New Camera Line to Replace Existing XT Models; Upgrades for Last-Gen Bodies to Be Offered
Borrowing electronics from the new Alexa 65, the next generation of ARRI's Alexa camera will record both ProRes 4K UHD (3840×2160) and ProRes 4K Cine (4096×2637) in camera.
The new Alexa SXT EV, SXT Plus and SXT Studio camera models will use the existing 3.4K ALEV III Alexa sensor and will replace the current Alexa XT line-up. If your Alexa XT shipped after January 1, 2015, the SXT feature set will be available as a free hardware upgrade via the SXR Module. ARRI said the module "delivers all the features of the SXT cameras, although it might not offer all the future upgrade potential." The Alexa Classic EV camera will remain available.
In addition to the 4K resolution options, the new SXT cameras will feature the color-management engine developed for the ARRI Amira along with support for the ALF-2 look file that contains an ASC CDL and 3D LUT. The SXT models support Rec. 2020 gamma for previewing looks on set via three independent HD-SDI outputs. (ARRI said one configuration might have a Log C image going to the director for preview with live grading, while Rec. 709 images go to the camera's on-board monitor and the video village.) In addiition, CDL parameters and 3D LUTs can be mixed and matched in-camera on any of the SDI outputs and can also be applied to ProRes recordings. The ALF-2 look-file format is compatible across the Alexa SXT, the Alexa Mini, and the Amira.
Codex media bay; click image to load larger version
Like the cameras they replace, the Alexa SXT models will support Open Gate, 4:3 and 16:9 sensor modes in ARRIRAW or ProRes recording modes. Codex said it will offer a new recording engine for the SXT that supports the latest 20 GB/sec SXR Capture Drives as well as the previous generation of XR Capture Drives. The SXT cameras have a new media bay, Codex said, with adapters for XR and SXR Capture Drives, SxS cards and CFast 2.0 cards.
The first Alexa SXT cameras are expected to ship "around mid-2015," ARRI said.
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