ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE CVP
Upgrade your REDKomodo The great-value 6K cinema camera can be customised by a whole range of accessories, thanks to UK distributor CVP W ith somany filmmakers dreaming of shooting with a RED camera they can actually afford to own (rather “Customising the camera into a truly usable systemfor you”
than just renting for one-off jobs), it’s no surprise the 6K Komodo has been such a success. At £5940, it might be the new entry-level camera in the RED ecosystem, but it’s not short on spec, boasting Raw recording for the ultimate in quality, a global shutter to eliminate rolling shutter issues, and an advanced autofocus with Canon RFmount lenses. No wonder it’s been shortlisted in three categories for the Pro Moviemaker Gear of the Year Awards. But the body-only price is just the start of the journey to customising the camera into a truly usable system for your individual needs. From rigs to batteries, monitors, lenses andmore, there are a lot of choices available to accessorise your Komodo. And nobody knows more about the camera and its best accessories than the UK’s biggest filmmaking retailer, CVP. Let’s take a look at the key areas any RED Komodo owner should consider, to upgrade the camera. Rigging The cube-like formof the RED Komodo invites countless options for rigging and customising, from fully stripped-back rigs for handheld shooting, to gimbal mounting, and even full studio configurations.
Manufacturers like GDU, Wooden Camera, Tilta, Vocas, 8Sinn, Smallrig, Bright Tangerine, Shape and Zacuto all make options for cages, handles, baseplates and other supporting accessories, so there’s plenty to choose from. Each brand tends to do something slightly better and will usually work best with its own set of accessories. It’s important when building out your Komodo package to think about what other accessories you’re looking to use – such as lenses or adapters, breakout boxes, power andmonitors – as this will change what the best cage or rigging option is. For example, the Kippertie Revolva only works with select cages and side handles that give the clearance needed to insert and remove the ND filter cartridge. Breakouts The standard I/O for the Komodo is limited, as there is just a single SDI for video, 3.5mm jacks for mic and headphones, an extension port and DC power. But through the extension port, you can connect one of the
various breakout boxes designed to expand the Komodo’s I/O, giving you added options for things like time code, genlock, run/ stop and CTRL ports. Some even offer extra power outputs. Most breakout modules have different ways of mounting to your camera. RED’s own expander connects neatly to the bottomof the Komodo, acting as a seamless extension to the camera, whereas some are mounted as a top-plate or utilise the BP slots on the back. Power The Komodo takes the relatively affordable and well-sized Canon BP battery, perfect for lightweight rigs. And with two BP slots on the back of the camera, it means they can be hot-swapped without loss of power. The official Canon batteries perform very well, passing through full information on the percentage of power remaining, as well as currently being the only option the Komodo will charge while plugged intomains power. There are also many third-party options that vary in price, performance and information pass- through, but RED’s own REDVOLTs for the Komodo work flawlessly. For something a little larger, or if you need to power a range of accessories, too, then a V-Lock or Gold Mount plate could be a better solution. Most BP adapters provide extra power outputs such as D-Taps, two-pin LEMOS, or USB ports that can be used to power monitors, lens control systems or a wireless transmitter. Most adapter plates use the
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