RED Slashes Price of Komodo and Komodo-X Cameras by up to 30%

RED, wholly owned by Nikon, has permanently cut the prices of its Komodo and Komodo-X digital cinema camera systems by up to 30%, making the cameras much more accessible for filmmakers.

The RED Digital Cinema Komodo 6K camera body now starts at $4,995, down $1,000 from $5,995. The camera sports a 19.9-megapixel Super35 Global Shutter CMOS image sensor, promising 16 stops of dynamic range (although mileage may vary). The camera records 6K/40p, 5K/48p, 4K/60p, and 2K/120p video and offers REDCODE RAW and Apple ProRes file types.

The RED Komodo-X 6K camera has received a significant $3,000 price drop, bringing its new permanent price down to $6,995. It includes the same image sensor as the standard Komodo, although it offers additional I/O, including a 12G-SDI port, a better battery, and improved IP capabilities for streaming. The Komodo-X also shoots 6K at 80p, 4K at 120p, and 2K at 240p, double the capabilities of the Komodo across the board.

RED Komodo

“RED’s Komodo lineup has only grown in popularity over the years,” says RED Digital Cinema’s new CEO Keiji Oishi. “Since joining RED, I have heard filmmakers rave about Komodo’s small form factor and the amazing performance of the global shutter sensor. We’re excited to introduce this new pricing which lowers the hurdle for a new group of filmmakers to take advantage of the exceptional cinema quality and creative possibilities of RED cameras.”

“RED always strives to create an accessible and reliable avenue for artists at any level to get their hands on premiere cinema grade imaging technology,” Oishi adds. “The Komodo remains one of the most versatile and powerful camera systems that RED has ever developed, and democratizing image capture technology at this level will always remain part of RED’s DNA.”

RED Komodo-X

While the ink has barely dried on Nikon’s acquisition of RED, it remains something of a novelty that Nikon not only offers cinema cameras with a Canon RF mount but now does so at a lower — and generally very compelling — price point. As for when Nikon’s proprietary technology may make its way into RED digital cinema cameras, or vice versa, the company says it is actively pursuing avenues for integrating software and hardware in both directions, although these things take considerable time.

Beyond price cuts to the camera bodies themselves, RED has also reduced the price of the Komodo and Komodo-X Starter and Production Pack configurations, with the Komodo packs getting a $1,000 price reduction and the Komodo-X packages receiving a $3,000 price drop, commensurate with the discount on the camera bodies themselves.

Image credits: RED