


Panavision’s DXL2 8K camera with the RED Monstro sensor offers 16bits of color across 35 million pixels at up to 60 frames per second. One of the quietest signal-to-noise ratios on the market, Monstro delivers unprecedented dynamic range and color with unmatched sensitivity. DXL2 and Panavision large format lenses offer the optimum system for creating the unmatched aesthetic of large format cinematography. Attributes such as a shallower depth of field, greater magnification and a wider field of view produce a softer, pleasing, more natural image—an aesthetic closely attuned to the way the eye sees.
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The Millennium DXL2 is not just a computer with a lens mounted onto it; it’s set up like a true production camera. You can take it into the heart of a production with all the modules and inputs that make shooting so much easier.
— Shelly Johnson, ASC
Primo 70 offers a rounded, defined focus, natural down-scaling, pleasing flesh tones and uniform bokeh across the field of view.
Sphero 65 offers a moderate focus roll-off with subtle aberrations; blended layers of contrast; pleasing flesh tones and rounded out-of-focus properties; and classically soft, glamorous images.
System 65 offers organic focus roll-off; pleasing flesh tones; rounded bokeh; and warm, contouring “classic” 65mm images.
Panavision is renowned for our full line of top-quality optics. With the biggest selection of large format lenses and anamorphic glass, cinematographers have never had more choices to create their own signature look. And all are designed for optimal performance with the 8K DXL2 sensor.
Smooth 8K Resolution
When starting with an 8K resolution image, magnification increases. With increased magnification, perspective cues become more pronounced and a wide dynamic range allows greater transition from highlights to shadows within the scene. This allows for a more gradual blending of complex colors. With greater color transition and increased dynamic range, contrast is reduced and the resulting image appears smoother and less sharp.
With a native base ISO of 1600, DXL2 gives ultra-clean low-light sensitivity without compromising clarity, dynamic range, or undesirable noise.
Pixel Pitch
The number as well as the size of the pixels, is what differentiates DXL2 from other large format cameras. The smaller the pixel, the larger the number of pixels that can be packed together. This combination of size and number eliminates the edge sharpening seen in lower resolution cameras. With a 5u (micron) pixel pitch, DXL2 has over 35,000,000 tiny pixels that work together to create an 8K image similar to large format still cameras.
The sharpness or softness of an image can now be controlled through Panavision’s vast inventory of large format optics.
Sensor Size
DXL2’s 8K sensor is 40.96mm wide and 21.6 millimeters tall capturing images at nearly twice the area of standard S35 sensors. There are three main benefits that a larger sensor size offers:
Dynamic range
DXL2 captures an impressive 16 stops of dynamic range, providing greater flexibility for HDR or SDR delivery. The native 1600 ISO provides ultra-clean low-light sensitivity without compromising clarity, dynamic range, or undesirable noise.
Bit Depth
Similar to dynamic range, sensors can apply all their color to only the areas of the frame they can clearly resolve. DXL2 comes equipped with a 16bit RAW imager which allows for more color to be applied to finer areas of the frame. The best skin tone is achieved through complex tertiary color transition. The combination of 16bit sampling, 16 stops of dynamic range, and 35,000,000 pixels allows for the best color reproduction and the most flexibility in color correction.
The Millennium DXL2 is an approved camera for the “Filmed in IMAX” program, which allows filmmakers to originate in the IMAX format while shooting digitally with the highest-end, IMAX-certified cameras. Through this program, filmmakers planning on an IMAX release can take advantage of DXL2’s large-format 8K sensor, ergonomic design and best-in-class features, knowing that what they capture on set will perfectly pair with IMAX screens, and avoiding the need for post-production conversion. DXL2 is further bolstered by Panavision’s industry-leading inventory of large-format optics, all of which are approved for IMAX capture.
DXL2 takes full advantage of RED’s 3G10 log encoding envelope, which delivers smooth, full-range pictures in a wrapper that contains up to 20 stops. Log3G10 provides the ideal log-encoded package, which is optimized for high dynamic range (HDR) finishing and future proofing. Log3G10 presents images in a familiar way, offering easy integration into traditional workflows.
In addition to built-in image mapping for Rec709 and HDR, users are able to load custom 33-point .cube LUTs, which are then saved as sidecar files with every take. When it comes to customizing looks on a shot-by-shot basis, DXL2 is fully equipped with an internal CDL engine, which allows users to create, import, export, and recall unlimited CDLs locally or remotely. CDL values are automatically saved into R3D RAW files as metadata and can be baked into proxy files for a perfectly seamless set-to-post color workflow.
8K for all projects and budgets
As resolution continues to increase, the need for efficient and cost-effective storage becomes even more important. This is one of the key reasons Panavision teamed up with RED and licensed REDCode into DXL2’s image capturing architecture. RED’s patented compression technology affords users the largest array of pixels without the penalty of larger file sizes. A perfect balance between speed and quality is available through REDCode, making an affordable 8K workflow possible.
DXL2 is a dual-recording system allowing proxy files a faster and more streamlined workflow for editorial. DXL2 has 3 options for recording codecs so users can decide exactly which file type fits their editorial pipeline. When editing is complete, proxy file metadata matches RAW file metadata for a simple and streamlined final conform in 2K, 4K, or 8K.
Dual workflow enables RAW to go to the RAIDS and LTO while Proxy goes to editorial and web. This happens simultaneously on the OUTPOST cart and makes 8K acceptable for projects of all sizes and budgets.
DXL2’s internal gyro and accelerometer measures XYZ in orientation and movement through Z space.
In addition, DXL2 is equipped with the industry standard "smart" lens /i communication for metadata tracking in RAW image capture. Metadata is captured on a per-frame basis and a database can be output that shows the performance for use in post-production. No more guesswork in post.
DXL2 is the first camera to have a built-in Ambient lockit box and wireless timecode using the ACN system.
No more external lockit box. Track more metadata. Keep all your cameras in-sync with no drift slip-sync free dailies. The ACN antennae eliminates the need for TC jamming. It is a constant, consistent pulse delivered from the Master Lockit.
Monitor DXL2 footage in HDR — live from camera, right on set.
Panavision LINK HDR On-Set includes a plug-and-play mobile village system optimized to bring familiar post-production-quality HDR images right on the set. With a unique modular design, this mobile system can be configured for large and small monitors, with several customizable footprints.