Thanks for the video, man. The Dragon is fantastic and so the Gemini. I have a Komodo 6k and I don’t know why ppl say that it’s bad in low light conditions?! I’ve been a Blackmagic shooter for a long time and the OG Komodo is better than my 6K pro and my 6K FF!!! It’s a beast in low-light!
User knowledge, experience and skills have 99% more to do with komodo output. People who say its bad don't know how to use it. In the age of automatic everything on cameras, most cameras output compressed files and basic noise reduction is baked in, this simple fact amplifies the importance of post processes of actual raw output. Paying attention to and respecting the spot lights leaves output quality up to your lighting and set decisions.
Yes I also never understood why people say that. Actually I even find Red much better in low light than a FX3/FX6...And I used Sony and Red equally. I think that's people who are used to high ISO camera that apply heavy noise reduction internally (but that doesn't make it better...)
Super review, Paule! Habe ich mir lange mal gewünscht und endlich setzt es einer durch. Ich hatte bereits die Komodo, schätze aber so sehr viele Dinge an der Dragon X, auch wenn sie definitiv nicht die perfekte Kamera für jeden Job ist. Aber jedes Mal wenn ich sie nutze, liebe ich das Bild, was ich aus ihr bekomme. Danke dir!!
I don’t understand why everyone says that Red cameras aren’t good in low light. Personally, I find them much better than the FX3/FX6/FX9. Sure, you can push the FX3 or FX6 to 12,800 ISO, but it’s barely usable; except maybe the FX3, but it applies so much internal noise reduction that the image ends up looking unnatural and plasticky. With Red, you can push the image so much further. You just need to stay at a max of 800 ISO and boost the exposure in post-production. The noise looks much more natural, almost like film grain, compared to any Sony camera (I haven't tried the Burano or the Venice, though) .
I’m really tempted by the dragon x, but concerned about the size as well as the accessories I need to get for it? Is there a list of accessories you would recommend?
Love your videos and information. You helped inform my choice to get into a DSMC2 body. I do wonder as someone who has experience with them all, if you had to choose between a Dragon, Gemini, and Monstro, how you would rank them? Currently I am leaning toward Gemini for its low light capability. Monstro would be great but it is also much pricier.
Thank you I’m glad that you like it. Gemini would have been my second choice but dragon is my favourite sensor from image texture and look. Monstro looks also nice but I don’t want to deal with 8k.
Great video considering the Dragon is still relevant. Would love to see it compared to the KX if you can get your hands on one. Edit: would also like to see the side-by-side with the exposure normalized with the Komodo pulled back 1 stop as all the outside footage feels overexposed.
The image is 1 stop darker on Dragon because of the old ISO Calibration. All DSMC1 cams are old iso cal, not all, but some of the DSMC2 cams are old ISO cal - basically they are 1 stop darker then the stated ISO compared to all other cams on the market, like shooting ISO 800 on Alexa is as shooting at ISO 1600 on Epic Dragon.
Overall I find the OG Komodo quiet a good cam for its size and weight ratio, it's easy to pull a decent commercial grade. On set there were some minor issues, like the sound mapping on playback is weird and without digging into the monitor setting clients get sound on record but won't get it on playback (for jobs without DIT). I haven't used it much since 2020, I suppose this issue was addressed in FW. Dragon on the other hand has some issues with banding and FPN when dug deep into shadows, but overall the color on Dragon does stand out of the RED crowd
Great video! I just got a pair of Komodos after selling my s1h & eva1. I love the flexibility with shooting but I do still see the value of having a great camera that allows for a h.265 recording. I kept my gh7 but I’m curious to checking out the c70 as replacement for the gh7 but we’ll see
This comparison seems to fool people because the Dragon footage was better exposed for the environment and had better contrast because of it. I wish I could compare similarly (visually) exposed images blindly.
@pauleporterdp But David fincher used so many komodo cameras for The killer movie including v raptor also then lot of shots, scenes everything is komodo cameras.
When used correctly mainly traffic lights not lighting up is ideal 👌 then MQ or HQ for use with fx or simply if you have the storage. Actual cine lenses like Arri or cooke are the cherry on top or zeiss milvus and canon FD / atlas anamorphic and you can't tell which footage came from what.
Dragon is one of the best sensors Red made. The way it renders skin is just unparalleled. Love it
Absolutely agree 👍🏻
Komodo X is better any day than dragon. Beautiful skin tone and better dynamic range than both dragon and Komodo
I prefer the red one og skin tones to the dragon weirdly enough lol
The Dragon image looks so good!!
I agree ☺️
Thanks for the video, man. The Dragon is fantastic and so the Gemini. I have a Komodo 6k and I don’t know why ppl say that it’s bad in low light conditions?! I’ve been a Blackmagic shooter for a long time and the OG Komodo is better than my 6K pro and my 6K FF!!! It’s a beast in low-light!
Thanks, yeah it is not bad at all 😊 pair that with the canon Speedbooster and it gets even better 😇
User knowledge, experience and skills have 99% more to do with komodo output. People who say its bad don't know how to use it. In the age of automatic everything on cameras, most cameras output compressed files and basic noise reduction is baked in, this simple fact amplifies the importance of post processes of actual raw output. Paying attention to and respecting the spot lights leaves output quality up to your lighting and set decisions.
@ wisely put 👏🙏
True :)
Yes I also never understood why people say that. Actually I even find Red much better in low light than a FX3/FX6...And I used Sony and Red equally. I think that's people who are used to high ISO camera that apply heavy noise reduction internally (but that doesn't make it better...)
Super review, Paule! Habe ich mir lange mal gewünscht und endlich setzt es einer durch. Ich hatte bereits die Komodo, schätze aber so sehr viele Dinge an der Dragon X, auch wenn sie definitiv nicht die perfekte Kamera für jeden Job ist. Aber jedes Mal wenn ich sie nutze, liebe ich das Bild, was ich aus ihr bekomme. Danke dir!!
Danke lieber Daniel, freut mich das du vorbei schaust :) bin auch gespannt auf alles was ich in Zukunft damit drehen kann :)
Great Video Paule 😊
Thank you so much
Hi Paule, may I ask you to share ungraded raw files from the Komodo and Dragon with us to make some testings?
Hello yes I can do that by next week.
Would a Google drive link work?
@@pauleporterdpyes please
Can you get the dragon files off the red website?
Ok 👌🏻
I’m not sure if that’s possible anymore
I don’t understand why everyone says that Red cameras aren’t good in low light. Personally, I find them much better than the FX3/FX6/FX9. Sure, you can push the FX3 or FX6 to 12,800 ISO, but it’s barely usable; except maybe the FX3, but it applies so much internal noise reduction that the image ends up looking unnatural and plasticky. With Red, you can push the image so much further. You just need to stay at a max of 800 ISO and boost the exposure in post-production. The noise looks much more natural, almost like film grain, compared to any Sony camera (I haven't tried the Burano or the Venice, though) .
Thanks for your feedback :)
I’m really tempted by the dragon x, but concerned about the size as well as the accessories I need to get for it?
Is there a list of accessories you would recommend?
Thanks for watching. Yeah check here :
th-cam.com/video/Tm9uSoc_7EM/w-d-xo.htmlsi=y8I5a3w4yjFp8NBc
Love your videos and information. You helped inform my choice to get into a DSMC2 body.
I do wonder as someone who has experience with them all, if you had to choose between a Dragon, Gemini, and Monstro, how you would rank them?
Currently I am leaning toward Gemini for its low light capability. Monstro would be great but it is also much pricier.
Thank you I’m glad that you like it.
Gemini would have been my second choice but dragon is my favourite sensor from image texture and look. Monstro looks also nice but I don’t want to deal with 8k.
Were these videos graded or have a lut on it?
I just made a Color space transform to rec709 in Resolve
what are your thoughts on the Mysterium X sensor?
Never shot with it therefore I don’t know
I wonder how the comparison would go if you put an OLPF on the Komodo
Oh yes that’s a good question
Great video considering the Dragon is still relevant. Would love to see it compared to the KX if you can get your hands on one.
Edit: would also like to see the side-by-side with the exposure normalized with the Komodo pulled back 1 stop as all the outside footage feels overexposed.
Will make that happen by next week
@@pauleporterdp Excellent. I know these tests aren't easy or fast, so much appreciated.
You’re welcome. Will write a comment here once I uploaded them
The image is 1 stop darker on Dragon because of the old ISO Calibration. All DSMC1 cams are old iso cal, not all, but some of the DSMC2 cams are old ISO cal - basically they are 1 stop darker then the stated ISO compared to all other cams on the market, like shooting ISO 800 on Alexa is as shooting at ISO 1600 on Epic Dragon.
Overall I find the OG Komodo quiet a good cam for its size and weight ratio, it's easy to pull a decent commercial grade. On set there were some minor issues, like the sound mapping on playback is weird and without digging into the monitor setting clients get sound on record but won't get it on playback (for jobs without DIT). I haven't used it much since 2020, I suppose this issue was addressed in FW. Dragon on the other hand has some issues with banding and FPN when dug deep into shadows, but overall the color on Dragon does stand out of the RED crowd
Thanks for your insights Alex 😊
@@pauleporterdp try digging in menu to see if there’s ISO Cal2 available, it should be there on dsmc2 brain (not Scarlet-W though)
Ah I didn’t know that. Will check.
Thanks.
Great video! I just got a pair of Komodos after selling my s1h & eva1. I love the flexibility with shooting but I do still see the value of having a great camera that allows for a h.265 recording. I kept my gh7 but I’m curious to checking out the c70 as replacement for the gh7 but we’ll see
Hello, I also have a few Lumix cameras such as S1H and S5iix.
The gh7 is great but personally I prefer the image of the c70 ☺️
@@pauleporterdp would you pick a lumix s1h or s5iix over a c70?
Tough question, personally I slightly prefer the image out of the c70 but it’s just a margin
@@pauleporterdp yeah I kinda regret selling my s1h. It would have been a solid c cam but I chose the gh7 for its AF performance
The gh7 is also great 😊
I liked the RED dragon better :) Nice comparison :) Thanks :)
Thank you very much 😊
sheeeeeeesh i love the red dragon 🐉video!!!
I agree with you :)
This comparison seems to fool people because the Dragon footage was better exposed for the environment and had better contrast because of it. I wish I could compare similarly (visually) exposed images blindly.
I’m working on an updated version :)
should have tested Komodo X instead because it has better sensor than OG komodo
Unfortunately I don’t have a KX for testing
still i love dsmc2 more
Can understand it 😊
Dragon is fabulous :) 100x better
It definitely has its advantages :)
So komodo is not looking good?
I think it is
@pauleporterdp But David fincher used so many komodo cameras for The killer movie including v raptor also then lot of shots, scenes everything is komodo cameras.
Yes the Komodo is great.
When used correctly mainly traffic lights not lighting up is ideal 👌 then MQ or HQ for use with fx or simply if you have the storage. Actual cine lenses like Arri or cooke are the cherry on top or zeiss milvus and canon FD / atlas anamorphic and you can't tell which footage came from what.
True