ALEXA MINI 4K CARBON FIBRE CAMERA

Now here’s something that’s just plain old good news for all cinematographers and indie filmmakers, ARRI has announced its releasing a mini version of its immensely popular (and just a tad pricey) ALEXA camera. The ALEXA Mini will combine the same image quality as its bigger brother but in a much smaller carbine fibre body.

Designed for those times when lugging a BAC (big arse camera) around is impractical for the shoot, the ALEXA Mini’s small form factor includes integrated and environmentally sealed electronics, a lightweight carbon housing and a solid titanium PL mount directly connected to the new internal sensor mount, giving it a stable flange focal distance.

ALEXA-Mini-1

The Mini is equipped with an ALEV III 4:3 sensor, automatic de-squeeze mode (for anamorphic lenses), with realtime 4K output and frame rates of up to 2K/200fps ProRes 4444; 4K UHD/30fps ProRes 4444XQ and 2.8K/30fps ARRIRAW recording to internal CFast 2.0 cards or to the new external Codex recorder, which can record up to four Mini’s simultaneously.

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It can be operated via wireless remote control, with the ARRI MVF-1 multi viewfinder attached, or via on-board monitor (controlled by the user button interface).

It has a built-in lens motor controller, with ARRI LDS metadata, motorised internal ND filter, WiFi connectivity and a symmetrical design that allows users to mount the camera in any orientation (even upside down). In addition, the camera’s interchangeable lens mount can be replaced with any of those designed for the ARRI AMIRA, allowing the use of B4 video and EF mount stills lenses.

ARRI has said the Mini is light enough to be held at arm’s length in a hand rig without suffering dead arm or having to hit the gym beforehand, always good to know.  Images from the Mini will also match those from all other ALEXA cameras, making the post production workflow a little easier.

The company are marketing the new camera as a “go-anywhere tool”, that can be transported in backpacks or as carry-on luggage.

 

ALEXA-Mini-+-Freefly-Gimbal-M15---16

PRICE AND AVAILABILITY

The ALEXA Mini is scheduled to begin shipping in May 2015, with orders being taken from March. There’s no word as yet on pricing.

For more info, check: www.arri.com/alexamini

Promotional video shot with the ALEXA Mini.

BTS video of the Mini shoot.

 

TECH SPECS

Camera type 35 format film-style digital camera with lightweight and compact carbon body, 4:3/16:9 switchable active sensor area, support for ARRI MVF-1 viewfinder, built-in remote control capabilities via ARRI Electronic Control System and Wi-Fi, support for cforce motors, built-in motorized ND filters, interchangable lens mounts and ARRI Lens Data System
Dimensions Length: 185 mm/7.3″
Width: 125 mm/4.9″
Height: 140 mm/5.5″
(camera body with PL lens mount)
Weight ~ 2.3 kg/5 lbs (camera body with titanium PL lens mount)
Sensor 35 mm format ARRI ALEV III CMOS with Bayer pattern color filter array
Photo sites
(with surround view)
16:9
HD: 2880×1620 (3168×1772)
2K: 2868×1612 (3154×1764)
3.2K: 3200×1800 (3424×1926)
4K UHD: 3200×1800 (3424×1926)4:3
2K: 2867×2150 (3168×2160) *
Shutter Electronic shutter, 5.0° to 356.0°
Exposure latitude 14+ stops over the entire sensitivity range from EI 160 to EI 3200
as measured with the ARRI Dynamic Range Test Chart (DRTC-1)
Exposure index EI 800 base sensitivity
Filters Built-in motorized ND filters 0.6, 1.2, 2.1
Lens mounts Titanium PL mount with L-Bus connector and LDS
EF mount
PL mount with Hirose connector and LDS
B4 mount with Hirose connector
Recording media CFast 2.0 memory cards
Recording formats HD 1920×1080
2K Cine 16:9 2048×1152
2K Cine 4:3 2048×1536 *
3.2K 3200×1800
4K UHD 3840×2160
ARRIRAW 2.8K 16:9 2880×1620 *
ARRIRAW 2.8K 4:3 2880×2160 *
Recording codec ProRes 4444XQ, 4444, 422 (HQ), 422, 422(LT), ARRIRAW *
Recording frame rates
Recording Format Maximum Frame Rate in fps (1)
Sensor Mode Recording File Type Recording Resolution (2) Recording File Setting Internal Recording External Recorder
CFast 2.0 128 GB Codex
16:9 ProRes HD 422 200
422 HQ 200
4444 200
4444 XQ 120
2K Cine 422 200
422 HQ 200
4444 200
4444 XQ 120
3.2K 422 60
422 HQ 60
4444 60
4444 XQ 30
4K UHD 422 60
422 HQ 60
4444 60
4444 XQ 30
ARRIRAW** 2.8K 30 120
4:3** ProRes 2K Cine 422 150
422 HQ 150
4444 120
4444 XQ 60
ARRIRAW 2.8K Full 30 60
2.6K Cropped 30 60

** available with SUP 2.0
(1) Minimum frame rate is always 0.75 fps
(2) The “recording resolution” determines the number of horizontal pixels that will be recorded (the number of vertical pixels is dependent on the recording file type and sensor mode)

Color output Rec 709, custom look or Log C
Look control Import of custom 3D LUT, ASC CDL parameter (slope, offset, power, saturation)
Adjustable image parameters Knee, gamma, saturation, black gamma, saturation by hue
Focus and exposure control Peaking, zebra, false color
White balance Manual and auto white balance
Sound level < 20 dB(A) at standard frame rates
Environmental -20° C to +50° C (-4° F to +122° F) @ 95% humidity max, non-condensing
Splash and dust-proof through sealed electronics
Viewfinder Multi Viewfinder MVF-1 (OLED and LCD ) with flip-out LCD screen
and military-grade connector to camera
Control interface Soft buttons and OSD on SDI output,
integration of Transvideo StarliteHD touch interface *
ARRI lens motor control Built-in radio interface for ARRI lens control
L-Bus motor output for daisy-chainable cforce lens control motors
Wi-Fi remote control Built-in Wi-Fi interface and web-based remote control from phones,
tablets and laptops
Custom control Optional GPIO interface for integration with custom control interfaces
Power input Lemo 8-pin, 10.5-34 V DC
Video outputs 2x HD-SDI out 1.5G and 3G: uncompressed HD video with embedded audio
and metadata, SDI-6G interface to external CODEX recorder *
Inputs SDI-Genlock (optional activation through ARRI Service),
timecode (in and output)
Other interfaces USB 2.0 (for usersets, looks etc.)
Ethernet
EXT accessory interface w. RS pin

* may not be available at product launch, but will become available as a software upgrade later in 2015

 

Excerpts from Announcement

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