B&H Photo News Roundup: Week of 14 May 2023

RED debuts upgraded KOMODO-X, Mackie shows off the DLZ Creator adaptive digital audio mixer, and Hobolite is now available at B&H.

Week of May 14, 2023

Nikon's huge Z8 announcement last week caused so much excitement that we are still producing new content about it. But there are some key new items that have caught the world's attention this week. RED is at the top for us, with an upgraded KOMODO-X model that brings the brand's tiniest cinema camera a bit upmarket. Meanwhile, Mackie is looking to impress in the digital audio mixer market with the DLZ Creator. Last, Hobolite, a newer company specializing in quality and attractive LED lights for creators, is now available at B&H.

RED KOMODO-X gives the compact cine camera serious upgrades

RED's original KOMODO signaled a huge shift for the camera manufacturer. The KOMODO featured many standard components such as media slots, was ultra-compact, and was designed to be picked up and used right away without building a whole rig. The KOMODO-X makes that camera even better by gaining some features from the bigger DSMC3 cameras.

Here's a rundown of the upgrades:

Updated 6K Super35 Global Sensor CMOS sensor w/ double the frame rates
Improved dynamic range of 16.5+ stops
Adoption of CFexpress Type B (instead of CFast 2.0)
Longer body with addition of V-mount battery plate
Updated I/O: 12G-SDI, 5-pin LEMO for audio, 3.5mm headphone jack, 9-pin EXT, 6-pin DC IN, USB-C, Wi-Fi antenna
Tweaked thermal system

There is a lot to love here, and the bump in image quality should be greatly appreciated. The global shutter design of the sensor limited the capabilities of the original KOMODO, so a boost to its dynamic range is noteworthy. Plus, the extra speed allows for even better slow motion with top specs of 80 fps in 6K 17:9, 120 fps in 5K 17:9, 120 fps in 4K 17:9, and 240 fps in 2K 17:9.

Changing the body design comes with plenty of other advantages. It is more aligned with the V-RAPTOR bodies, including transitioning to CFexpress Type B, and takes the more common V-mount battery. A small change is that the thermal system has flipped directions, with intake on the operator's side and exhaust opposite that.

All these new features don't come free. The KOMODO-X brings the price up to $9,995 compared to the original's relatively modest $5,995. But many people will find these upgrades well worth it, and they make the KOMODO an even better B or C camera for those using the V-RAPTOR.

At launch, RED is doing its usual limited run of Special Edition models. This special model, the RED KOMODO-X ST, debuted in a white finish. You likely will have missed this initial batch, but sign up to be notified when the black production models are ready for purchase.

RED released a couple new accessories, too, including RF to PL Adapters with Electronic ND Filters and a Compact Top Handle.

Mackie wants the DLZ Creator mixer to boost your podcasts & streams

We have seen a lot of new solutions designed to make audio production, especially for podcasting and streaming, a lot easier. Mackie's new product, the DLZ Creator Adaptive Digital Mixer, hopes to produce high-end results for users of all skill levels in no time at all.

The Mackie DLZ Creator has three control modes—Easy, Enhanced, and Pro—to get users of all skill levels up and running in no time.

Key to the success of the DLZ Creator are three control modes designed for different experience levels. Easy Mode is as close as you can get to picking it up and hitting Record with minimal menu navigation required. Enhanced Mode lets you have more control over your mix settings without getting overwhelmed by having to control everything. Pro Mode is what you would expect—full control and customization, if you know what you are doing.

For an even more user-friendly experience, Mackie added MixAgent tech, which serves as a virtual assistant to help you get the DLZ Creator configured properly.

Four Onyx80 mic preamps and AutoMix tech make it easy to capture a multi-person podcast or stream.

There are four Onyx80 mic preamps for clean audio from your microphones and if you are working with multiple mics, the DLZ Creator has an AutoMix function that automatically manages levels for up to four mics at once. Add a phone via Bluetooth with full Mix-Minus support at the click of a button, too.

For recording, you can connect to a PC over USB-C or save your audio to an SD card.

Plenty more is packed into this device, and it should help a lot of people get a good start in more professional audio workflows.

Hobolite's stylish LED lights are now available at B&H

Now, style should never be the first thing on your list when you are shopping for lights, but I would be lying if I said it didn't help. Nowadays, it's popular to shoot a lot of BTS or even just have a bit more of your production visible on camera for your vlogs. In those cases, the design and feel of lights do matter—along with their light quality—and Hobolite is a brand aiming to check all these boxes.

A company only recently founded, Hobolite is new to B&H, and the brand offers three new lights, all inspired by retro photography equipment:

Each has a similar "Old Hollywood" aesthetic with faux-leather side panels and aluminum bodies. All are also bi-color lights with an adjustable range of 2700-6500K. They are designed to be more portable alternatives at every size, and each comes in a nicely designed case that travels easily.

Hobolite’s stylish lights work as a system with their own sleek accessories but also support standard Bowens-mount modifiers so you can get the look you want.

The Mini is designed for social content creators and is perfect for getting your next TikTok ready. The Avant is a great step up in power while remaining extremely portable. And the Pro provides plenty of power for a professional shoot, even when you want to use a large Bowens-mount softbox to craft the scene.