Red Komodo and Komodo X - Crazy New Pricing!

[@chacha-flim]

I have used both machines, and the difference between the 6k and x images is very small, except for some color cast in the shadows and 80p, so the x is not worth the money, the biggest drop

[@dustinschmidtphoto]

This is good insight. I've seen the reviews and commentary on the X and while most agree that technically it IS a slightly better image, for the exact things you just described, I'm not sure it warrants an upgrade for everyone if you don't really need the few things it does better.

[@ChrisFlores22]

Hey man love your channel even though I don’t shoot canon lol i shoot on lumix and I’m looking to reach the next level in terms of image quality. I’m looking at the c70, Komodo OG or c80. I’m leaning towards Komodo. I don’t need AF, built in xlr or nd. This camera is meant to be built out or stripped down depending on the job. Think the Komodo still holds up or should I be looking at canon? I shoot on the s1h & gh7. Other lumix cameras as well.

[@dustinschmidtphoto]

Hey @ChrisFlores22 thanks so much for the comment and kind words. The answer, as usual, is it always depends on what kind of work you do, but if I can offer any perspective owning both a Komodo and Canon cameras, it's the following: 1. I think the RED raw files are my favorite files to edit with. That codec has a ton of flexibility and it plays back like a dream on my MacBook Pro (14 inch, M3, 18GB RAM). The Canon RAW files require me to edit with a proxy workflow to get the same speed of playback and editing performance. 2. The Canon autofocus blows the RED out of the water. I use it all the time for tracking faces for interviews, which I do a good deal of, and it makes that process so easy and simple that when I interview with the Komodo I'm reminded of how much I love the Canon. 3. The Komodo can be stripped down super small for sure. But it also requires me to build it up quite a bit at times to get all of the functionality that the Canons have built in. But you may not need all of that, as you said. 4. I think the dynamic range is close between all of the cameras you mentioned (C80, C70, Komodo). All of those would probably be a small step up over what you're shooting with to some degree, although the S1H traditionally has very good dynamic range. 5. The Komodo probably has the most "mojo" out of the box but some of that is anecdotal honestly. You can make the C80 or C70 look very much like a Komodo with a bit of grading and comparison. Hope this helps!

[@ChrisFlores22]

@@dustinschmidtphoto do you ever film interviews with red? O shoot a ton of interviews as well as videos for the tourism industry. Wondering how red would workout for longer interviews

[@dustinschmidtphoto]

Yep, I use the Komodo a bunch for interviews also. I'm using it this weekend actually alongside the Canons because I need 3 cameras. The Komodo is a great interview camera, as long as your subject isn't a big mover or swayer. I like to shoot my interviews pretty wide open, so if I'm at 1.4 and my subject moves just a bit, then they can go a touch soft. So you have to keep an eye on it, whereas with the Canons I don't have to watch anything, I just put on face tracking.

[@ChrisFlores22]

@@dustinschmidtphoto I shoot interviews on the s1h & bs1h wide open as well in manual focus since those cameras don’t have good AF. My concern is the file size of the red footage. Do you shoot interviews in r3d? I’m thinking of making a red Komodo my main camera so it would be an interview camera and then a broll camera. I’m wondering how flexible the red can be compared to my s1h that I use for interviews and broll.

[@dustinschmidtphoto]

I used to shoot all of my interview footage on the Komodo at LQ and when they implemented the addition of ELQ for even more compression I switched to that for interviews. It keeps the file sizes down even more. For commercial or scripted stuff I'll shoot MQ and for greenscreen or effects, HQ. Usually I shoot LQ for general Broll stuff. It's a 6k file, so it's not tiny, but at LQ it's comparable to the 6k file from shooting super35 on my R5C or the full frame 5.9k raw from my C500 II. If you want to compare data rates, there's a great tool from Phil Holland here: phfx.com/tools/framesToDataRate/

[@RepaireroftheBreach]

Obviously this an effort to scoop up some of BMD’s market for the new PYXIS coming out.

[@rMr.big13]

Lmao… no bro Nikon dissolving Red… it’s over

[@dustinschmidtphoto]

The PYXIS still looks to be a pretty impressive camera for the price point. Have you seen the Wandering DP's videos he just shot with it?

[@georgeg6036]

I wonder how the CS will be after a few years. I'm was on a Red kick when they first came out but know Im weary. I'd probably buy a FX6 or FX3 instead.

[@dustinschmidtphoto]

Those are solid cameras. Depends on your needs of course!

[@mkflavvideo]

dont you still need all the accessories to use the RED ?

[@dustinschmidtphoto]

Yep, you definitely do. But most professionals will tend to have a lot of the other stuff you'd need to make this a functional package, like V mount batteries, monitor, media, etc.

[@anthonyrock5039]

No more than any other camera with the exact functionality

[@petersuvara]

Nikon has a great reputation to keep their subsidiaries alive, integrated and growing… So this is just a step in selling stock.

[@dustinschmidtphoto]

Yeah I would be very surprised if Nikon didn't continue to support Red in all areas. I also think they're clearing the way for Z mount cameras.

[@petersuvara]

@@dustinschmidtphoto agreed

[@tecno8335]

You can feel the panic of RED owners right now. And jealousy lol. Sodium levels are rising.

[@dustinschmidtphoto]

There's definitely some very salty RED owners out there. Just look at any of the comments on RED's own posts!

[@anthonyrock5039]

As an owner I'm fine. Perhaps if I purchased a Komodo X a month ago and not years ago? Then I guess inwould be annoyed

[@Valleedbrume]

All Nikon

[@dustinschmidtphoto]

Nikon definitely led the charge to lower prices here. Their CEO even made a statement about bringing lower prices to consumers.

[@JosephRossPhotography]

Wow, I wanted a Komodo X but without the manufacturer’s support it feels risky. I mean After owning a R5C with all the firmware updates, and battery update (R52)👀😊Compared to Red the Komodo X face focus is still in beta right? C400 internal ND’s may be a better option. The Komodo X is the sexy option! That image just hits different man tough choice!!

[@dustinschmidtphoto]

I do think Nikon/RED will continue to support the X. Eventually the mount will probably move to the Z mount, but firmware updates should continue for awhile, so I wouldn't worry about that. You bring up a bigger point though regarding autofocus. Canon is going to continue to dominate RED in that area, so the C400 could definitely be a better choice if you need that and are currently working with other Canon cameras. If you also do post-production....there's something to be said for making that process easier with two cameras in the same system. But yeah, the X is definitely "sexier".

[@JosephRossPhotography]

@@dustinschmidtphotodefinitely makes sense great content by the way!! Your channel provides knowledge while being inspiring!

[@SaintProductions1]

Now some of you are feeling what Ursa 12k owners felt when we had to deal with the 3k price drop. But I believe it was a good move by Nikon.

[@dustinschmidtphoto]

Cameras always go down in price eventually. The real question is how do you use them to make money after you buy one? I don’t see cameras as investments myself.

[@rMr.big13]

Omg…. Bro….. Red is done… get over it….. Nikon just trying to clear these cameras…. They are done with these cameras ….. better sell yours fast…. Soon there will be no support for them😅😅😅😅

[@petersuvara]

Nikon has a great reputation to keep their subsidiaries alive, integrated and growing… So this is just a step in selling stock.

[@GethinColes]

You don't know Nikon. It's the Microsoft of cameras: backwards compatibility is their thing. They are trying to boost their userbase, and they will absolutely look after their existing loyal customers. Red is a better bet now than it was 6 months ago

[@rMr.big13]

@@GethinColesthe Microsoft of cameras 😅😅😅😅😅😅… so many idiots out there… you keep telling yourself that…. Lmao…. You have my entire studio rolling on the ground here😅😅😅😅

[@rMr.big13]

@@petersuvarayeh right… that’s exactly what it’s is lmao😅😅😅😅😅

[@rMr.big13]

@@petersuvaraoh really…. Give some of Nikons subsidiaries that they have kept alive😅😅😅😅…. Go give us some….

[@simonc4764]

Nikon is killing off RED

[@UnconventionalReasoning]

Why would Nikon kill off RED?

[@dustinschmidtphoto]

I would disagree. I think they may certainly be clearing out RF mount stock though.

[@simonc4764]

@@UnconventionalReasoning To replace it with Nikon

[@simonc4764]

@@dustinschmidtphoto So you don't think Nikon/RED are not making more Komodo cameras?

[@dustinschmidtphoto]

I do think they’re continuing to make the Komodo. Sorry if that was unclear. But I think eventually it could be swapped over to a z mount. Or a version 2 of that form factor in z mount.

[@willvazquez3218]

I don’t think this is pricing power from Nikon. Because the camera was designed by Red and with their chain. I think the camera has not been selling well lately because the whole industry is kind of dying. And I think there’s a lot of used Komodo out there at great price.I also think Nikon will get rid of all the current red cameras as they introduced their own cameras, built around their own supply chain and their own circuits, etc.

[@jacksonjackson9474]

I think you're spot on.

[@dustinschmidtphoto]

This could very well be a move to sell more units during a slow period. But I think the Komodo X is targeted at a different market than Hollywood. It’s more of an owner/operator kind of camera.

[@alexflo761]

...and their own mount

[@UnconventionalReasoning]

@@alexflo761 This might be a big factor, using the Z-mount.