ARRI has announced a new compact and lightweight 65mm sensor camera. The ARRI Alexa 265 is around one-third the size and weight of the Alexa 65.
Compact design
The body of the ARRI Alexa 265 is based on the compact Alexa 35. Even though the Alexa 265’s sensor is three times the size, the camera is only 0.16 inches (4 mm) longer and 0.43 inches (11 mm) wider. At only 7.3 pounds (3.3 kg), the Alexa 265 also weighs less than a third of the 23.1 pounds (10.5 kg) of the Alexa 65. The new smaller design makes the Alexa 265 perfect for use on a drone or stabilizer system. In addition, the new camera takes advantage of ARRI’s latest cooling and power management technologies. As a result, boot-up time and power draw have been improved.
New sensor
ARRI has produced a brand new 65mm sensor for the Alexa 265. The company says that it has undertaken a comprehensive revision of its previous 65 mm sensor. This new design was based on feedback from filmmakers who wanted to retain the 6.5K resolution and large pixel pitch. However, there was a demand for higher dynamic range and improved low-light performance. As a result, the new sensor has an increased dynamic range from 14 to 15 stops. In addition, ARRI increased the sensitivity from ISO 3200 to 6400 with crisper blacks, greater contrast, and a lower noise floor.
Color science
The Alexa 265 processes images in-camera using ARRI REVEAL color science. This was introduced with the Alexa 35 and is also compatible with ARRIRAW from the Alexa Mini LF. ARRI says that REVEAL is a suite of image processing steps that help the camera to capture more accurate colors, with subtler tonal variations. In addition, skin tones are rendered in a flattering, natural way. Highly saturated colors and pastel shades are displayed with incredible realism as well. All Alexa 265 and Alexa 35 cameras are super color-matched to each other to simplify color grading.
Log C4
The Alexa 265 uses the new-generation LogC4 workflow and 3D LUTs that ARRI introduced for the Alexa 35. It also records ARRIRAW in-camera to the Codex Compact Drives that are used in all current ARRI cameras. This means that you can use Standard drive readers and docks. In addition, the Alexa 265 supports Codex HDE (High Density Encoding) which reduces file sizes by up to 40% without reducing image quality. ARRI says that on-set monitors can be set up in HD or UHD, displaying SDR or HDR, or both. The company is updating its SDK so that Alexa 265 footage is compatible with all major third-party software tools as well.
Filter cartridges
ARRI’s new cinema camera features a unique filter cartridge system. This uses special filter trays in a protective cartridge which you can slide in front of the sensor. ARRI is going to release Full-Spectrum Neutral Density (FSND) filters from zero to ND2.7 in single-stop increments for the new camera. There will also be more creative filters in the future. In addition, the filter trays have an encoded chip that tells the camera which filter is inserted. This information is available in the camera interface and recorded in the camera metadata for use on set and in post-production.
What we think
The Alexa 65 has been around for 10 years and has been used to shoot films including Barbie, Dune: Part Two, and Wicked. However, it’s a big camera when compared to the Alexa 35. Now, with the Alexa 265, filmmakers can have all the image benefits of the Alexa 65 in an Alexa 35-sized package. In addition, ARRI has squeezed in an extra stop of dynamic range and doubled the sensitivity to ISO 6400. The new Alexa 265 is going to prove very popular and will become the camera of choice for many productions in the future.
Pricing and availability
ARRI says that the Alexa 265 will be available to productions from early 2025 via business-to-business or business-to-consumer rental.
