RED Updates RED Tools to Include DSMC3 Cameras

March 27^th, 2023

RED Updates RED Tools to Include DSMC3 Cameras

by Francesco AndreolaMarch 27^th, 2023

RED has recently updated the browser-based version of RED Tools to support their KOMODO and V-RAPTOR cameras. This toolkit can help you save time on set by speeding up your calculations for crop factor, recording time, flicker free video, depth-of-field, panning speed and exposure.

RED Tools can be an invaluable asset when preparing for a shoot or working with RED cameras on set, as they allow you to quickly make critical decisions about technical parameters like exposure, crop factor, and depth-of-field without the need for complex mathematical calculations.

The calculator exists in two forms: as an iOS or browser-based app. While the former is still stuck in the DSMC2 camera lineup, the latter has finally been updated to integrate calculations for the latest generation of DSMC3 cameras, which include the KOMODO 6K, V-RAPTOR 8K VV and V-RAPTOR 8K S35 sensors. Let’s take a quick look!

RED Tools now support DSMC3 cameras: KOMODO and V-RAPTOR

If you’re not familiar with RED Tools, this is essentially a Swiss army knife for RED shooters comprising 6 different sub-tools:

Crop Factor: this section provides a visual preview of how a specific focal length will look when paired with your camera, depending on the chosen resolution/aspect ratio combination. You can also compare your setup to a reference frame obtained using the same focal length with common film formats or other RED cameras. The tool automatically calculates crop factor and focal length equivalence between the two selected formats.

Crop Factor tools in RED Tools. Source: RED's website — Crop Factor section in RED Tools. Source: RED’s website

Recording Time: helps you estimate the average data rate and recording time based on your resolution/aspect ratio combination, media size, frame rate, and .R3D compression ratio. The tool has been updated to include the new HQ, MQ, LQ, and ELQ quality settings for .R3D files generated by DSMC3 cameras. Unfortunately, the ProRes format is not supported.

Recording Time section in RED Tools. Source: RED's website — Recording Time section in RED Tools. Source: RED’s website

Flicker-Free Video: given a specific power frequency (50 or 60Hz), this tool helps you find the right combination of shutter speed/angle and frame rate to avoid flickering caused by artificial light sources.

Flicker Free Video section in RED Tools. Source: RED's website — Flicker Free Video section in RED Tools. Source: RED’s website

Depth of Field: calculates depth-of-field for a given combination of sensor size, resolution, lens aperture, focal length, and focus distance. Results can be displayed in meters, cm, feet, and inches.

Depth of Field calculator in RED Tools. Source: RED's website — Depth of Field calculator in RED Tools. Source: RED’s website

Panning Speed: this tool suggests the recommended speed (in °/second) and duration of pan movements in order to avoid juddering based on the chosen sensor area, focal length, frame rate and total panning angle.

Panning Speed section in RED Tools. Source: RED's website — Panning Speed section in RED Tools. Source: RED’s website

Exposure: helps you to calculate and eventually compensate the exposure difference (expressed in photographic stops) between two sets of exposure settings when changes in T-stop, frame rate, shutter angle/speed, or ND filters occur.

Exposure section in RED Tools. Source: RED’s website

Free tool on RED’s website

RED has made the latest version of RED Tools available for free on their website. Unfortunately, it appears that the iOS smartphone app has not yet been updated and is still not compatible with DSMC3 cameras.

For more information, please visit RED’s website here.

Have you ever used RED Tools on set? Do you feel the need to have this set of tools in an app-based version? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!