Red Komodo and Arri Alexa 

thanks so much Alexander! definitely different cameras are needed for different jobs. I shot a pilot episode last summer and I was really stuck between shooting on the Alexa or an FX3. I chose the FX3 and it really was a good move for that specific shoot. we moved so fast.

hey thanks! love the komodo. want one. more to come.

Thank you 😇

Oh hi Ryan! Thank you. Love your channel

thank you so much :)

Йоо лестс линк ап бой

thank you! it is really cool all the options we have right now. put a nice lens on any of these cameras and you have a great image!

Totally correct - ANY modern camera sensor has more than enough dynamic range/color bit-depth to capture images that are 'cinematic' in quality and grading ease. Lenses/lighting/framing/movement are much bigger differentiators of what the final look is...

im not so sure about this. i have the gemini and use phantomLUT to get the alexa look, i made tests on gemini and alexa mini in controlled scenarios and a few ppl could detect whats alexa and whats gemini when i showed them stills on my iphone. i mean, how is that possible, but it is. so there are ppl how see the diffrence - bc there is a difference. the only question is: are you willing to pay for it. i m saving money for the alexa35 now 😅

@@morucekI feel you. That’s the difference between the Cinematographer’s and the videographer’s eye.

I love both

Yes it is nice. I want one.

thank you! I really love the komodo and want to get one!

@@BlaineWestropp1 Komodo and SteamDeck best purchases of 2022

hey thanks so much!

Sure thing 🫡

The camera pays for itself

it is wild. as cleverghostchili said though... the cameras do pay for themselves!

hahah little devil. next time im not giving her back.

Thanks! I’m going to do another test where we look at just more footage of different scenes.

​@@bastelwiit takes literally 1 press using printer lights in Resolve to match them.

@bastelwi While true on the codec side, this is not true on the sensor side. You can not recovery Color detail your sensor was unable to record in the first place. To matter your codec, Bitrate or grading capabilities.

@kunstspielklavier185 true. When scenes are exposed properly target range as per planned set up per shot then color etc are not so much of an issue with raw capture. Not so much with compressed output where much more attention needs to be had.

@@BlaineWestropp1 I thought you used the OG for this test not the KX

Agreed. I love R3d. With R3d I dont even have to convert to proxy to edit on my Surface Pro 9. I just change the decode to 1/8th and bam it plays smoothly on a low powered laptop without cuda or anything. Also I love how we can trim all the clips down to just the good sections and run it through Redcine-X and output the raw files from there to trimmed versions. No loss on quality or re-encode. It just spits out the sections we want to keep saving often up to 75% of hard drive space. I suspect many red users dont know we can do that.

I love the komodo

you can also do this in resolve which is pretty cool.

I can't decide how big of a deal the brighter image is. it is just the log, but.. I do like the idea that the Alexa seems brighter.. I want a sensitive sensor. but on the contrary, the Alexa 35 log image is much darker than the mini lf, but it has more DR. so I dont think being darker is a problem.

@@BlaineWestropp1 I think it means that in low light situations you simply have a brighter image to work with. ISO should be the same regardless of the brand but I believe RED rates their ISO's higher than they should. For instance the Epic Dragon definitely looks a full stop less bright at the same ISO compared to an Alexa. In most situations it doesn't matter, adding light isn't that hard. But when it counts it counts. I've found the same goes with a lot of dual ISO cameras. The higher ISO isn't actually as bright as you'd think, making the whole concept not as useful as advertised. I am not saying an Alexa is like an FX3 but they are definitely underrated for low light.

Curious as to what the light-meter shows vs the exposure you're getting w/ both cameras. Also don't recall if you showed, not just log but the factory 709 conversion to see if those exposures match.

😇

I’ve noticed this before. Also, the Arri right off camera is really the best..

If you have a planned shot that is set to be darker scene, setting the iso quite low on the komodo and desired T value for the planed depth needed is best. Then light bright enough to have the stoplight 🚦 where they should be. This kills noise in shadows. (Black shade if its vastly different than the last shots exposure etc.). Gives a nice clean image. Soo much can be done with r3d files (the HQ and MQ gives a super fresh file when detail is paramount) when exposure and correct use of iso is actioned. Many youtuberas use the komodo like its a canon 5d and then slap a lut on it

Hey thx for that but I really don't understand. If adjusting ISO is just a way to encourage us to use more light to get the traffic lights back up then its hardly rocket science. Its like using a LUT and then the ISO is not changing anything in the image apart from our behaviour. Sure it'll be a cleaner image. As a rule that always makes sense so long as highlights are protected. The issue might be that the gamma curve is effectively optimised for general light conditions ie ISO 800 as a midway. So if mid-grey is perfectly exposed within a given lighting set up at 800 iso setting on camera and the traffic lights are all good. Then changing the ISO to 200 ie 2 stops less light and compensating by increasing the lights x4 on output then technically the mid grey is now overexposed by 2 stops. We all know that colour falls off a cliff generally when sensors are extremely overexposed or under-exposure in terms of colour shift so isn't that exactly what we are doing ie stressing the accuracy of the sensor. Sure two stops is unlikely to move out of the landing zone for the sensor's colour accuracy but beyond this then surely we are in the realm of colour shifts being locked in even when the exposure is readjusted in post to taste. Sure the blacks may have less noise but the colour palette accuracy is bound to be affected at some point the further away the sensor is exposed from optimal. RAW or not there is an optimised colour gamma curve that expects certain light levels to hit the sensor to give accurate colours?? Thx. @@anthonyrock5039

@@KenFlanagan even so, it is quite interesting to 👀 see the difference between adjustments made to iso post capture on scenes in the two extremes (shadow heavy vs sky and cloud heavey). Only when really many stops over or under do I see colour drift. I see errors happening when puerile just pick up the cam and twist knobs, hoping for the best and that the cam behaves the same as all others. In truth it takes only a short time to learn and understand a system or work with those who do. Getting the most out of any system depends on it no matter how simple or "complicated" as you know it isn't.:) on set right now eating crew food 😋 enjoying some RU-vid. It's all gravy.

I like the rangers. I only used the 75-180, would like to try the wider one.

Would love to test the fx3 and Komodo. Will make it happen.

I agree with all that you are saying. I love the big camera small camera options (I have one of each). It’s a good way to be. Also, I’d be happy to show a stripped down Alexa setup. I’ve been meaning to get a battery belt.

MILF ahahahah! Hadn't heard Mini LF referred to as this, but from now on I shall only refer to it in this way

I like the lens a lot. Compact, nice look.

I think they are useful but I have a whole new lut scenario now that is 👌

I like the Pictor a lot. depends what you want to do and if you want autofocus. I like the sigma 24-70 as well.

@@BlaineWestropp1 i ended up buying the 24-70gm for 1100 to save more for lights, I don’t really know which to choose between forza and aputure now

Good move. I have a couple forza 500s and the fan is louder on the 500s than the aputure 300. Maybe they fixed this in newer models. It’s not that significant but it is louder

Also: Aren‘t the Pictor Zooms S35 only? Don‘t see much advantage putting them on a Full Frame Camerabody like the FX3.🤔

thats a tough one! can't go wrong either way. my first question is.. have you used all of the cameras that you mentioned in your comment? id go Alexa mini or komodo x over an XT. a lot depends on budget, how you want to shoot, what you want to shoot.

@@BlaineWestropp1 haven’t used all cameras but perhaps renting an Alexa mini and red Komodo is the best way to know if they fit my shooting methods? I’ve seen some arri Alexa Lf cameras used on eBay for $26K, What’s your advice for jumping into commercials? Is it shooting some spec commercials and then reaching out to potential clients or a commercial agency ?

@@BlaineWestropp1 thank you for your incredible informative videos and for your wisdom , much appreciated:)

Used Alexa XT and LFs can be had rather cheap. The do however require very different additional gear to be run comfortably, especially compared to a Komodo or Komodo-X. Basically everything has to be more on the heavy duty Side, e.g. heavier tripods, EasyRigs, Batteries, even Media.

people keep telling me about the FP! maybe I will need to test...

@@BlaineWestropp1 The camera was ahead of its time and meets next to ARRI on set, delivering honest raw footage from the EL-Zone and a host of other amenities. The most compact and everyday, like a smartphone)

Doing some research right now on the vraptor. Stand by.

Thank you !

@@genewilsonv I haven’t used the vraptor x. But I have used a lot of red cameras, and owned a scarlet-w for many years and loved it and still love it. I’ve used the Komodo a bunch recently and like that too from a usability standpoint. Great size, menu, etc. the vraptor x wins with frame rates compared to the mini, and with sensor size. You can shoot FF and s35. The x has taller sensor than the mini, which is good. The x is newer, easier to move around, travel with, and carry. It’s operational with less stuff attached. The extended highlight mode on the x also intrigues me. The mini… wins with internal NDs and a viewfinder. The image is of course very beautiful right off of the camera. Best I’ve ever seen. But.. I’ve matched a bunch of cameras to it. When I am on set with the support (crew) and I walk up to the Alexa and look through the viewfinder, it is a very enjoyable experience. The viewfinder is important to me. The menus define simple, and the exposure tools are the best. You cannot mess up the exposure on an Alexa. The tools are very exact and easy to read. But even if you did mess it up, you can push and pull that footage around so much in post. Red has great exposure tools too though, and latitude. This is a tough question. In one way.. if there is a camera you simply want more than the other one, get the one you want bc you won’t go wrong with either. If you’re traveling a lot, maybe lean towards vraptor. If high res and high frame rates would help you, v raptor. I see the Alexas being used more on stuff. I use it more (bc I have one). There is a magic to it, but it comes at a cost. If you want to capture an image and pull it into the computer and have it be perfect, and don’t care about resolution or frame rates or how heavy the camera is, get the Alexa. Or.. get the vraptor x and wait until you need the LF or the A35. It’s a tough decision. The x is a little more versatile and new. You will not be missing out by choosing one over the other. Prioritize the weight, and features you need. Hope this helps! (If you go with the x, try and buy other things for it that you can use on other cameras, like monitors and batteries and lenses)

@@BlaineWestropp1 thank you so much for taking the time to respond. You have a life time subscriber 💯

Thank you so much that means a lot ☺️ let me know if you have any other questions. Happy to give input!

I’m just observing.

@@BlaineWestropp1well, you're observing two different log encodings which cannot really be compared to one another without logical treatment. LogC is not darker or brighter by x amount of stops. The nature of the log encoding formula simply puts black/midgey/white at different places but that doesn't tell anything about the sensor or picture quality.

I’m just looking at the footage from each camera.. one camera records one image, another camera records another. I’m not saying one is better or worse, I’m just looking.

I think the point is, stating one is brighter than other at same T-Stop is the issue. Essentially both logs are encoding different values, targeting different approaches for latitude. So, yes you are looking at images, but one is brighter than other because one manufacturer has a different logarithmic equation to encode dynamic ranges.

@@crazyKurious and to add, once converted to display space (709, etc) the brightness difference you see in the log images will no longer exist.

I am not positive, I can test this week and let you know.

@@BlaineWestropp1 Would be great!

get one bro

Bc exposure was compensated with shutter. This was raw. Same thing would happen in prores

You’re basically just reducing exposure with shutter in this example.

maybe 😇 I have 5 that are pretty good that took me many years to make.

I really should have shot more footage, but was in a rush and didn’t have the camera for long enough. Maybe I will do another test that more so just looks at the footage in different scenarios

I'll take your fx6. I'll trade you my car 🤣

@@MikeMarrah what kind of car do you have?

@@codylarosa 2008 Honda Fit Sport with 145,000 miles. Runs fine. AC works. My wife just doesn't like it 😅

I have an FX6, along with the Komodo and Raptor. It's so hard to see a difference. Have you attached an anamorphic lens to your FX6? I use the FX6 for most of my commercial work now. I feel guilty that I don't use the Reds that often anymore. But, after attaching some cheap Sirui anamorphic 1.6 lens to my FX6, I was blown away by the image quality. Made me rethink everything. Good luck with your projects!

@@12yfilms I’ve only shot anamorphic once with the atlas Orions. I want to pick up some of the Sirius I’ve seen some amazing stuff from them and Macgregor shoots Lamborghini commercials with the fx3 sirui combo. I actually just want to try out a different camera for a little bit I do love my fx6 though!

I think a Sony fx3, fx30, and the black magic cinema camera full frame are some good options!

stay tuned :)

please man i beg you :')@@BlaineWestropp1

😎

The original!

@@BlaineWestropp1 Marvelous

brilliant question. id bring both. Alexa for those wide establishing shots and the komodo for the handheld, in the thick of it shots

Of course I understand that. I’ve been shooting on red cameras for over 10 years. Changing ISO can influence how you expose a shot, and as shown in the video, the DR allocation moves as you change it.

I stopped down until the camera said that the highlights were not clipping. But in resolve I saw that I didn’t need to stop down that far..

Just observing over here