ARRI has released a new version of its Alexa 35 camera that’s designed for live productions. The ARRI Alexa 35 Live Xtreme can deliver up to 8x high-frame-rate video in HD over SDI.
High-speed license
The ARRI Alexa 35 Live Xtreme comes with the existing High Speed License for the Alexa 35 permanently preinstalled. You also get a new High Frame Rate (HFR) SDI License. When you add the ARRI LPS-1 Fiber Camera Adapter and Fiber Base Station, the camera can output high-frame-rate video for live productions. In HD, the Alexa 35 Live Xtreme offers up to 8x HFR. In UHD, it’s limited to 2x. A single SDI connector handles up to 4x HFR. For higher speeds, you need to split the output over both of the camera’s SDI outputs.
Dynamic range
As the name suggests, the ARRI Alexa 35 Live Xtreme features a Super 35 sensor. The camera delivers a dynamic range of 17 stops at frame rates as high as 330 fps. There’s also a Sensor Overdrive mode that enables frame rates up to 480 fps, though the dynamic range drops to 11 stops in that mode.
Simultaneous output
Whatever frame rate you choose for the slow-motion feed, the system simultaneously outputs a live feed for broadcast. This means operators can switch between the program frame rate and HFR in real time. There’s also a unique phase-blending feature that gives you control over motion blur and shutter effects in the live feed.
Other features
The ARRI Alexa 35 Live Xtreme integrates with ARRI’s Multicam System, which was used recently at the Eurovision Song Contest, one of the world’s biggest live broadcasts. You can pull looks from the ARRI Look Library, apply Multicam looks or build your own LUTs to fine-tune the image. ARRI says you can upgrade Alexa 35 Live cameras sold from 2026 onward to Xtreme functionality. All you need to do is purchase the High Speed and HFR SDI Licenses from the ARRI online shop. Pre-2026 Alexa 35 Live cameras will need a hardware upgrade at an ARRI service center.
What we think
When Thomas Reidel bought ARRI back in April, the company said it wanted to expand its share of the live production market. The Alexa 35 Live Xtreme makes that intent clearer. It delivers a high-dynamic-range image with the distinctive look of a Super 35 sensor, and you can shape that look with ARRI’s Look Library or your own LUTs.
The camera also shoots regular-speed video or HFR from the same body, which gives live productions far more flexibility in how they plan and shoot. Being able to upgrade existing Alexa 35 Live cameras to the Xtreme spec is a nice bonus. With this release, ARRI looks to have another camera set to become an industry standard.
Pricing and availability
ARRI says the Alexa 35 Live Xtreme is available to preorder now. Online retailer B&H lists an Entry Level system at $118,000, a Standard system at $121,500 and a Pro system at $135,000.
