REDKOMODO 6K
quality and a tough, modular build above all else. The Komodo was the first of the next-generation cameras from the Californian tech wizards to use the very latest spec, and is now joined by the full- frame V-Raptor 8K. That costs significantly more than the Super 35 sensor Komodo, which can be had for £5940/$5995. To give it some context, that’s cheaper than the flagship Sony A1 mirrorless camera, and you certainly don’t get a global shutter and internal Raw or ProRes recording in that. What current mirrorless and full-frame cinema cameras from Sony and Canon do offer is a proper phase detection autofocus system, with advanced features like subject tracking and eye detection. The Komodo is now entering this arena in a bid to make it a more usable, all-round camera – rather than just for cinema. By using the new Canon RF- style lens mount, the Red does have phase detection AF, but when selecting it in the menu, it’s still labelled as a ‘Beta’ firmware. It works, but definitely lacks all the bells and whistles of the latest Sony and Canon systems. Whether this will come in a future firmware upgrade is unknown. It’s best to consider what the camera offers right now, rather than what might be coming around the corner. For AF, you have to go via the menu, rather than some external button. While this would lead to a frankly bewildering number of options on some cameras, the Red has just the basics. This might be exactly what you need, if you are dipping a toe into the water of autofocus for video. Or, you might quickly find it limiting. AF speed can’t be set, it can be ‘sticky’ before hunting for another subject, and
QUICK ACCESS Most settings can be changed from the screen without digging into menus (above)
SPECIFICATIONS Price: £5940/$5995 Sensor size: 19.9megapixels,
“The Red does have phase detection AF, but it’s labelled as ‘Beta’ firmware” there is no face detection or eye detection technology. The AF mode is either full-time Continuous or Single shot, where it nails focus – then stops focusing. You can adjust the size of the AF point, with the smallest a bit too tiny to use with your fingers on the touchscreen. Then, set the position of the AF point in the menu. The real beauty is using a finger on the touchscreen to move the AF point around; you can do nice focus pulls, too. And the AF doesn’t just snap on, but slows down as it nears the focus point, to make it feel more like a manual focus puller is doing the work. In real-world use, it was speedy and locked on to a subject well. But occasionally it would miss and hunt around a bit, or stay locked on while you jabbed at the screen in a bid to make it focus somewhere else. If you are used to Canon Dual Pixel AF, or Sony’s hybrid systems, you will be a bit disappointed. It’s not as precise, nor does it have all the desirable functions. But if you are coming from a manual-focus cinema camera, or a machine with old-school contrast detect AF, then it’s a
Super 35 global shutter CMOS, 27.03x14.26mm, 6144x3240 pixels
Formats: Raw6144x3240 40fps, 5120x2700 48fps, 4096x2160 60fps, 2048x1080 120fps. ProRes 422/422HQ 4096x2160 60fps, ProRes 422 2048x1080 120fps, up to 280Mbps. External 4:2:2 10-bit via SDI/BNC up to 4096x2160 up to 60fps ISO range: 250-12,800 Dynamic range: 16+ stops Autofocus: On-sensor phase detection Controls: Peaking, zebras,
COOL AF The colour touchscreen is where all autofocus controls are set – but they are limited (below)
false colour, histogram Lensmount: Canon RF Battery: Canon BP series NDfilters: None Screen: 73.7x73.7mm/ 2.9x2.9in 1440x1440 fixed touchscreen
Audio: 3.5mmstereomic input Output: BNC 12G-SDI, Wi-Fi, nine-pin GPI, Genlock, RS-232, timecode Storage: CFast 2.0 card Dimensions (wxhxd): 102x102x102mm/4x4x4in Weight: 960g/2.1lb body only
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