Brian Merlen
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jul 31, 2010
- Messages
- 3,185
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- Age
- 40
- Location
- Stamford CT
- Website
- vestadalux.com
Technically they don't actually use Dual Gain pixels.
They just take one sample signal from the pixel and use two lower quality ADC to process it. Only one sample from the photo diode. It's a clever trick to use two lower resolution, lower quality lower bit ADC instead of one good one, but they brilliantly marketed it. That actually adds noise to the midtones to have that magnitude of analog gain, but ARRI customers don't seem to notice. People usually don't look for noise in the midtones.
It's smart though... they can use cheaper older technology and use off the shelf processor chips and still get a great picture. An Alexa should actually cost much much less than a Weapon does to make, we just have a different philosophy on how much to charge customers.
It is a much safer path to take.. They are making things much easier for them, and it is a way less bumpy road to drive down when you don't need to invent things. We are screwy that way.. we invent something great and then don't sit around long enough to milk it.. we force ourselves to keep pushing further and further. arguably ( from a business perspective ) to a fault. They have been sitting on an high resolution sensor for quite some time now...because their customers don't really demand new.. they demand safe. They can sit on stretching out the product lifespan for much longer, pay off their investment longer, you know, normal how-to-run-a-proper-business stuff.
Most people don't buy an Alexa to be at the forefront of tech.. they buy it because it is a standard. And that is OK. There is room for both of us.
what do you think of the extensive SXT delays? heck of a long wait for a minor uprez and body tweak? i was considering getting an SXT but how long until they drop the high res sensor and replace its what worries me? its not exactly cheap to kit one out... it was very odd how they released the amira and alexa mini and are giving alexa this late a minor spec boost. like they upgraded the lines from the bottom up and had a two year delay on the A cam release? strange line up... i was told its the same sensor in SXT and no new features so it took a long time to bring it to market and its claim to fame is a larger uprez...