Unlike other RED cameras that require extra components like a display, storage and audio components on top of the “brain,” the Komodo will have everything needed to shoot out of the box. It’ll record RED’s RAW files on off-the-shelf CFAST 2.0 media, use Canon batteries and be relatively small at four inches on all sides.

The sensor will be roughly APS-C sized (super 35mm) and feature a global shutter that reads the entire image at once, eliminating any rolling shutter. It uses Canon’s big and sturdy RF mount, allowing shooters to use lenses from its excellent RF lens lineup. At the same time, RF mount can easily adapt to cinema PL and other mounts via third-party products from Metabones and others.

The timeline for the Komodo’s release still isn’t set, but prototypes are in the hands of Steven Soderbergh who reportedly used one to make Let Them All Talk with Meryl Streep and Gemma Chan. AFI’s clip of Brad Pitt introducing Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (below) was also shot on Komodo.

It’s not a replacement for the company’s DSMC2 technology, one of the company’s existing sensors or a module. There are no typical video features like HDMI output and XLR input, and you won’t have to use RED’s signature storage. And it’s definitely not a big device — it’s no larger than 4 inches “in any dimension,” Land said, with a weight less than 2 pounds.

The biggest clue may involve the cost. Land noted that it won’t cost under $5,000 “unless you own a Hydrogen,” suggesting there will be tight integration between Komodo and the Hydrogen One (and possibly other phones) as well as an optional peripheral for those who want it. This suggests it may be a compact yet high-end camera designed for remote control — something you’d use either for specialized cinematography or as an inexpensive way into RED’s camera system.

You might hear more about Komodo before long. Land noted that it’s “alive and breathing,” and that you’ll likely see pro video producers field testing the design in the “next few weeks and months.” That doesn’t mean you’ll get to use it any time soon, though. RED is infamous for its product delays, and it could take a while before there’s an honest-to-goodness release.