SONY FX30 VS. RED KOMODO | And the WINNER is......

SONY FX30 APSC VS RED KOMODO SUPER 35
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Gerard Needham
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#fx30 #redcinema #komodo

[@VitaViral]

I think this really shows us how great consumer grade cameras have gotten. For the price the fx30 is certainly close to amazing.

[@gerardneedham]

Yeah FX30 slaps

[@goodeggproductions]

I own two RED Komodos and an A7S3 and an A74. I use the Sonys for my corporate and longform interview work and I use the REDs for narrative work. Tools are tools. And for me, it's not about this vs. that. It's about using the appropriate tool for the job. That said, if I had to have only one camera for everything, it would 100 times be the A74. That camera is amazing for all that it can do. Sony is extremely good at giving the consumer a lot for their money, and with E mount, there's TONS of great lens support and the ability to adapt it to take just about any lens of any mount. So big points there. But I'm definitely going to check out your LUTs because like you, I'm not totally satisfied with the native LUTs and their color treatment of outdoor scenes.

[@gerardneedham]

Oh nice man, that’s a epic set up. I wish Sony would give or sell LUTS like you do get for the RED system

[@RafalGendarz]

I am thinking now about going from a7iv to komodo (og) - does the red has much bigger dynamic range, does it look soooo much better?

[@goodeggproductions]

@@RafalGendarz The best I can offer is that the RED image CAN look better and have more latitude than the Sony image. There's a physical difference between the 10bit HEVC 4:2:2 and the RED 16bit raw. I would say that the dynamic range is pretty similar in most real world situations. I think Sony is easier to bring back overexposed hightlights, while the RED is better at recovering shadows, but it's really close and I'm not a colorist. The real difference is in the post workflow. Until you REALLY learn how to access all of the benefits of R3D files, you might think that the Sony is better. It is not. It's just easier. So, for 80% of all shots, and 95% if you can light properly, I'd prefer to work with Sony footage. But for that other 20%, or if lighting was lacking, there's so much more that can be done with the RED footage. All that said, you'll be giving up a lot more moving from the A74 to a Komodo. Amazing autofocus, very usable OIS, and simple usability and versatility. I'd never suggest anyone trade one for the other. So why not both??

[@d_FLDE]

@@RafalGendarz , if you learn how to grade it is a different world. At first you will be lost though. Dynamic range is on a hole new level, you will need to learn to understand sensors. Will be an interesting journey next to a far nicer camera. And you will learn that glass is that not only the sensor makes the look but the glass

[@d_FLDE]

… if e mount is the reason why you have Sony, you are best to stick to Sony 😹😹 Photo lenses are photo lenses. Get comfortable with real cinema lenses and you will never want to touch a photo lens again.

[@wearetrackclub]

Nice comparison! Really like how you broke everything down 👍

[@gerardneedham]

Glad you liked it!

[@Shotswith.aj_]

Nice video, explaining everything and good feedback!!

[@gerardneedham]

Glad you liked it! Thanks for the feed back mate

[@randytran7414]

I don’t rly understand the point of the video…pretty different target consumers for each camera. even you yourself said they can’t compare

[@gerardneedham]

Yeah kinda silly for fun, I just wanted to show they are very similar but different at the same time. I also wanted to test the global shutter vs the rolling shutter

[@Daneagle619]

Gotta get the views

[@Eyeofkamau]

These kind of comparisons are my favorite. I shoot mirrorless and love to research how well my camera holds up (IQ & Capability wise) to cinema cameras 3-10x expensive. Comparing cameras within the same niche is great for decision making, and other things of course. Comparisons of cameras on different ends of the spectrum are great for feeding innocent curiosity. Sometimes, the results are surprising.

[@kostashalabalakis4352]

​@@Eyeofkamauit's funny that people are so stupid and they can't see the marketing of the media's. Blair witch project was filmed with a VHS camera. The possession of Hannah Grace filmed with 8bit Sony A7SII camera. The creator was a bad movie, full of plot holes , unrealistic UNIVERSE about what it's AI ...the film saves it fx3 and all this narcissistic KZbinrs who believe that are filmakers because their camera was used in a film 😂

[@m-tron5966]

You could’ve literally not told anyone which cameras you used… or listed two entirely different cameras… And there is no significant difference, as they both look awesome

[@muaz7158]

Thank you for your valuable content Gerard. I really appreciated the precision of your photography and the lens you use. Can you confirm if you used the Sigma FE 24-70mm f/2.8 lens and the Sony FX3 camera? I'm considering purchasing them. Thank you.

[@gerardneedham]

Yup sigma 24-70

[@alvarosalguero3651]

I like this kind of video, it proves again and again that most of the time depend on the person behind the camera more than the gear itself. If you know what you are doing you can get good results with any of these cameras.

[@gerardneedham]

100% and some cameras are better for different situations

[@relaxwithme3266]

Red is fine but Sony is actually a better camera for most people.

[@gerardneedham]

100%

[@XVIIsionsProductions]

Did you film the rolling shutter portion of this video in XAVCS S-I DCI 4K or any other setting like S-I 4K or S-I HD on the fx30? That would have been useful information to “compare the cameras” S-I does not interpolate frames wheres XAVC S and XAVS HS do.

[@gerardneedham]

Nah but that’s a good point, I wonder if HD is better with a faster read out. 4K 60 is better than 24 FPS because it’s a faster read out

[@DWebbTheOldHead]

After watching this video, I’m thoroughly convinced on purchasing the FX30 for my upcoming birthday. Great video, my man. 🍻 BTW……..new sub here.

[@gerardneedham]

Awesome bro get it, thanks for the sub

[@ArazoMedia]

Great job man keep it up

[@gerardneedham]

Thanks, will do!

[@simplelightmedia]

You can change iso and temp of the Sony footage as well. Like having raw internally.

[@gerardneedham]

Nat you can’t on the Fx 30, maybe on the fx9. But even external recording you only get a the white balance meta data

[@Sweatmonkey513]

A man thanks for making this video.. you are like the 3rd person who did something like this… again thank you

[@gerardneedham]

Yeah not many videos with the fx30 against the Komodo

[@Sweatmonkey513]

@@gerardneedham do u own both cameras?

[@markerdude]

FX30 is the little brother to FX3, to think that they shot a blockbuster film with that.. and it looks STELLAR. The movie being; The Creator

[@gerardneedham]

Yeah pretty wild, will be interesting to see the new FX3

[@BanderaFilmsAndMusic]

For 8000 dollars more, I should definitely get more and better features, but the FX30 is incredible for what it is. Cool video, bro

[@gerardneedham]

Totally agree!

[@tylerstooksbury3050]

The OG komodo is only about 4,000 more. The Komodo-X is 8,000 more. Keep in mind it has much higher frame rates, better usability, better audio, and auto focus.

[@Cinnovations]

For like $95,000 more, I should be getting a Time Machine built into an Arri Alexa. The Red shoots R3D and has at least a solid stop more of dynamic range, global shutter, it’s actually metal, and the list goes on and on. So yeah it better have those things. The XH2s blows the FX30 straight out of the water for like $700 more.

[@davemorphling7432]

In what ways is XH2s superior? @@Cinnovations

[@Cinnovations]

internal prores, better DR by about 1-1.5 actual usable stops, better color science sooc, more raw recording options, better IBIS, better rolling shutter performance. The only thing the fx30 has over xh2s is autofocus, and it's a "cine cam," so that's kind of sad. @@davemorphling7432

[@GlobalShutterNY]

I am loving my FX 30 - I could not afford a Red... The FX 30 image I find very grazeable in Resolve - but obviously I am not grossly missing exposure/color balance. Using external recorders you can record RAW on the Sony (and with the price difference you can easily add in an external recorder and still be much cheaper than the Red).I guess i don't shoot any types of images where the rolling shutter is apparent. The bottom line - today almost every cinema camera can do a great job - the difference is barely worth talking about practically. Lighting/framing/lens choice/camera movement and color grading male much more of an impact than the sensors IMHO. (One exception might be the newest Alexa sensor - with over 17 stops of DR - that kind of blows everyone else away - but at a very high price point of course).

[@gerardneedham]

Yeah you can see the more dense colours and contrast in the red. But ever when you record raw on Sony you don’t get the ability to change the white balance you only get the meta data

[@fly_fish_appalachia]

cool video. I currently own a Komodo and previously owned the fx30/a7siii/a7iv...The Sony kit has been amazing for my work filming fishing/wildlife/outdoor work does everything I wanted it too. I had the opportunity to get the Komodo and see what a red cam is all about. While its a totally different workflow the red colors and the raw file blew me away, working outdoors 85% of the time having that lattitude is amazing. I would love a lowlight mode or something like in the gemini for the Komodo to help it but I'm nit picking honestly. I ramble to say this I loved the fx30 and my Sony cams and had their purpose but the redraw files have totally changed my game!

[@gerardneedham]

yeah the Red files look like a photo in a way, so clean and detailed. and the red LOG LUTS are great and plenty to choose from

[@RafalGendarz]

I am considering buying red and I am just thinking if the difference is really so huge

[@owenjenkinsofficial]

I would love to see a field of view comparison with the new FX30 firmware update, comparing the DCI 17:9 footage with the komodo's to see if its closer to the true s35!

[@gerardneedham]

Noted!

[@Byngi]

Hey, I have a Red Komodo, and I am curious what Macintosh setup you are using? If there is anything added to help the Red footage run smoothly, may you please share? Thanks, Joe

[@gerardneedham]

Oh I’m on the Apple Mac m1 bro, but I still used proxy’s in Final Cut Pro.

[@Byngi]

@@gerardneedham Do you think my M2 STUDIO MAX 32GB ram and 512 SSD will be okay without proxies? I have a 2TB SSD external also

[@BLazLessons]

Is the talking head portion of the video shot with the FX30?

[@gerardneedham]

The A7IV in crop mode with the viltrox 13mm f1.4

[@BLazLessons]

thanks

[@andrinhettinger]

What makes the Komodo so much better is just the better dynamic range and the colours. With the Sony I get a lot more blown out spots in the frame compared to the RED Komodo X. And of ourse the Rec709 conversion is much more accurate in Davinci Resolve. You get a good image very easily.

[@gerardneedham]

Couldn't agree more!

[@ruff1draft]

Thanks for this information

[@gerardneedham]

Welcome

[@ruff1draft]

@@gerardneedham Have a blessed week

[@OMNIFICPICTURES]

Get your color and exposure right. Buy two Sony FX30s and travel lite hopping planes. Hands down Sony beats the Red Komodo for small doc crew and flexibility packing for travel and you can use it in your palm or kit it out. As far as menus go well the Red has it but most users get used to menus on Sony after some time with the camera as with all cameras it takes a minute to learn how to use it.

[@boomboombaby9140]

I know my fx30 menu like the back of my hand .

[@OMNIFICPICTURES]

@@boomboombaby9140 yeah it’s not that tough. Got to spend time with any rig and know it. It’s an improved experience over previous cameras for sure.

[@gerardneedham]

Yup really depends what you use it for

[@OMNIFICPICTURES]

@@gerardneedham cameras are used for pictures moving or still.

[@scenesplus]

The price is more drastic than the actual differences between the cameras.

[@gerardneedham]

Yeah ahahahah for sure

[@Pablodiovisuel]

it's like comparing a cross motorbike and a city car on a muddy road

[@gerardneedham]

💯

[@DeviceElectronic]

What about this video you talking in your room? Which camera did you use?

[@gerardneedham]

I’m glad you asked Sony A7iv I linked it in the description

[@stanislasflipo7214]

Maybe it's me but the images of the RED look a lot more natural and cinematic to me.

[@gerardneedham]

Yeah definitely more contrast and color science

[@roblafata]

I own an Epic 8K, Komodo and an A7SII I’m thinking about the FX30

[@gerardneedham]

Nice a great combo

[@JJF_FILMS]

Red has the upper hand for anamorphics and color .

[@gerardneedham]

Definitely

[@paulm8157]

Durable post w/good pacing, illustrations, and graphics. Bottom line is that, as you said, the products are not really comparable. Global shutter a high end feature. Suggestion: Watch the thumbnail inferences. When vid thumbnail depicts someone, IMO, viewers expect the individual to be the channel host, talking special guest, or main subject of vid. Not so in this one; thought Gerard was in disguise😊. My “hunch” after seeing the vid is that the guy holding up the cameras is “G” - he made a silent cameo in the vid, and a text flash hinted at his identity. Thumbnail pic in pic of earlier post(?) too small, but I guess that’s you. Cheers!

[@gerardneedham]

It’s a mystery heheheh. Nah we just ran out of light for the thumbnail and this was the best we got ahahah

[@davemorphling7432]

when you say image quality, do you mean Komodo is sharper or something? or is it just post-capability? Cause that'd only be fair if you compare ProRes Raw.

[@gerardneedham]

It’s just the sensor has better dynamic range in log 16 bit, Compared to the 10 bit on the Sony. Just more detail in the red compared to the Sony

[@benjimenlockwood]

The reason it takes a while to power up is because the sensor needs to heat up before use. The fx30 and most other mirrorless cameras are amazing but the image quality is not the same as a red camera. These are all tools and it depends on what you’re shooting.

[@gerardneedham]

Yeah what ever fits your needs and budget

[@CINENIMUS]

Lost me at “film cameras have instant shutter” they dont. Its a fast but still rolling shutter

[@gerardneedham]

Yeah true but it’s like a mech shutter for photography

[@jeremyedwards9304]

I would like the link to a canon 24-70 2.8 with IS lol

[@gerardneedham]

Go on Amazon and search canon EF 24-70mm f/2.8L II IS USM. It has 2 stops

[@jeremyedwards9304]

@@gerardneedham the 24-70 f/4 has IS and the 24-105 f/4 has IS, but neither version of the 24-70 f/2.8 has IS. That would be a dream lens.

[@gavthane]

@@gerardneedhamthat lens does NOT have IS. The only Canon 24-70 2.8 lens with IS is the RF version.

[@boxoffisa]

The video made fx30 to feel inferior and insecure as if they are same price. I hope it gain back it's confidence.

[@gerardneedham]

Ahahahahah

[@charlesoliver5410]

Yes king

[@gerardneedham]

Yozza

[@ruff1draft]

The Sony A74 is on my list

[@gerardneedham]

Yessss let’s go

[@ruff1draft]

​@@gerardneedhamYES INDEED AND TO BE HONEST SO IS THE CANON R7 AND PANASONIC S5 MARK II X.

[@butaleo]

if fx30 could output ProresRAW without Crop, that would be a deal breaker for me

[@gerardneedham]

Yeah hopefully an inbuilt ND this year also

[@butaleo]

@@gerardneedham do you think the new cameras are coming this year?

[@ChrisParayno]

At this point, any camera is considered a cinema camera with enough rigging 😂😂

[@gerardneedham]

Ahahahhaha true

[@carlosq00]

These types of comparisons really always boil down to budget. We all have a budget and ultimately everyone at every level has a budget. Justifying a this is better than due to budget is basically garbage. At the end of the day shooting the same scene on different systems with proper monitoring tools equals a visibly noticeable huge difference. I will say that I appreciate this video’s attempt to balance the reviews perspective but let’s keep it real in a side by side comparison a Sony vs RED - Sony will fail 💯 of the time against @REDDigitalCinema and the only time that isn’t true is because the operator and post workflow house lack in skills. Sorry just facts!

[@gerardneedham]

sony has better autofocus, so sony doesn't fail 100% of the time, true facts ahahaha

[@carlosq00]

@@gerardneedham Sony does have good auto focus

[@shem44]

Next video: speedboat vs SUV. And the winner is.......

[@gerardneedham]

FX30 is the speed boat

[@alexanderchua]

This video is like comparing a lamborghini aventador to a motorcycle.

[@gerardneedham]

Ahahahahah some motorbikes would smash a lambo

[@frankfeng2701]

More like Ferrari to a pickup truck.

[@gkamp6528]

And then you see at 11:00 that komodo has clipped information in the highlights and the sony did not. Komodo is another tool for the job.

[@lizlana4200]

@@gerardneedhamhence I’d rather show up to my clients with a lambo

[@nkarfootTv]

...and now -- The Creator used the FX30. Using 12bit Ninja v recorder. Wonder how it would stack up against the Komodo in that configuration?

[@UncoverWonders]

Was it's bigger brother the FX3. Same overall body/tech but a larger full frame sensor. Double the price roughly too. FX30 is still a beast of a camera.

[@nkarfootTv]

Yes I got the number mixed up You're right. @@UncoverWonders

[@gerardneedham]

You don’t really gain much recording RAW with Sonys unfortunately

[@UncoverWonders]

yeah easy mistake :) @@nkarfootTv

[@gritHouseStudios]

I think the fx30 is better

[@gerardneedham]

Heheheh do t tell the red fans that

[@magpiemike100]

To be fair; your grading is subjective, and you make that clear. That would explain giving the Image on the Red a whopping 4, but grade the Fx30 with a 1. In fact in all the categories you maintain 0, .5 or 1. No, 2's or 3's... During your standup as you describe the image of the FX30 to the Red; you repeat that the image was pretty comparable--it wasn't until grading the extremes that the FX30 (in your competition) showed less capability. I think your grading of FX30 at 5 makes sense until you go way overboard giving the Red a 4 for IMAGE. If the Red gets 4 for IMAGE then the FX30 should get fair treatment; so 4 for PRICE...

[@gerardneedham]

Good Observation, but the red does have 16bit internal RAW so that’s pretty hard to bet

[@magpiemike100]

I guess I would acquiesce if the comparison is strictly in the category of a “cinema camera intended for high end cinema production.” I was under the impression that you do corporate, weddings and some product production. I do corporate work for GM, Ford and Chrysler-vehicle, lifestyle Dealer meeting- assets for the large Imag screens in Las Vegas. Not once have my high-end clients asked for Raw (any flavor…) assets, ungraded yes-prime lens and pretty vehicle images yes. So if your evaluation assumes day-to-day workflows requires demanding clients who want 16bit raw, and it’s your bread and butter-and you’ve got the budget and drive space for raw, then the Red is a good choice… Frankly I’ll use the plethora of Sony Cine Line cameras in my workflow, at a fraction of the cost, a fraction of the drive space, and a fraction of complication shooting with XAVC. Cheers if you can make a living buying a Red and have a client base that demands it-I’ve been there before and much prefer to put my money in competent equipment and superb DP’s.

[@lizlana4200]

@@magpiemike100 Komodo is a pro camera compared to an amateur camera with ibis like the fx30 😂😂😂😂😂

[@sammymorales6838]

Komodo is a Pro Camera, FX30 is a amateur camera. Comparing IBIS and AF is such a moot point, in a real set you would never use those.....The reason you shoot RED is the pro features like SDI, Timecode, Gen Lock, 16 Bit R3D Raw, Global Shutter, Color Science, Anamorphic, Global Shutter, False Colors and all the what we call Inudstry Standard features it requires. FX30 doesn't much industry standard features...that's why its a amateur camera. Sure they used FX3 in one movie to prove a point, they have used the Komodo in many movies. Even Pocket 4k has been used in big hollywood films. AF, IBIS are amateur settings, no serious filmmaker/DP will use AF.

[@brandonlashes]

But would you shoot a wedding with a RED? That’s the point of the video. How it’s not about what’s better but what’s right for the job.

[@gerardneedham]

Yeah this guy gets it 😎

[@gerardneedham]

That’s the point of the video lols

[@user-hp8xk3sl7n]

You don't think your small Sony camera can handle that big camera for the purpose of recording a phone on a table?

[@gerardneedham]

Not sure what you mean by that 😅

[@user-hp8xk3sl7n]

@@gerardneedham Thank you for your kind reply. I was replying to another video and somehow ended up in this page 😂 😂 🙏 🙏 Best wishes

[@ginnodizon6551]

i hate to see this kind of videos, i dont even know why these two has to be compared.... hahahahaha its really funny.

[@gerardneedham]

But you still clicked and watched 🤪

[@2424rocket]

What a dumb comparison. You’re comparing a higher-end red to a lower end Sony. At least use the FX3, not the FX 30.

[@gerardneedham]

They have a similar sensor size the FX3 is bigger

[@JJ_Khailha]

Silly comparison

[@gerardneedham]

Aight,

[@sixsoxsex1]

My old Arri Alexa classic easily destroy these two toys

[@gerardneedham]

100%

[@Bob-om1lk]

yeah sure the obvious differnce is the price... u such a KOOK

[@gerardneedham]

Do you own one tho 😌

[@Bob-om1lk]

whyyyyyyyyy WHYYYYYY...

[@gerardneedham]

Because I can

[@NegroTarantino]

Anytime I hear someone say a camera is entry level or consumer level it makes me cringe.

[@gerardneedham]

Well it is marketed that way