The Red Komodo-X is a great camera, though I am sure you are aware that you will need to attach accessories to it so that it can be used professionally.
There are few accessories included in the base camera package. You should opt for a starter pack or even a production pack to keep costs to a minimum; though they might not have all the accessories for the kind of work you do.
In this article lets go over the seven accessories you probably must have for the Red Komodo-X.
1. External Monitor
The DSMC3 RED TOUCH 7.0 is the perfect solution, though not everyone will be happy with the price.
SmallHD also has monitors with which you can control the camera. They’re the SmallHD Cine 7 RED RCP2 and the SmallHD Indie 7. As it’s roughly the same price as the official one from Red, I would stick to the Red Touch.
If you need a cheaper option and can let go of camera control, pick the the SmallHD Indie 7 You can mount it on one of the 1/4″ mounting holes in the camera.
If you need to record externally, I recommend an Atomos Ninja V+.
2. Lexar CFexpress Type B Cards
Red provides rebranded Angelbird cards. At the time of this writing, Red has updated their accessory compatibility list for the Komodo-X with only Red branded CFexpress Type B cards.
However, the V-Raptor supports other brands, and it would be safe to assume Lexar cards would work as well. A good option that I would recommend is the Lexar 2TB Professional CFexpress Type B Card GOLD Series, which comes for around $200 less than the Red card.
UPDATE – With a new firmware update it has announced that it will support Angelbird cards too, and we are hoping that soon this will extend to other cards too that the V-Raptor supports.
You’ll also need the a CFexpress Card reader. I recommend the Lexar Professional CFexpress Type B USB 3.2 Gen 2×2 reader.
CFexpress Type B cards are getting cheaper, and Red is allowing users to use any card in the market as long as they hit sustained 800 MB/s write speeds (for the V-Raptor, I’m sure the Komodo-X has lower data numbers).
3. Expansion Module
The Red Pro I/O Module from Red is a great new addition to the accessories roster of the Red Komodo-X.
It is a V-mount battery plate with input connections for timecode, Genlock, 4-pin control interfaces, DC power, one regulated 24V R/S port and two unregulated 12V AUX ports.
4. RF to PL Adapter
The Komodo RF to PL Adapter with Electronic ND Filter Pack integrates the same electronic ND (neutral density) control used in the Red V-Raptor S35 XL into a robust PL-mount solution for the Red Komodo or Red Komodo-X.
This pack includes an RF to PL lens mount adapter, an electronic ND filter with a 2- to 7-stop range, and a clear filter with integrated buttons.
The adapter also supports Cooke /i lens communication and ZEISS XD data pass-through.
5. 3-Pin XLR Female to 5-Pin LEMO Audio
Red has its own DSMC3 Red 5-Pin to Dual XLR Adapter and that should be good enough if you want to record audio via XLR inputs.
Cheaper options from other manufacturers are not out yet, but you can expect them in the market soon.
6. Top Handle
Red has come out with its own top handle which is a comfortable grip for carrying and operating the DSMC3 cameras, which means it can be used with the Red Komodo-X, Red V-Raptor S35 and the Red V-Raptor S35 XL.
7. AC Adapter
Red has a DSMC AC Power Adaptor Pack which provides power through DC-IN power port for the DSMC3 camera systems.
This might come in very handy for indoors as you can shoot without worrying about the battery draining.
I hope you found my list of accessories for the Red Komodo-X useful. If you know of any others please let me know in the comments below.
