Panavision Announces New Millennium DXL2 8K Camera with the RED Monstro 8K VV Sensor

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by Yossy MendelovichFebruary 3^rd, 2018

The new Panavision Millenium DXL2 builds on the success of the original Millennium DXL. Both models operate in an ecosystem (or should I say marriage) between three top-class companies in the moving picture industry: Panavision, Light Iron and RED. However, this time the development of the camera has gone even further by incorporating Panavision with the RED MONSTRO 8K VV sensor, and Light Iron color2 science.

As stated by Michael Cioni, senior VP of Innovation at Panavision and Light Iron: “Panavision’s vast inventory of advanced large-format and anamorphic optics combined with RED’s MONSTRO imager expands what’s possible, allowing filmmakers to create radically inventive and powerfully cinematic images, customized for the needs of the project and the vision of creative teams.”

Watch the video below which demonstrates the DXL2 in action.

DXL2 8K Sensor

DXL2 8K Sensor – RED MONSTRO 8K VV

It seems that the most special part here is the RED MONSTRO 8K VV sensor that claims to offer over 16 stops of dynamic range with improvements in image quality and shadow detail, equipped with 16-bit RAW, a native ISO setting of 1600, and ProRes 4K up to 60 fps. 

The DXL2’s 8K sensor is 40.96mm wide and 21.6 millimeters tall capturing images at nearly twice the area of standard S35 sensors.

For more about the MONSTRO 8K VV and its advantages, check out our article here.

The benefits of a large sensor size are well known. You can read more about them on this article here.

Light Iron – achieve neutral shadows and skin tones

As for the Light Iron part (the image mapping process method), images are presented to the camera in Log format using Light Iron color science. Panavision emphasizes that “New to the DXL2, LiColor2 (Light Iron Color) streamlines the 8K pipeline, smoothly handling the workflow and offering convenient and quick access to high-quality RAW images, accommodating direct to edit without delays”.

Watch the video below to explore Light Iron which takes advantages of RED’s new image processing pipeline.

Flexibility

The DXL2 owns the privilege of flexible modules that allow customization of the body shape, design, and function.

Technical Specifications

• Sensor Type – 16-bit, 35.4 Megapixel CMOS
• Resolution – 8192 x 4320
• Sensor Size – Large Format: 40.96mm x 21.60mm (Diagonal: 46.31mm)
• Dynamic Range – 16 Stops – (improvement of 1 stop comparing to the previous DXL model)
• Max Frame Rate – 60 fps at 8K Full Frame (8192 x 4320), 75 fps at 8K 2.4:1 (8192 x 3456)
• Recording Codec – 8K RAW with simultaneous 4K proxy (ProRes or DNx)
• Recording Media – SSD (up to 1 hour on a single magazine)
• File Type – .R3D (supported in RED SDK)
• Color Profile – Light Iron Color 2 (compatible with all popular gamuts and transfer curves)
• Weight – 10 lbs

Pricing and availability

There is no price info because the only option shooting with this beast is by renting it, and indeed DXL2 cameras are available now to rent exclusively from Panavision on a worldwide basis.

The beauty of this camera, besides magnificent image quality, is the cooperation between camera companies with the goal of expanding camera capabilities by diverse technological solutions, doing what each company does best. Panavision provides the body, RED provides the sensor, and Light Iron takes care of the color science. 

Can you see yourself shooting on your high-end productions with the Millenium DXL2 camera instead of a “normal” RED or ALEXA? Why?