ARRI Alexa Mini

ARRI surprised us yesterday by announcing its new Alexa Mini camera, which combines a lightweight and compact format with all the quality that characterizes the company’s cameras.

Its design

Let’s start by mentioning its dimensions; 185mm long, 125mm wide and 140mm high.

To achieve this robust design within a lightweight camera, ARRI has used highly integrated electronics, a carbon housing and a titanium PL mount that connects directly to the internal sensor mount to ensure a super-stable flange focal length, even when using large lenses.

The company claims that this camera complements a full Alexa kit and eliminates the need to have to use third-party cameras when shooting difficult shots in tight or specialized locations, such as on aerial systems, waterproof housings or stabilizing rigs.

It is very easy to carry and its symmetrical design allows recording in any orientation. In addition, it has a lot of possible accessories and its interchangeable lens mount can be replaced with any designed for ARRI Amira, allowing the use of B4 and EF mounts.

Internal features

The Alexa Mini features a 4:3 sensor that comes with an automatic de-squeeze mode for anamorphic productions. Like the other cameras, it records in ProRes or ARRIRAW, at speeds from 0.75 to 200fps, using CFast 2.0 cards or the Codex external recorder, capable of handling up to four streams simultaneously.

Thanks to its ALEV III sensor, the focus is not only on spatial resolution, but also on other factors such as colorimetry, skin tones or HDR(High Dynamic Range). This is the same for outputs in HD, 2K or 4K UHD (highest possible resolution), as well as for native ARRIRAW 2.8K or ProRes 3.2K resolutions.

Other functionalities

This camera can be operated in multiple ways; using the wireless remote control, like a normal camera with the MVF-1 viewfinder, or with a monitor and controlled through the camera body’s button interface.

A built-in lens motor controller allows the new active lens motors to be connected directly to the PL mount, while ARRI Lens Data System (LDS) technology provides accurate metadata.

It has Wi-Fi connectivity so that iOS or Android devices can use remote control functions, such as motorized internal ND filters, which allow you to quickly change lighting conditions.

The Alexa Mini is expected to be launched in May, with orders possible as early as March. A prototype of the camera will be shown at the BVE (British Video Expo) on February 24, 25 and 26.

Here you can see in detail all the specifications.