Monday, February 23, 2015

10 Reasons to love the Arri Alexa Mini

Arri have just announced the Alexa Mini... a dream come true for many cinematographers. But what is it about the Alexa Mini that people are going to sell their kids to get one for..???


  • That Alexa look in a smaller form factor. MoVi anyone??
  • It starts at $32000...  but rental houses will be stocking up i reckon.
  • Wifi Control combined with lightweight construction... perfect for in-car shots.
  • Switchable 4:3/16:9 sensor... so 4:3 is perfect for anamorphic shooting.
  • Internal 4K Pro Res? Yep... and 200fps in HD.
  • Super 35mm sensor.
  • Interchangeable lens mounts.  PL, EF or B4.
  • Built-in motorised ND Filters... no need for screw-on or mattebox for exterior MoVi shots.
  • 14+ Stops of dynamic range.
  • Can import custom LUTS.

Do i want one? Of course... but it's a rental item really at that price.  I'm hoping to have a closer look at BVE tomorrow.  It's interesting that Arri are really cleaning up in cinematography at the moment... just check out what all the Oscar nominated movies were shot on... mostly Alexa. They're certainly giving RED a major beating at the moment. 






Saturday, February 7, 2015

GH4 & Atomos Shogun Overview...

Finally got around to putting something together on the GH4 and Shogun. Both very awesome bits of kit... but the Shogun has to take the crown for the best new piece of cinema tech for me.  However, the GH4 is truly fantastic for the price. I didn't mention the dynamic range in the video. I'm not sure how big it is in 10bit 4:2:2 4K mode, but it looks huge. I'd guess around 12 stops.




Excuse all the shots of household running water... the weather was crap on the day i was going out to shoot slow-mo stuff so i ended up shooting around my flat instead.

I'm not overly impressed with the GH4 Cage i've been using, so if anyone has any suggestions of a better one, preferably with some side handles, let me know.

Look out for a more detailed look at both the GH4 and Atomos Shogun working together in Digital FilmMaker magazine in the coming months..