NEWS AGENDA Alexa, make this one smaller! Arri listens to its fans and makes a more compact 65mm camera T he legendary Alexa 65 is now not the only 65mm camera from Arri thanks to the introduction of the Alexa 265, which is a third of the The Alexa 265 uses a new generation of LogC4 workflow and 3D LUTs, recording Arriraw in camera to its Codex Compact Drive. Standard drive readers and docks
BETTER COLOURS REVEALED Arri is famed for its incredible colour fidelity and the Alexa 265’s images are processed using Arri Reveal Color Science, introduced in the Alexa 35 and also compatible with Arriraw images from the Alexa Mini LF. Reveal is a suite of image processing steps that help capture more accurate colours, with subtler tonal variations. Skin tones are rendered in a flattering, natural way, while highly saturated colours and challenging hues such as pastel shades are displayed with increased realism. All Alexa 265 and 35 cameras are super colour matched, which simplifies grading, and the 265’s advanced LED calibration streamlines VP and LED volume work. arri.com
can be used, as can Codex HDE (High Density Encoding), reducing file sizes by up to 40% without impacting image quality. On-set monitors can be set up in HD or UHD, displaying SDR or HDR or both. Arri is updating its SDK to ensure Alexa 265 images are compatible with all major third-party software tools. A unique feature of the Alexa 265 is its filter cartridge system, which allows special filter trays to slide in front of the sensor. Arri FSND filters from zero to ND2.7 in single-stop increments will be available with the Alexa 265 at launch, with more creative options in the works. An encoded chip on the filter tray relays information about the filter which can be seen on the user interface, also recorded in metadata for use on-set and in post.
size and weight. But like the original 65 at launch a decade ago, the new model is a rental-only product rather than battling for sales with the forthcoming Fujifilm GFX Eterna and Blackmagic Ursa Cine 17K. The new Alexa 265 is much smaller, as that’s what Arri users were calling for. Its revised 65mm sensor delivers higher image quality and dynamic range with better low-light performance. It borrows the LogC4 workflow, Reveal Color Science and accessories from Arri’s popular Alexa 35, which its body is also based on; despite containing a sensor three times larger, it’s only 4mm longer and 11mm wider. This design means the 265 is less than a third of the 65’s weight, coming in at 3.3kg against 10.5kg. It also takes advantage of Arri’s latest cooling and power management technologies. The new camera’s small size allows it to be used for shots that were impossible with the Alexa 65, such as with drones and stabilisers or in tight spaces. To make it faster to work with, boot-up time and power draw have both been improved, and compatibility with the Alexa 35 accessory set opens up more rigging options. Feedback from Alexa 65 users called for reduced size but with retention of the 6.5K resolution and large pixel pitch, as well as better dynamic range and improved low- light performance. The revised sensor does have increased dynamic range from 14 to 15 stops and sensitivity from 3200 to 6400 ISO, with crisper blacks, greater contrast and a lower noise floor. “The revised sensor has increased dynamic range from 14 to 15 stops and sensitivity from 3200 to 6400 ISO, with crisper blacks”
ALEXA 65 TAKE TWO It may have taken a decade, but Arri’s new 265 camera is smaller and much improved
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