Kinefinity MAVO S35 Mark 2 & MAVO LF Mark 2
At IBC 2023 in Amsterdam, Kinefinity was displaying its MAVO S35 Mark 2 and MAVO LF Mark 2 digital cinema cameras that had been introduced earlier this yr. Each cameras undertake the MAVO Edge high-performance computing platform, they usually function built-in industry-standard ports like unbiased twin SDI outputs with metadata. You may as well report Apple ProRes4444/XQ footage onto NVMe M.2 2280 SSD drives.
Most significantly, each cameras have been very aggressively priced.
MAVO S35 Mark 2
The MAVO S35 Mark 2 incorporates a new 6K S35 CMOS imaging sensor and a twin native ISO of 800/3200. The sensor can be claimed to supply cleaner shadows, higher spotlight particulars, and a large latitude of 14 stops. Kinefinity claims that the digicam performs properly in low mild circumstances and that it doesn’t have a lot noise even at elevated ISO settings.
The MAVO S35 Mark II was designed to cater to these customers preferring to shoot in an S35 format than full body. The advantages of a digicam with an S35 sensor are that you should use a wider number of glass and you will get an extended focal attain. It’s fascinating to see that as quickly as ARRI launched a brand new S35 digicam, different producers all of the sudden designed to do the identical factor.
The brand new S35 3:2 CMOS sensor permits customers to seize as much as 96fps in 6K Extensive (6144 x 2516), and 112fps in 5K Extensive (5120 x 2160). In 6K Open Gate (6144 x 4016) you possibly can report as much as 60fps. If you wish to report above 112fps it is advisable transfer to a M43 crop mode the place you possibly can report as much as 150fps in 3.8K Extensive (3840 x 1600). Should you drop right down to a S16 mode you possibly can report as much as 270fps in 1.9K Extensive (1920 x 800).
Above you possibly can see the recording choices out there for the MAVO S35 Mark 2.
Above you possibly can see the complete specs for the digicam.
MAVO LF Mark 2
The MAVO LF Mark II makes use of the very same full-frame 3:2 CMOS imaging sensor that’s discovered within the MAVO Edge 6K.
The MAVO LF Mark II has a twin native ISO of 800/5120 and in line with Kinefinity, when in comparison with the MAVO LF, the MAVO LF Mark 2 is able to retaining extra spotlight particulars.
The digicam has the identical body charges because the MAVO EDGE 6K so in full body mode you possibly can shoot at as much as 75fps in 5.7K Extensive (5760 x 2400), and 86fps in 5K Extensive (5120 x 2400). In full body 6K Open Gate (6016 x 3984) you possibly can report as much as 48fps and in 6K 17:9 (6016 x 3172) you possibly can report as much as 60fps.
Above you possibly can see the recording choices out there for the MAVO LF Mark 2. As you possibly can see, if you wish to report at larger body charges above 75fps you want to take action in S35 crop modes.
Above you possibly can see the complete specs for the digicam.
New Lens Mount Choices
Each of the brand new cameras permit you to use a extra complete vary of lenses because of the introduction of latest mount adapters. Whereas the cameras retain the prevailing KineMOUNT that lets you use mount adapters together with EF, PL, and LPL adapters with out instruments, the brand new cameras can benefit from two new lens mounts, the Lively PL Mount and Lively E Mount.
The Lively E Mount will help most E-mount lenses. It permits customers to regulate the iris, focal size, and focus of those digital E lenses both by way of in-camera management or manually. As well as, lens optical stabilization will be activated if the lens has the choice. Just like the Lively PL Mount, the Lively E Mount shows lens metadata on displays and saves them into the clip, in order that data can be utilized in put up.
In accordance with Kinefinity customers can set up and detach the energetic mounts with out the necessity for added flange distance calibration. The 2 energetic mounts function a dependable and cine-style locking mechanism.
No Constructed-in eND
In contrast to the MAVO Edge 6K, which options built-in e-ND that may be set to clear or anyplace from 0.6-2.4, the MAVO LF Mark 2 and MAVO S35 Mark don’t have any in-built ND.
If you’re questioning why the MAVO LF Mark 2 is rather a lot cheaper than the MAVO EDGE 6K, this is without doubt one of the major causes.
One of many huge promoting factors of the MAVO Edge 6K. was the addition of built-in motorized eND the place you possibly can select to regulate ND in increments of 0.03 or 0.3 stops on the digicam physique or immediately on the KineMon display screen.
The saving grace for the MAVO LF mark 2 and the MAVO S35 Mark 2 is that Kinefinity does promote two non-compulsory e-ND adapters that you should use. You possibly can select from the EF 3 Mounting Adapter w/ e-ND ($899 USD), or the PL Mounting Adapter w/ e-ND ($999 USD).
These work properly, however as a result of they’re adapters you all the time had a minimal of 0.6 dialed in when utilizing them. This meant that you simply had been continuously having to swap the adapter out and in when shifting into totally different lighting circumstances.
I’m just a little puzzled as to why inner eND was ignored of those cameras, particularly because the new fashions are based on the MAVO EDGE platform.
Digicam Design & weight
Each the MAVO LF mark II and MAV0 S35 Mark II inherit the identical all-in-one field design discovered within the MAVO Edge cameras. The digicam our bodies weigh 1.37kg / 3.02lbs, and as I beforehand talked about, they’re geared up with a number of management ports, twin SDI outputs with embedded metadata and audio, and high-quality multi-channel audio recording capabilities.
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MAVO EDGE 6K -
MAVO LF Mark 2 -
MAVO S35 Mark 2
The MAVO S35 Mark 2 and MAVO LF Mark 2 don’t have the identical equivalent enter and outputs because the MAVO EDGE 6K as you possibly can see above.
So what are the MAVO Mark 2 cameras lacking? Under you possibly can see:
MAVO EDGE 6K |
MAVO S35 Mark 2 |
MAVO LF Mark 2 |
|
Video output1.5/3G-SDI | x2 | x2 | x2 |
Video output SDI TEST | x1 | No | No |
Phantom 48V energy enter XLR ports | x2 | x2 | x2 |
Audio enter (3.5mm stereo MIC) | x1 | x1 | x1 |
Audio output (3.5mm stereo headphone) |
x1 | x1 | x1 |
USB-C port | x1 | x1 | x1 |
Energy output (D-Faucet) | x1 | No | No |
Ethernet (RJ45) port | x1 | No | No |
3 pin LEMO DC OUT | x1 | No | No |
2 pin LEMO DC IN | x1 | x1 | x1 |
SYNC port | x1 | x1 | x1 |
5 pin LEMO TC Enter & Output | x1 | x1 | x1 |
LENS port | x1 | x1 | x1 |
File set off (RS) | x1 | x1 | x1 |
Backside UPS energy (EXT3) | x1 | x1 | x1 |
Excessive pace extension (EXT1&EXT2) | x1 | x1 | x1 |
Video OUT (for KineMon Monitor and EVF) | x2 | x2 | x2 |
Energy
Each MAVO Mark 2 cameras make the most of a hybrid battery plate that helps normal 14.8V V-mount batteries and smaller BP-U kind batteries. It is a good choice to have as a result of you possibly can select the kind of battery you need to use relying in your necessities.
A 200Wh V-mount battery can energy the cameras for greater than 5 hours.
A GripBAT 4S (Appropriate with BP-U30) will be put in on the BP-U compartment on the again of MAVO S35 Mark 2 or MAVO LF Mark 2. With the next capability of as much as 52Wh, the GripBAT 4S nonetheless permits a runtime of about 60 minutes even when utilizing the KineMON monitor on the digicam.
Because of the specialised UPS energy contacts on the backside of the digicam, the cameras can be continuously powered by two NP-F550 batteries with the UPS Baseplate designed by Movcam.
You might additionally energy the digicam by way of the 2-pin push-pull connector to the 2-pin energy socket of the digicam physique.
The wonderful thing about the MAVO Mark 2 cameras is that they solely draw 27W. That is very low and permits for long term occasions on small batteries. What you do want to recollect is that the 27W energy draw doesn’t keep in mind the usage of the EVF or monitor, or operating any +48 audio units.
If the battery does get very low you’re going to get a warning that comes up on the display screen. Each MAVO Mark 2 cameras will then provide you with a countdown and they’ll safely shut themselves down. I like that it does this. You may as well select an choice the place the digicam will robotically cease a recording after which shut off if the voltage will get too low.
ProRes Recording
Kinefinity dropped ProRes RAW and KineRaw choices from their cameras due to authorized points with RED. Each of the brand new cameras are able to recording in flavors of ProRes starting from ProRes 422 LT as much as ProRes4444XQ.
The shortage of inner or exterior RAW recording choices does place Kinefinity at considerably of a drawback, as most different competitors in the marketplace has the flexibility to report RAW internally or externally.
Recording Media
The twin SSD slots on each cameras are based mostly on PCIe-3.0, and the really useful recording media is the proprietary KineMAG Nano 1TB/2TB NVMe M.2 2280 SSD. In accordance with Kinefinity, the KineMAG Nano SSD has two key security options: Learn-only and RAID 5. It’s claimed to enhance the safeness and robustness of the KineMAG Nano whereas copying or writing to the SSD at quick speeds in digicam. The KineMAG Nano SSDs function a common USB-C port, so you possibly can offload information to your laptop at a pace of as much as 10Gbps with a single USB-C cable.
The cameras even have two slots for the KineMAG Nano SSDs.
Now, a Kinefinity KineMAG Nano (1TB) retails for $999 USD, however you may also purchase a Kinefinity KineMAG Nano Physique ($199 USD), which is basically simply an enclosure the place you should use your personal NVMe M.2 SSD drives.
The great facet in regards to the Kinefinity KineMAG Nano drives is that you simply don(t want any kind of card reader. They’ve a built-in USB-C connector so all it is advisable do is connect a cable to your laptop and also you offload your materials.
Now, there are some quirks when utilizing these KineMAG Nano drives. If the digicam is already turned on and also you insert a drive, the digicam gained’t acknowledge that drive. It’s important to have a drive contained in the digicam earlier than you flip it on.
6K file sizes are going to be huge in ProRes. Recording 6K 3:2 Open Gate in 25p in ProRes 4444XQ will get you 26 minutes of recording time on a 1TB KineMAG Nano drive. Should you report at 48fps (25p challenge) in the identical mode that point drops to only 13 minutes.
Should you report 4K UHD at 25p in ProRes 422HQ you will get 232 minutes of recording time on a KineMAG Nano drive.
Equipment
Each MAVO Mark 2 cameras will work with the KineMON-5U2/7U2 touchscreen displays. All parameters of the digicam will be displayed and adjusted on the monitor. The cameras can be used with the KineEVF2 OLED Viewfinder.
Kinefinity’s 7” discipline monitor referred to as the KineMON-7U is an efficient choice in case you plan on buying a MAVO S35 Mark 2 or MAVO LF Mark 2.
The Kinefinity KineMON 7U Monitor Package deal ($999 USD) is a 1080p full-HD high-bright 7″ monitor that has a claimed brightness of 2000nit. Just one Kine video twine is required for the monitor to get energy and a video sign from the MAVO cameras.
The display screen has 325ppi, a 1000:1 distinction ratio, a great full viewing angle, and LED back-illumination.
KineMON-7U has an ordinary 1/4″ threaded gap and two pin-holes on the backside to lock itself to the digicam.
Because the monitor will get its energy and video sign via a single cable the monitor is all the time displaying no matter you have got up on the digicam. There’s the flexibility to activate focus magnification, peaking, false shade, a waveform, and a histogram. You even have the flexibility to regulate the brightness and rotate the picture.
The monitor is good as a result of it lets you have full management and make changes to the digicam by way of the touchscreen interface.
The KineMON-7U is a very nice monitor. It’s vivid, shows a pleasant picture, and it permits for full management of your digicam.
Some customers might favor the smaller-sized KineMON-5U ($769 USD).
KineEVF
Kinefinty’s proprietary EVF is known as the KineEVF ($2,049 USD).
The viewfinder incorporates a micro-OLED 1080p show which Kinefinity claims delivers correct and sharp image high quality with 16 million colours.
The EVF connects by way of a single KineMon MOCO cable to ship energy & video from the digicam making it a proprietary EVF, particular to Kinefinity cameras.
On the MAVO cameras, there’s two video out ports for MOCO cables so you possibly can have each the KineEVF and the KineMON-7U linked on the identical time.
I actually just like the KineEVF, for its value, it’s most likely one of many higher EVFs I’ve come throughout lately. It’s sharp, vivid and shows good colours. Additionally it is extremely small and compact. It solely weighs 290g. The design actually fits the digicam.
The one draw back to the EVF is that there isn’t a lot in the best way of monitoring instruments. There’s solely an ON/OFF change, a scroll wheel, and two buttons on the facet of the EVF.
You possibly can change the brightness from Normal to Excessive and you may activate peaking and a histogram, however that’s it. Because the EVF is getting its energy and video sign via the MOCO cable any menu you deliver up, or change you make, corresponding to focus punch in, will get mirrored within the EVF.
Whereas lots of people gained’t like the truth that the EVF is proprietary most different EVFs from firms corresponding to ARRI, Canon, and RED are additionally proprietary.
As for mounting, there aren’t any 1/4″ or 3/8″ mounting factors. It has been designed to particularly work with the Movcam EVF bracket.
Kits
So far as cages and kits are involved, the MAVO Mark 2 cameras can be utilized with the Movcam KineKIT-Edge with UPS baseplate, Tilta Digicam Cage for MAVO Edge, and SmallRig Digicam Cage Equipment for MAVO Edge.
Kinefinity additionally has a brand new Agile KIT that incorporates a new carbon fiber high deal with, a 2000nits KineMON-5U2 that may rotate 360 levels, a set of latest dual-D and dual-C KineBAT99 batteries, and a KineMAG Nano 1TB SSD.
Pricing & Availability
The MAVO S35 Mark II retails for $3,999 USD and the MAVO LF Mark 2 is $5,999 USD. Each cameras can be found to preorder beginning right now at www.kinefinity.com and licensed sellers. The cameras are anticipated to start out transport initially of March.
The MAVO S35 Mark II Agile Pack is $6,200 USD and the MAVO LF Mark 2 Agile Pack is $8,299 USD.
There can even be a Professional Pack out there.
Kinefinity is providing a free Lively E-Mount once you buy both digicam through the preorder.
You is perhaps considering, the place does this go away the MAVO EDGE 6K? The MAVO LF Mark 2 gives a number of the identical performance and options for nearly 40% of the fee, nonetheless, it doesn’t include built-in eND.
Competitors
The MAVO S35 Mark 2 and MAVO LF Mark 2 face stiff competitors and I’ve listed the costs of different competing cameras beneath.
PRICE | |
MAVO S35 Mark 2 | $3,999 USD |
MAVO LF Mark II | $5,999 USD |
MAVO EDGE 6K | $8,799 USD |
RED KOMODO | $5,995 USD |
Sony FX6 | $5,999 USD |
Sony FX9 | $10,999 USD |
Canon C70 | $5,499 USD |
Canon C300 Mark III | $10,999 USD |
Blackmagic Design URSA Mini Professional 4.6K G2 | $5,995 USD |
Blackmagic Design URSA Mini Professional 12K | $6,385 USD |
Z CAM E2-F6 | $2,999 USD |
Z CAM E2-S6 | $2,199 USD |
Z CAM E2-S6G S35 6K | $5,995 USD |
Z CAM E2-F8 Full-Body 8K | $5,995 USD |
As you possibly can see, the MAVO LF Mark 2 and MAVO S35 Mark II are each competitively priced in comparison with the competitors. The MAVO S35 Mark 2 particularly appears to be like to supply excellent performance and options for a digital cinema digicam that’s below $4,000 USD.
Ideas
Kinefinity was one of many first market disrupters to make digital cinema cameras. They’ve occupied a reasonably area of interest place within the digital cinema digicam house, and although they’re a small firm they’ve now been round for 11 years. I truly shot with their first-ever prototype digicam, the KineRAW S35 approach again in 2012.
The corporate has come a great distance since 2012 and its cameras have continued to get higher and higher over time. The final Kinefinity digicam I reviewed was the MAVO EDGE 6K, and that was a really succesful digicam given its capabilities and have set. Kinefinity has now reached a degree the place they’re arguably now not considered “That Chinese language digicam“, however reasonably, as a professional different to different extra well-known manufacturers. In truth, Kinefinity cameras at the moment are bought via B&H. It’s best to by no means decide a ebook by its cowl.
Kinefinity continues to get higher and higher and I’m nonetheless amazed by how spectacular their cameras are given the corporate is so small. Making a digicam, not to mention a great one isn’t any simple job. Many have tried and failed.
The largest drawback today when convincing somebody to purchase a digicam is that nearly the entire choices are very able to producing good photos whatever the price. Usability, reliability, model recognition, after-sales help, and have set are what now units nearly all of cameras aside.
The opposite problem Kinefinity faces is that they solely launched the MAVO EDGE 6K in March final yr. Immediately, that digicam which is at the moment on sale at B&H for $8,799 USD (it was $9,999 USD) seems to be overpriced and anybody who purchased one simply misplaced a ton of cash in the event that they need to promote it. Potential patrons will not be going to have a number of confidence in shopping for a Kinefinity digicam when a less expensive substitute with an virtually equivalent function set comes out a yr later for lots much less cash.
The caveat with shopping for any product from a small firm is that it must be higher than what’s on supply from the large boys. You possibly can’t simply make a product that’s the identical, in any other case, no one will purchase it. Kinefinity has positioned itself instead resolution to extra widespread cameras in the marketplace. Nonetheless, cameras from mainstream firms have continued to return down in value and there’s no doubt that cameras such because the RED KOMODO took away a number of potential Kinefinity gross sales.
Earlier Kinefinity cameras that had been launched over the past couple of years had been positioned at a value level that arguably put them in no man’s land. The digital cinema market has clearly separated itself over the past 3-4 years into two classes. Nearly all of cameras are priced beneath $11,000 USD (with a number of them truly beneath $6,000 USD). You then have the higher-end choices from Sony, RED, and ARRI.
Competing firms to Kinefinity, like Z CAM, have tried to remain of their lane and their most profitable cameras are those that had been all priced below $3,000 USD. Even in case you take a look at Z CAM’s costliest digicam, the Z CAM E2-F8 Full-Body 8K Cinema Digicam, that’s nonetheless below $6,000 USD.
Even supposing each of the brand new MAVO Mark 2 choices seem like good cameras, and that the costs of the brand new cameras are very aggressive, will probably be a tough promote for Kinefinity to persuade individuals to purchase their digicam over an FX9, FX6, C300 Mark III, C70, RED KOMODO, and so forth. In some methods, that may be a pity, however that’s the actuality.
The Kinefinty cameras arguably supply higher options and performance than cameras at an analogous value level, however model recognition tends to return into play that places Kinefinity at a drawback. If you’re creating your personal content material or doing Indie movies the place the digicam model you’re utilizing doesn’t matter, the Kinefinity cameras are a great choice. If you’re working for shoppers or exhibits which are going to ask you what digicam you’re utilizing (although generally that shouldn’t matter) then they’re most likely not going to be conversant in Kinefinity. That is one thing you clearly want to consider in case you are contemplating a Kinefinity digicam.
Regardless of all these caveats that you simply want to pay attention to, it’s good to see Kinefinity deliver out full-featured cameras at a really reasonably priced value.