Archive notice: This article was originally published on February 21, 2013. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
External recorders for recording with the Alexa at the highest quality level are now intended to be a thing of the past. ARRI is replacing the previous four Alexa variants with the Alexa XT, Alexa XT M, Alexa XT Plus and Alexa XT Studio camera models. Only the basic version of the Alexa camera will not be replaced by a fresh model version.
Thanks to a storage medium developed jointly by ARRI and Codex, the XR recording module, these four new XT models are intended to make RAW recordings at frame rates of up to 120 fps possible. The new XR module replaces the previous SxS memory-card module on the side of the camera, which until now could only record in the Apple ProRes codec or Avid DNxHD.
ARRI also announced that all XT models are equipped with 4:3 sensors, which are intended to enable the use of anamorphic cinema lenses. According to ARRI, the cameras also save space thanks to the internal ND filters, which filter behind the lenses rather than in front of them.
Owners of older Alexa models need not be upset, however, as they are intended to be able to purchase individual updates to bring their Alexa model up to the latest level of the XT models and their features.
Prices and the release date are not yet known.
You can find all further information about the new Alexa XT models here.
XR Video 2 from Codex Digital on Vimeo.
