With the release of the RED Komodo 6K digital cinema camera, Red has taken a new step forward, bringing its legendary image quality and color science to the new camera. A revolutionary and accessible camera from RED, the KOMODO 6K is one of those super 35mm cinema cameras that budget-conscious filmmakers can afford and understand.
RED Digital Cinema
Since 2010, 5 of the 100 highest-grossing domestic films making digital videos have used RED cameras as their primary system. Red Digital has become a favorite of directors and cinematographers, including Steven Soderbergh, who had one of the earliest uses of the Red Camera when he shot an episode in 2008. Given the high price tag, the RED camera is expensive for indie filmmakers (except for RED Komodo, which focuses on indie productions). Still, most indie filmmakers either rent it or buy it if it is a large studio production. Learn about the price and performance of each camera in the RED Digital product line.
RED Komodo 6K Camera
It features the innovative image capture technology of REDs, as seen from their previous cinema cameras. The Komodo 6K is a cinema camera due in late 2020 and features a global shutter speed, 6K resolution, stabilization, and an RF style lens mount. This new addition to the REDs range boasts red cinema-quality image quality, color science sensor technology, and a portable form factor, allowing users to take the camera anywhere and adjust to any shooting scenario.
Breakthrough Technology
Komodo 6K is the latest breakthrough product in a long line of innovative imaging technologies. With the release of the RED Digital Cinema Komodo 6k Digital Cinema Camera with Canon RF, RED has taken a new step forward and brought the legendary image quality and color science of REDs into an ultra-compact, one-of-a-kind design. That weighs only 2.1 lb and measures only 4 x 4. The key to achieving this goal is using the camera lens and the Komodo 19.9 MP Super35 CMOS sensor equipped with Global Shutter technology.
Sensor
The essential advantage of the camera is the Canon RF lens mount and Komodo 19.9 MP Super35 CMOS sensor equipped with Global Shutter Technology. The sensor generates images with a dynamic range of up to 16 stops and eliminates rolling shutter artifacts.
Codec
The codec allows the camera to maintain a high standard of image quality and dynamic range. Back to image quality, the Komodo promises REDs at their best: the ability to capture in 6K at up to 40 fps in the powerful 16-bit redcode RAW format. It is the smallest camera RED has ever produced, but its high-resolution features leave nothing to the imagination.
Global Shutter
The Komodo uses a global shutter, which is rare with many current video cameras. The latitude test for the Red Komodo 6K shows seven latitudes – a good result, compared to full-frame Sony A7S III, as we have seen in our laboratory tests. The two other S35 sensors tested, the BMPCC6K and the Canon C300 Mk III, managed eight exposure settings.
Color Management
In terms of color management, the camera supports the RED IPP2 image processing pipeline for dynamic color, gamma, intense detail, and high rolls of the camera, standardized across the entire RED camera series. With this pipeline, the search table 3D LUTs and the ability to import CDLS color decision lists, you can standardize your look over multiple RED cameras. It remains modular like the old REDs cameras and provides a quick setup in a form factor that spans the old and new worlds of REDs design so you can walk around to customize the camera to your needs.
Anamorphic
The newest firmware update of the Komodo 6K digital cinema camera (Beta v1.50) supports 6-K anamorphic, 4-channel audio, FTP remote offloading, Canon RF lens control ring, and more. The camera features a sharp global shutter speed, Redcode RAW ProRes recording capabilities, CFAST 2.0 capture, 2.9 Touchscreen, and a BP-9 battery option. It is compatible with CFAST recording media, 4K-SDI output, and allows a wireless connection to the new RED Control App.
A Clever Solution
The RED KOMODO 6K convinces as a complete all-in-one cinema camera solution in a compact design without compromising on image quality. It combines the brand’s legendary image quality and color science in an ultracompact design that weighs just 2.1 lbs.
Specs
| Sensor | KOMODO 19.9 MP Super 35mm Global Shutter CMOS |
| Pixel Size | 6144 x 3240 |
| Sensor Size | 27.03 mm x 14.26 mm, Diagonal: 30.56mm |
| Dynamic Range | 16+ Stops |
| Mount | RF mount |
| Max Data Rate | Up to 280 MB/s using qualified CFast 2.0 media cards |
| Redcode RAW frame rates | 40 fps at 6K 17:9 (6144 x 3240) |
| 50 fps at 6K 2.4:1 (6144 x 2592) | |
| 48 fps at 5K 17:9 (5120 x 2700) | |
| 60 fps at 4K 17:9 (4096 x 2160) | |
| 120 fps at 2K 17:9 (2048 x 1080) | |
| Playback frame rates | 23.98, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 50, 59.94, 60 fps, all resolutions |
| Redcode RAW Formats | 6K 17:9 (6144 x 3240), 2.4:1 and 16:9 |
| 5K 17:9 (5120 x 2700) | |
| 4K 17:9 (4096 x 2160) | |
| 2K 17:9 (2048 x 1080) | |
| Apple ProRes | 4K (4096 × 2160) at ProRes 422 HQ and ProRes 422 up to 60 fps |
| 2K (2048 × 1080) at ProRes 422 HQ and ProRes 422 up to 120 fps | |
| Body | Aluminum |
| Weight | 2.10 lbs, just the body without body cap and Cfast card |
| Battery type | Two slots for BP-9XX series batteries |
| Power input DC | +7 to +17 V DC via the integrated 2-pin DC-IN port |
| Operating Temperature | 0°C to 40°C (32°F to 104°F) |
| Storage temperature | –20°C to 50°C (–4°F to 122°F) |
| Color Management | Image Processing Pipeline 2 (IPP2) |
| Supports 33×33×33 3D LUTs | |
| Supports import of CDLs | |
| Audio | Integrated dual channel digital mono microphones, uncompressed, 24-bit 48 kHz |
| Additional dual channel via integrated 3.5mm audio jack, uncompressed, 24-bit 48 kHz | |
| Remote Control | WiFi for camera control via interchangeable dual band (2.4 GHz/5 GHz) antenna mounted to a female RP-SMA connector |
| Genlock, Timecode-in, GPIO and Ctrl (RS232) via the integrated 9-pin EXT Port | |
| Wired control via KOMODO Link Adaptor, using USB-C or Gigabit Ethernet (compatible USB-C to Ethernet adapter1 required) allowing camera control and live MJPEG preview video feed | |
| Monitor Outputs | Integrated 12G-SDI with 6G-SDI, 3G-SDI and 1.5G-SDI modes |
| 12G-SDI: Up to 4096 x 2160 4:2:2 for 60p | |
| 6G-SDI: Up to 4096 x 2160 4:2:2 for 30p | |
| 3G-SDI: Up to 2048 x 1080 4:2:2 for 60p | |
| 1.5G-SDI: Up to 2048 x 1080 4:2:2 for 30p, 24p | |
| SMPTE Timecode, HANC Metadata, 24-bit 48 kHz Audio | |
| Monitor options | Integrated 2.9″ 1440×1440 touchscreen LCD with preview and camera control |
| Wireless live preview video feed via 2.4Ghz/5Ghz WiFi for framing | |
| Red control | Access full camera controls and live preview from iOS or Android devices. |
| Available from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store. RED Control works wirelessly or wired via the KOMODO Link Adaptor. |
The Bottom Line
Komodo 6K is the latest in a long line of innovative image acquisition technologies from REDs. Komodo is one of the best cinema cameras for elite shootings. The second cinema camera with the new Canon RF lens (the first is the Canon EOS C70 released last month) costs 500 dollars less than the competition. RED’s new Komodo 6k camera system amazes with its compact design and advanced features in this market. The RED KOMODO 6K is a revolutionary and accessible camera and one of the first Super 35mm cinema cameras in a form that budget-conscious filmmakers can afford and understand.