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Doubt(s) about ALEXA

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Sanjin Jukic

Sanjin Jukic

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alexa-reservation-header.jpg

ARRI Alexa handheld ???!!!!

I just have got an email from ARRI where is written:

"Starting today, you will be able to reserve a date with ALEXA - the most advanced digital camera system on the market.(!!!???)

·Superior sensitivity (800+ ASA) & dynamic range
·35mm size format sensor
·Film-like look
·New Electronic or Optical Viewfinder"

OK, Arri guys, maybe I could agree with all of it above

BUT

also I was asking myself where this camera is going to make its recording.

I can't see there on the above photo any sort of recording media

(any traces of CF, HDD, SSD, or similar something like with RED/Epic/Scartet)

Then I'm a bit confused because that picture above it looks to me and shows something

that is an exact sample of pure propaganda titled:

2010 is the Year of the ALEXA (Ooops !!!??)


Herr Bravin, Herr Shipman-Müller, I need a help here to get things right...???!!!

What's going on here???
 
The Alexa will have some sort of internal recording ability, but ARRI hasn't announced what that will be yet, but probably soon, before NAB. They will also have some sort of mountable external recorder as well.

There's no question it will be handholdable.
 
David,

I'm curious what it would be that "internal recording ability" just because this is a crucial part of that sort of digital camera acquisition system...

Also I dropped F35 and Genesis from RED1-M-X/Epic competition because of their low resolution recording (1080p) and "heavyweight" recording media...

F35 and Genesis could beat HDDSLRs at 1080p resolution productions with its image quality but not with ergonomics and lightweight...

ARRI Alexa stays in competition with RED stuff (Alexa's 3.5K recording resolution is OK but is not good enough like a 4.5K/5K with R1/Epic)...
 
I'm just watching on Blu-ray SALVADOR (1986) directed by Oliver Stone shot on S35mm film with amazing cinematography by Robert Richardson

and "dreaming" about a movie that could be shot lightweight and handheld similar like a SALVADOR anywhere in the world.

Something like 4K digital acquisition with affordable price/performance balance.

But no HD 1080p, even Beta SP or any other low resolution stuff like that.

That's finally obsolete.

BTW, as I saw R1-M-X is pretty close to this "dream" when one day I add Bomb EVF and 32GB/64GB or even HDD or RAm RED drive.

Alexa's (lightweight) recording capabilities are still wrapped under in this middle European winter "fog".

That's all about my doubt(s).
 
alexa wil be good i guess, but i can afford a private epic, alexa is out of question for me, for rental companies its a different story. all of the big rental companies in Berlin (which own a lot of reds) will probably add alexa to their inventory...edit: i guess the relation between alexa and epic will be at least 1:5 in favor to epic in rental companies, rest of the world 1:15 in favor to REDs....you just cant beat REDs price/prefomance ratio.

epic/redrocket/final cut is a pretty damn good and affordable combo which arri has to bring to the table...for me a camera system is now part of two things, aquisition and ease of postworkflow.

here i see right now red as leader.

but handling/formfactor of the camera is also a huge part of a camerasystem...the alexa looks good in that area (what i see in the released pictures and thinking of the arricams, beside the d21...but lets wait for the storage system...a refrigerator would erase the formfactor.

didnt we agree not to talk about other cameras anymore :)

edit2:i could pay the alexa, but in a world of cam-puters where every 24-36 months we will see new sensors with higher DR, higher bitrates per channel and higher possible iso`s. I just see no reason to buy a whole new camera every time...just buy the sensor if i like it. that is most important to me and the genius behind epic...same goes for the storage systems...just buy the new storage module if i like it.

edit3: but i cant deny, i like the idea to pack all the modules into a carbon body in a sexy aaton shape...called REDCAT....maybe Element Technica will do it...stephen pizzo is a wizzard relating to make it easy working with a RED from a AC´s POV.
 
Xax,

I do have this kind of "very ergonomic out of the box" with RED1 even that has the old RED EVF, HDD, CF cards, Audio Sound Devices Mix Pre, Rode NTG3

condenser mic, ET Mantis and EasyRig 3 Cine 600, BeBob Rouge, RED or what-else compatible batteries, Leica Summilux-M 50mm ASPH f/1.4

(the best FF35mm lens ever made still or cine), Arri MFF1 or wireless FF system, RED LCD, TV Logic, Transvideo, or...

Can carry this system for days without any back-pane problem or similar...

So what???
 
Shane Kelly said:
Sanjin,
Red one may be many things but it's not ergonomic.
Click to expand...

Shane,

you still did not find it.

Also Discreet 9 that mostly shot with R1 handheld and nominated for BAFTA Cinematography Award 2010

should definitely "correct" (sorry but it is your "poor" R1 handheld ergonomic experience).
 
I know that it is hard to do from a modular point of view, but a combination of the Alexas form factor for shooting on the shoulder, and the price/performance of epic, would be a beautiful combination! The simplicity and low centre of gravity of that moulded shoulder cut-out makes me think that I would be quite happy with that on my shoulder!
 
Why on earth does anyone ever want an optical viewfinder in a digital camera, this is the biggest mystery to me!

So ok, you can view your image without any power to the camera, but does any skilled cinematographer ever need to do that? If you are highly skilled you can make a read out on your lightmeter, and you know how wide a given lens is, and you pretty darn well know what you´re up against....

And if it´s such a big problem, why not bring enough batteries or power in the first place, maybe even a directors finder. (usually there is a generator for the lights or wall power anyway, right?)

How much is an optical viewfinder worth anyway, when you got tons of ND filters on it, you can´t see a thing in there anyway... And when you are shooting digitally - for all you know there could be digital artifacts or whatever that the optical viewfinder will never show you... but you could be up for an unpleasant suprise in post.

For a digital aquisition system (like the RED, Arri D-20/21 or the future Arri´s) wouldn´t you rather see an accurate digital readout of exactly what you are capturing?
 
Hi Eirik-

I agree with all of your points. However, The reason why many cinematographers want to shoot with an optical viewfinder/mirror shutter is that cameras have been like this for about 50+ years- it works and its good.

I love seeing a nice sharp digital image like from the Red EVF, but there is something to be said about actually "looking" through a lens in realtime- its like your somehow more connected to what your shooting- at least thats how I feel anyway. Shooting digital with an optical viewfinder is no different than shooting film with one, you meter, you shoot and have faith (allthough with digital you can always check on an lcd for focus/exposure!)

I admit though, tons of ND on an optical finder sucks and shooting in lowlight can be an issue- but for most scenes an optical viewfinder will be great.

P.s. These new arri cameras look amazing! I just wish they stuck a little more curve on the rear of the body so you can pretend your still shooting film! ; )
 
Sanjin Jukic said:
Shane,

you still did not find it.

Also Discreet 9 that mostly shot with R1 handheld and nominated for BAFTA Cinematography Award 2010

should definitely "correct" (sorry but it is your "poor" R1 handheld ergonomic experience).
Click to expand...

Sanjin, the fact that a largely handheld movie shot on the RED One was nominated for a cinematography award does not mean that it's a naturally ergonomic camera.

There are solutions to problems - there are ways to make the RED One reasonably comfortable. But a cat-on-the-shoulder it is not. :)
 
3 months from now, EPIC is going to show up here in 1000 different configurations and you are going to say... "oh."

Jim
 
Brook Willard said:
There are solutions to problems - there are ways to make the RED One reasonably comfortable. But a cat-on-the-shoulder it is not. :)
Click to expand...

Cameras are used in hundreds of configurations and cat on the shoulder is only one of many that a camera has to meet. Like for stereo, stedicam, hip, and so on, designing to meet only one requirement like cat on shoulder is narrow minded.

I like that Epic is a blank slate where it's easy to turn it into what you need. Hard to believe why many can't see this.
 
Jannard said:
3 months from now, EPIC is going to show up here in 1000 different configurations and you are going to say... "oh."

Jim
Click to expand...

By any chance will its little brother Scarlet be anywhere around when this takes place.

I'm just asking :emote_couch:
 
Mike Gross said:
Cameras are used in hundreds of configurations and cat on the shoulder is only one of many that a camera has to meet. Like for stereo, stedicam, hip, and so on, designing to meet only one requirement like cat on shoulder is narrow minded.

I like that Epic is a blank slate where it's easy to turn it into what you need. Hard to believe why many can't see this.
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more, Mitch. Cat-on-shoulder reference was to lighten the statement.
 
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