ARRI has announced an upgraded version of its ARRI Alexa 35 cinema camera. The new ARRI Alexa 35 Xtreme offers frame rates up to 660 frames per second (fps) for super slow motion. It also introduces a new recording codec called ARRICORE.
Alexa 35 Xtreme
You can buy ARRI’s new Alexa 35 Xtreme as a standalone camera. However, you can also get your current Alexa 35 upgraded to become the Xtreme model. To do this, you will need to send your camera to an ARRI service center.
The Alexa 35 Xtreme is powered by a new main processor to handle the new frame rates. This processor is also supported by additional, faster on-board memory.
High-speed frame rates
The Alexa 35 Xtreme can film at 120 fps in 4.6K Open Gate, up from 75 fps with the regular model. It also offers 150 fps in 3.6K 16:9, 240 fps in 3.8K 2.39:1 and 330 fps in 2K 16:9 Super 16 mode. Even better, all of these frame rates deliver video with the same 17 steps of dynamic range you get at regular shooting speeds. Also, the Alexa 35 Xtreme features a Sensor Overdrive mode. This limits the dynamic range to 11 stops but boosts the maximum frame rates to 165 fps for 4.6K Open gate and an incredible 660 fps for 2K 16:9 Super 16.
ARRICORE
Alongside the Alexa 35 Xtreme, ARRI has also revealed ARRICORE. The company says that its next-generation RGB codec delivers “the camera’s exceptional image quality at a more accessible cost by reducing data rates”. You also get flexibility in post, as sensitivity, white balance and tint are not baked in with ARRICORE. ARRI says that switching to ARRICORE is easy because on-set and post workflows remain consistent with existing ALEXA 35 codecs and drives. In addition, the ALF4 ARRI Look File, ARRI Textures, metadata, audio and the MXF wrapper will all behave in a familiar way. The only caveat is that ARRICORE is launching in beta, so there may be some bugs to overcome.
Other new features
The Alexa 35 Xtreme features longer pre-recording times. You now get up to 30-second pre-recording when shooting 4.6K Open Gate or an incredible five minutes of Apple ProRes 422 HQ at 24 fps in HD. Despite its increased processing power, the Alexa 35 Xtreme consumes 10% less power than the Alexa 35. This means the camera is going to generate less heat and be more power-efficient on set. In addition, the Alexa 35 Xtreme offers improved wireless connectivity to accessories and tools like the ARRI Camera Companion App through compatibility with the Wi-Fi 5 GHz band.
What we think
With the launch of the Alexa 35 Xtreme, ARRI has delivered an impressive upgrade on the previous model. The headline feature has to be the new high-speed frame rates. Although you forfeit some dynamic range, the Sensor Overdrive mode means that you don’t need a separate high-speed camera to capture extreme slow-motion footage. In addition, the new ARRICORE codec delivers smaller file sizes to reduce storage costs. This is doubly important if you are using the new high-speed frame rates. Hopefully, the new codec is out of beta soon. It’s also great to see that ARRI is offering an upgrade path for existing Alexa 35 owners. The Alexa 35 Xtreme is sure to be a regular sight on film and TV sets around the world soon.
Pricing and availability
If you want to buy a new Alexa 35 Xtreme, prices start at $54,590. Arris also says that upgrading your existing Alexa 35 to the Xtreme model costs 15,900 euros, which is around $18,400 at the time of writing.
