Arri Alexa Plus

Arri Alexa Plus

The Arri Alexa Plus film camera adds integrated wireless remote control, the ARRI Lens Data System (LDS), additional outputs, lens synchronization for 3D, and built-in position and motion sensors. It shares ALEXA’s image performance, simplicity of operation, reliability in extreme environments and versatility of workflow, and is available either as part of a complete camera package or as an upgrade for the original ALEXA.

An advanced electronics side cover permits real-time wired or wireless remote control of camera REC/STOP and lens functions like focus and aperture, using either ARRI hand controllers such as the Wireless Compact Unit (WCU-3) or cmotion’s modular cvolution system.The lens mount of the Arri Alexa Plus model incorporates LDS contacts, allowing lens data and depth of field to be displayed in the viewfinder or on monitors, and making speed/iris ramps easier. Lens metadata can be recorded using ProRes, HD-SDI or ARRIRAW.

Arri Alexa Plus is a compact, lightweight and affordable digital camera that will redefine the limits of motion picture capture with ultra-fast workflows and image quality akin to 35mm film. From major motion pictures and high end dramas to commercials, music videos and mainstream TV, ALEXA suits a wide variety of applications and budgets.

More than just a camera, Arri Alexa Plus represents an entire image pipeline. By combining proprietary ARRI technology with ubiquitous tools from industry-leading partners, Arri Alexa Plus stands alone as the most complete and powerful digital production system ever built.

The Arri Alexa Plus is based on the ARRI designed, fully encapsulated CMOS sensor, which offers a base sensitivity equivalent to 800 ASA, low noise and unsurpassed latitude that exceeds 13 stops. Nevertheless the main advantage of ALEXA will be an easy workflow.

Arri Alexa Plus can internally record to Sony SxS-Pro cards. The card slots are located on the camera’s left side. You can choose from the full range of Apple ProRes TM codecs.

Arri Alexa Plus is unique in that it can simultaneously record Apple QuickTime/ProRes files, output uncompressed HD video or uncompressed ARRIRAW data. This output versatility makes it ideal for a myriad of productions and workflows from telenovellas to feature films.

Arri Alexa Plus has been designed from the very beginning to be more than just another digital camera; it is a platform – a camera system that will accommodate a wide range of upgrades, extensions and accessories, now and into the future. All of the new products shown on these pages are based on this thoroughly modular and future-proof architecture. While the new Arri Alexa Plus model has an advanced electronics side cover for integrated remote control, the RCU-4 and WNA-1 extend the remote control options of both models by making the most of ALEXA’s carefully crafted network capabilities. A set of cables for 3D sync and a low mode set further expand ALEXA’s applications, unlocking some of the tremendous potential of the ALEXA system. It is the camera’s expansive design that makes this possible, and that promises many more exciting advances in the future.

The Arri Alexa Plus is an upgrade to the ALEXA camera, adding built-in wireless remote control, the ARRI Lens Data System (LDS), an additional MON OUT video output, an additional RS power output and built-in position and motion sensors. Both ALEXA and ALEXA Plus share the same exceptional image performance, are simple to operate, reliable in even the most extreme environments and versatile enough to cover a diverse range of workflow and budget requirements. The Arri Alexa Plus will be available in January 2011 as a stand-alone product or as an upgrade to existing ALEXA cameras. Upgrades will be performed at ARRI service centers.

BEST OVERALL IMAGE QUALITY

Film-like, organic look

High Dynamic Range

14+ stops exposure latitude over the entire EI range as measured with the ARRI Dynamic Range Test Chart

extended, clean highlights

extremely low noise floor

holds up extremely well when over or underexposed

future proof for High Dynamic Range (HDR) displays

Sharp, natural images for HD, 2K, 4K UHD or 4K Cine deliverables

High sensitivity

true base sensitivity of EI 800

adjustable from EI 160 to EI 3200

ARRI color science

natural color reproduction, especially for skin tones

excellent color separation

great at resolving mixed color temperature sources

EFFICIENT AND VERSATILE WORKFLOWS

Multiple in-camera recording options

ARRIRAW (1, 2), ProRes or DNxHD

Log C or Rec 709 gamma

ARRI Look Files for custom looks

embedded rich metadata in all file formats

ARRIRAW (1)

uncompressed, unencrypted raw sensor data

16:9 or 4:3 sensor modes (3)

greatest image quality from ALEXA

greatest flexibility in post

best option for future-proof archiving

Apple ProRes

ProRes 422, 422 HQ, 4444 and 4444 XQ (2)

HD or 2K recording resolutions, 16:9 or 4:3 sensor modes (1, 3)

pre-recording (1)

native Final Cut Pro X support

DNxHD

DNxHD 145, DNxHD 220x and DNxHD 444 (1)

MXF wrapped files (SMPTE standard compliant)

native Avid Media Composer support

Two independent HD-SDI outputs

optional ARRI Look Files for custom looks

streaming metadata

180º image rotation for Steadicam low mode

Online tools and downloadable apps

(1) ALEXA HD and HD Plus do not include and cannot be upgraded to ARRIRAW, ProRes 2K, ProRes 3.2K, ProRes 4444 XQ, DNxHD 444, 4:3 sensor mode, 3D sync, pre-recording, SxS PRO+ support or the XR Module.

(2) Only ALEXA XT cameras and ALEXA Classic cameras with the XR Module upgrade.

(3) 4:3 sensor modes only for ALEXA Plus 4:3, ALEXA M, ALEXA Studio and all ALEXA XT models.

SIMPLE AND SAFE OPERATION

ARRI Product Quality

Rugged and reliable

sealed electronics compartment

unique cooling system

stable lens mount/sensor holder

continuous file closing protects footage

self-healing metadata

Intuitive, easy to use controls

same interface on all ALEXA models

High quality electronic viewfinder

Powerful assistive displays, including

surround view

false color exposure check

smooth mode for better motion portrayal

peaking focus check

compare stored image with live image

RETURN IN video

Well balanced, ergonomic body design

Global ARRI service network

OPEN, FUTURE-PROOF ARCHITECTURE

Compatibility with industry standards

PL mount lenses

Apple ProRes, Avid DNxHD, HD-SDI, SxS PRO, SxS PRO+ cards

Gold mount or V-lock on-board batteries

12 or 24 V power inputs and outputs

support for ARRI and cmotion cvolution wireless lens control systems

ARRIRAW support through ARRI Partner Program and ARRIRAW SDK

Numerous upgrade options

upgradable in-camera recording module (XR Module)

upgradable electronics interface module (Plus side panel)

Exchangeable Lens Mount (ELM)

easy and powerful free Software Update Packets (SUPs)

new features through purchase of license

Long and reliable product cycles

ALEXA PLUS UNIQUE FEATURES

Built-in Remote Control Features

ARRI Wireless Remote System (WRS) functionality

real-time wired or wireless remote control of lens and camera REC/STOP

Built-in Lens Data System (LDS)

lens mount includes new LDS contacts

numerical lens data and depth of field display in viewfinder and MON OUT

lens metadata in ProRes, HD-SDI and ARRIRAW (SUP 3.0)

Lens Data Archive (LDA) for use with non-LDS lenses

A Second MON OUT Output (1.5G HD-SDI)

A Third RS Accessory Power Output

Lens Synchronization for 3D

Built-in Position and Motion Sensors

Quick Switch BNC Connectors

can be exchanged without camera disassembly

Camera Type 35 format film-style digital camera with electronic viewfinder, integrated shoulder arch, built-in support for the ARRI Wireless Remote System (WRS), cmotion cvolution lens control system and ARRI Lens Data System (LDS).

Sensor 35 format ALEV III CMOS with Dual Gain Architecture (DGA) and Bayer pattern color filter array.

Photosites 2880 x 1620 for ARRIRAW, 2880 x 1620 down sampled to 1920 x 1080 for HD video and ProRes

Operating Modes Regular or High Speed mode. High Speed mode requires license purchase. Switching takes approximately 40 seconds.

Frame Rates ProRes 422 (Proxy), 422 (LT), 422 and 422 (HQ): 0.75 – 60 fps

ProRes 422 (Proxy), 422 (LT), 422 and 422 (HQ) with High Speed license: 0.75 – 120 fps

Prores 4444 with 32 GB SxS PRO cards: 0.75 – 40 fps

ProRes 4444 with 64 GB SxS PRO cards, SUP 5.0 or later: 0.75 – 60 fps

DNxHD 145 and 220x: 0.75 – 60 fps

DNxHD 145 and 220x with High Speed license: 0.75 – 120 fps

HD-SDI: 0.75 – 60 fps

ARRIRAW SUP 5.0 or later: 0.75 – 60 fpsAll speeds adjustable with 1/1000 fps precision

Shutter Electronic rolling shutter, 0.75 – 60 fps: 5.0º – 358.0º, 60 – 120 fps: 356º. Shutter angle setting precision: 1/10 degree.

Exposure Latitude 14 stops for all sensitivity settings from EI 160 to EI 3200, as measured with the ARRI Dynamic Range Test Chart (DRTC)

Exposure Index EI 160 (+5.0 / -9.0), EI 200 (+5.3 / -8.7), EI 400 (+6.3 / -7.7), EI 800 (+7.4 / -6.6), EI 1600 (+8.4 / -5.6), EI3200 (+9.4 / -4.6)

Values behind the exposure index are the number of stops above and below 18% grey. These values are for Log C. Rec 709 and DCI P3 are the same except for 0.5 stops fewer in the low end at EI 160, 0.4 stops fewer in the low end at EI 200 and 0.2 stops fewer in the low end at EI 400.

White Balance Separate white balance (red/blue) and color correction (green/magenta) adjustment through Auto or manual setting. Red/blue: 2000 to 11000 Kelvin, adjustable in 100 K steps, with presets of 3200 (tungsten), 4300 (fluorescent), 5600 (daylight) and 7000 (daylight cool). Green/magenta: -8 to +8 color correction (CC), 1 CC = 035 Kodak CC values or 1/8 Rosco values.

Sound Level Under 20 db(A) @ 24 fps and ≤ +30° Celsius (≤ +86° Fahrenheit) with lens attached and fan mode set to ‘Regular’, measured 1 m/3 feet in front of the lens. Silent operation at higher temperatures possible with fan mode set to ‘Rec low’.

Power In Three inputs: BAT connector, battery adapter back and battery adapter top. All accept 10.5 to 34 V DC. 85 W power draw for camera and EVF-1 in typical use recording 24 fps to SxS PRO cards, without accessories.

Power Out 12V connector: limited to 12 V, up to 2.2A. RS, EXT and ETHERNET: input below 24V is regulated up to 24V, above 24V: input = output voltage. Both RS and EXT connectors combined: up to 2.2A. ETHERNET: up to 1.2A. Maximum power draw is also limited by the power source.

Weight ALEXA Plus camera body + SxS Module: 7.0 Kg/15.4 lb ALEXA Plus camera body + SxS Module + EVF-1 + Viewfinder Mounting Bracket VMB-2 + viewfinder cable + Center Camera Handle CCH-1: 8.4 Kg/18.5 lb

Dimensions Length: 332 mm/12.95”, width: 175 mm/6.89”, height: 158 mm/6.22

Dimensional drawings available at www.arri.com/alexa/downloads”

Environmental -20° C to +45° C (-4° F to +113° F) @ 95% humidity max, non condensing. Splash and dust proof through sealed electronics. System cooling through radiator/single fan.

Lens Mount ARRI Exchangeable Lens Mount (ELM); ships with Lens Adapter PL Mount with LDS contacts, 54 mm stainless steel PL mount, Super 35 centered

Flange Focal Depth 52.00 mm nominal

Viewfinder Low latency (≤1 frame delay) electronic color viewfinder ARRI EVF-1 with 1280 x 784 F-LCOS micro display (image: 1280 x 720, status bars: 1280 x 32 above and 1280 x 32 below image) and ARRI LED illumination, both temperature controlled. Image can be flipped for use of viewfinder on camera left or right. Viewfinder Mounting Bracket allows movement of viewfinder forward/backwards, left/right, up/down, 360 degree rotation and placement on camera left or right. EVF-1 controls: viewfinder and basic camera settings, ZOOM button (2.25x pixel to pixel magnification), EXP button (false color exposure check) and jog wheel.

Assistive Displays For EVF-1 and MON OUT: frame lines, surround view, camera status, false color exposure check, peaking focus check, electronic level, compare stored image with live image, RETURN IN video and anamorphic de-squeeze. Anamorphic de-squeeze requires license purchase. MON OUT only: Reel & clip number.

Control Camera right: main user interface with 3” transflective 400 x 240 pixel LCD color screen, illuminated buttons, button lock and jog wheel. Camera left: operator interface with illuminated buttons, button lock and card swap button.

In-camera Recording Records Apple QuickTime/ProRes files or MXF/DNxHD files onto one or two (Dual Recording) SxS PRO cards. All codecs record legal range video with embedded audio, timecode and metadata.

Codec: QuickTime/ProRes 4444

Compression (1): ‘5:1

Bit Rate in Mb/s at 30 fps: 330

Bit Depth: 12

Color Coding: 4:4:4 RGB

Recording time in hrs:min (2): ‘0:22

Application: High

Recording Outputs 2x 1.5G or 3G REC OUT BNC connectors for ARRIRAW or HD-SDI video. Both with embedded audio, timecode, metadata and optional recording flag.

ARRIRAW: 2880 x 1620, uncompressed 12 bit log without white balance or exposure index processing applied. Requires an ARRIRAW T-Link certified recorder.

HD-SDI video: uncompressed 1920 x 1080 4:4:4 RGB or 4:2:2 YCbCr; both legal or extended range. Recording frame rates other than HD standard (23.976, 24, 25, 29.97, 30, 50, 59.94, 60 fps) requires a recorder with Variflag support.

Monitor Output 1x MON OUT BNC connector for uncompressed 1.5 G HD-SDI video: 1920 x 1080, 4:2:2 YCbCr; legal range.

Image Processing 16 bit linear internal image processing. Target color spaces for SxS, REC OUT and MON OUT: Log C (film matrix off), Log C (film matrix on), Rec 709 or DCI P3. For Rec 709 and DCI P3 a customized look can be applied during record and playback with ARRI Look Files. Optional horizontal image mirroring.

Synchronization Master/Slave mode for precision sync of settings, sensor, processing, HD-SDI outputs and SxS recording for 3D applications.

Playback QuickTime/ProRes and MXF/DNxHD clips can be played back from SxS PRO cards to the EVF-1, MON OUT and REC OUT. Playback audio is available embedded in the MON OUT and REC OUT signals and on the headphones jack.

Audio 1x XLR 5 pin AUDIO IN connector for 2 channel, line level balanced audio input, 24 bit/48 kHz A/D conversion, works at 23.976, 24, 25, 29.97 and 30 fps. Uncompressed audio is recorded into the QuickTime/ProRes file or MXF/DNxHD file and embedded in all HD-SDI outputs, including ARRIRAW T-Link. Max of 2.5 dBm output from AUDIO OUT headphones connector.

Connectors Slots for SxS PRO cards (SxS), Camera body

2x BNC recording out HD-SDI, 1.5G/3G (REC-OUT 1/2), Camera body

1x BNC monitoring out HD-SDI, 1.5G (MON OUT), Camera body

1x XLR 5 pin audio in (AUDIO IN), Camera body

1x BNC return signal HD-SDI, 1.5G (RET/SYNC IN), Camera body

1x LEMO 16 pin external accessories (EXT), Camera body

1x Fischer 2 pin 24 V power in (BAT), Camera body

2x Fischer 3 pin 24 V remote start and accessory power out (RS), Camera body

1x LEMO 2 pin 12 V accessory power out (12 V), Camera body

1x LEMO 5 pin timecode in/out (TC), Camera body

1x TRS 3.5 mm headphone mini stereo jack out (AUDIO OUT), Camera body

2x LEMO 10 pin Ethernet with 24 V power (ETHERNET), Camera body

1x LEMO SMPTE 304M hybrid fiber connector (Optical Link), Camera body

1x LEMO SMPTE 304M hybrid fiber connector (Optical Link), Camera head

1x LEMO custom 16 pin electronic viewfinder (EVF), Camera head

1x Fischer 2 pin 24 V power in (BAT), Camera head

2x Fischer 3 pin 24 V remote start and accessory power out (RS), Camera head

1x LEMO 10 pin Ethernet with 24 V power (ETHERNET), Camera head

SD Card For importing ARRI Look Files, camera set up files, frame line files, feature license keys and custom lens tables for the Lens Data Archive (LDA). Stores captured stills from the REC OUT image path in ARRIRAW (.ari, 12 bit), TIFF (.tif, 16 bit), DPX (.dpx, 10 bit) and JPEG (.jpg, 8 bit) format as well as logging files. Also used for software updates.