Archive notice: This article was originally published on March 3, 2015. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
Thanks to its handy, lightweight form, the small Alexa is also intended to be attachable to drones. The mini model is intended to expand the Alexa camera portfolio so that camera crews no longer have to use third-party cameras from other manufacturers in their workflow and suffer no loss of image quality.
Resolution and File Format
Just like the Arri Amira, the camera records up to 4K UHD images in ProRes and is intended to be able to output 4K in real time. With the various quality levels HD, 2K, 4K UHD or native outputs such as uncompressed ArriRaw 2.8K or ProRes 3.2K, not only the resolution but also parameters such as colorimetry, skin tones or HDR are adjusted.
The video material is stored on CFast 2.0 cards in ProRes format at up to 120 frames persecond; with ArriRaw it is 30 frames per second, and with external recording 120 frames are also intended to be possible. At lower resolutions, up to 200 frames per second can also be realised.
Housing
To fit the same image quality into a light and small camera housing, Arri has integrated unique design solutions. These include a lightweight carbon housing that is intended to weigh approximately 2.3 kilograms and measure 185 x 125 x 140 mm, and a fixed titanium PL mount that is mounted directly connected to the new internal CMOS sensor, the Arri Alev III. This is intended to ensure a stable flange focal distance even when large lenses, such as DSLR lenses, are used. The sensor operates at ISO 800 and has a dynamic range of 14 stops. In principle, the same lenses can be used with the Alexa Mini as with the Arri Amira.
Control
The Arri Alexa Mini can be operated and controlled via wireless remote control, like a normal camera with the MVF-1 multi-viewfinder, or via the on-board monitor and its interface button.
At a price of around 30,000 to 40,000 US dollars for the Alexa Mini, the drone operator should be well trained, although an official price from Arri is not yet available. The Alexa Mini is intended to be available from May 2015.
All further information about Arri’s Alexa Mini is available here.
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