Kinefinity MAVO mark2 S35 and MAVO mark2 LF Introduced – 6K Open Gate, Active Lens Mounts and More

Camera News

by Francesco AndreolaJanuary 17^th, 2023

Kinefinity have just introduced the second iteration of their MAVO and MAVO LF cinema cameras, the MAVO mark2 S35 and MAVO mark2 LF. They inherit the lightweight body design of the MAVO Edge series and offer internal ProRes recording up to 6K75p (LF) and 6K96p, dual base ISO, two active lens mount options, and a hybrid battery plate. Pricing starts at $3,999.

In April 2022, almost two years after the announcement of the MAVO Edge 8K (review here), the Chinese manufacturer broke radio silence with the introduction of a 6K version of their flagship large-format cinema camera (review). Both the MAVO Edge 8K and MAVO Edge 6K then received a boost with KineOS 7.1, which added new anamorphic modes as well as ProRes 4444 Efficiency Mode.

Today, the company announced the successors to their original MAVO S35 and MAVO LF. They inherit many of the features of their high-end siblings, starting from the body design and software platform, but come at a more affordable price. So let’s take a closer look!

Kinefinity MAVO mark2 S35 and MAVO mark2 LF: features

The new Kinefinity MAVO mark2 cinema camera comes in two flavors: S35 and large-format. The former features a newly-developed Super 35 mm 6K 3:2 CMOS sensor, which is suitable to fit a large number of cinema glasses. On the other hand, the LF model shares the same full-frame 3:2 CMOS sensor of the MAVO Edge 6K (6016×3984), which requires lenses covering an image circle of 43.3mm. However, it lacks the internal e-ND system and the ability to record uncompressed RAW.

Both sensors feature a dual base ISO architecture (base ISO values are 800/3200 for the S35 model and 800/5120 for the large-format variant) and are claimed to provide significant improvements in image quality over their predecessors, particularly when it comes to noise performance and highlight details. However, we usually take such statements with a grain of salt, unless we put cameras through their paces in our Lab Test.

Both cameras support three different flavors of ProRes (422 HQ, 4444, 4444XQ), Open Gate recording and the KineLOG3 gamma curve. When shooting in 6K, the large-format model can achieve a maximum frame rate of 75fps in 2.4:1, while its S35 sibling reaches 96fps using the same aspect ratio. Both cameras max out at 150fps in 3.8K 2.4:1 (cropped). Here’s the full, extensive list of recording formats:

The body integrates an SSD PCIe-3.0 slot and, although the company suggests adopting their proprietary 1TB or 2TB KineMAG Nano media, the good news is that third-party NVMe M.2 2280 drives are also compatible using the KineMAG Nano Body adapter. Moreover, the company’s proprietary mags have a built-in USB-C port (10Gbps), so you don’t need an additional reader to offload footage.

Active PL and Active E lens mounts

What’s interesting is that the company has been opening up their ecosystem to accommodate a wider variety of lenses. Indeed, along with the traditional KineMOUNT (which can be converted to PL/LPL/EF via adapters), users can also opt for the new Active PL or Active E lens mounts.

The former supports Cooke/i lens data protocol, while the latter ensures electronic communication between the camera and Sony E-mount lenses for iris, focal length and focus distance. Moreover, the camera saves such information along with the footage and can make its way to post-production.

Design, I/O and power

The MAVO mark2 S35 and mark2 LF actually share the same body design, which is inherited from the MAVO Edge 8K and 6K cameras. This means that the new cameras are compatible with existing accessories, such as camera cages from Tilta and SmallRig.

The body is made of aluminum (1.46kg/3.21 lbs) and integrates a comprehensive set of input and output ports. These include two independent 3G/1.5G SDI ports, sync, run/stop, timecode, USB-C for firmware update and custom LUTs,dual-channel XLR and a 3.5mm headphone jack. Along with the dual SDI, users can also rely on the company’s 2000 nits 5-inch and 7-inch touchscreen displays or OLED EVF.

The camera can be powered using the dedicated DC-IN port or the battery plate on the back of the body. The latter features a hybrid design, meaning that it can accept both 14.8V V-mount bricks or more compact BP-U style cells. By the way, just a few months ago the company expanded their own V-mount battery ecosystem, called KineBAT, with two 95Wh and 195Wh models that support USB-C power delivery.

Price and availability

The new Kinefinity MAVO mark2 S35 and MAVO mark2 LF are now available for pre-order from B&H. The S35 body retails for $3,999, while the official retail price of the LF version is set at $5,999.

Additionally, the company offers a new ready-to-shoot “Agile Pack” bundle for both models. It retails for $6,299 (S35) and $8,299 (LF) respectively and includes the following accessories:

• a carbon fiber top handle
• KineMON-5U2 touchscreen display (2000nits)
• 2x PD KineBAT99 batteries with charger
• KineMAG Nano 1TB SSD

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

Have you ever shot on a Kinefinity camera? What do you think of their new MAVO mark2 S35 and MAVO mark2 LF? Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below!