It intercuts seamlessly with the rest of the line.
Most of this early casual test footage has not been graded with any degree of sophistication. As a video camera, the C300 will produce better balanced color straight out of the camera, but doesn’t offer near the range for creative manipulation that Redcode does, even shooting log profiles.
Most of this early casual test footage has not been graded with any degree of sophistication. As a video camera, the C300 will produce better balanced color straight out of the camera, but doesn’t offer near the range for creative manipulation that Redcode does, even shooting log profiles.
DM_R Calm down. I didn't refer to you as a fanboy. Re-read my post and you'll see it was directed at the people on Reduser who are widely recognised and often described as fanboys and by contributors to this forum. You seem to rate the Komodo highly and that's fine and doesn't automatically make you a fanboy, in my book.
Re camera specs; they mean nothing to me. Image is my main criterion. Other things matter but not as much as image.
But I'm not going to engage in any stupid brand war. If I can see that the Komodo can make a better image (obviously I know the operator has just a little input [sic] ) then I'll happily agree. Might even buy one.
Re camera specs; they mean nothing to me. Image is my main criterion. Other things matter but not as much as image.
But I'm not going to engage in any stupid brand war. If I can see that the Komodo can make a better image (obviously I know the operator has just a little input [sic] ) then I'll happily agree. Might even buy one.
Run&Gun
Veteran
There are so many variables that affect the final image, but, I actually like what I'm seeing out of the recent posted Komodo videos less and less. The very early footage from the colored, pre-stormtrooper cameras had a much more "cinematic" look and feel to it, whereas so much of the current footage coming out now looks like "video".
ahalpert
Major Contributor
But how much of that can be chalked up to the pre-release users vs later buyers? I've seen such horrible things in A7SIII videos. I wouldn't have bought the camera if I thought all my footage would look like that.
Also - obviously the camera is important. But aren't we overemphasizing its contribution to the final image at this point? Couldn't a good DP make lemonade with any camera on the market today? Sure, you want to buy/rent the best for your needs. But I feel like color and IQ differences are diminishingly important as the premium advantages shrink. Differences in form factor and features/workflow seem more significant.
Jaime Valles
Veteran
THIS. It's why I'm drooling over the new Canon C70 instead of the Komodo. Even though Komodo will most likely deliver a "better" image quality, the usefulness of the C70's touchscreen face-tracking auto focus alone makes it a winner in my book. Add to that the built-in swivel monitor, built-in ND filters and dual SD card recording and it has everything I want in a camera, image quality notwithstanding.
But that's just me. Someone else might value Komodo's global shutter, highlight rolloff, small size and near bulletproof build quality more than the C70's auto focus or ND filters, and that's an equally valid position to take. Just depends on what you want from a camera.