Arri Alexa User Guide

User Guide

ARRI ALEXA

Printed on 21 June, 2010

All rights reserved

The system contains proprietary information of ARRI; it is provided under a license agreement containing restrictions on use and disclosure and is also protected by copyright law. Reverse engineering of the system is prohibited.

Due to continued product development this information may change without notice. The information and intellectual property contained herein is confidential between ARRI and the client and remains the exclusive property of ARRI. If you find any problems in the documentation, please report them to us in writing. ARRI does not warrant that this document is error-free.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of ARRI.

Arnold & Richter Cine Technik

Tuerkenstr. 89

D-80799 Munich

Germany

mailto:[e-mail]

http://www.arri.com

Contents

1	Disclaimer		4
2	Scope		7
3	What's New In This Version		7
4	ALEXA Images		8
5	Introduction to ALEXA		10
	5.1	How to Read This Manual .....................................................	11
6	Safety Instructions		12
	6.1	Explanation of Warning Signs and Indications ...................	12
	6.2	General Safety Instructions...................................................	12
	6.3	Specific Safety Instructions...................................................	13
7	General Precautions		15
	7.1	Storage and Transport...........................................................	15
	7.2	Electromagnetic Interference ................................................	15
	7.3	Condensation..........................................................................	15
8	Power Supply		17
	8.1	Power Management...............................................................	17
	8.2	BAT Connector .......................................................................	18
	8.3	Mains Unit NG 12/26 R...........................................................	18
	8.4	Cine-Style Batteries................................................................	18
	8.5	Onboard Batteries ..................................................................	19
	8.6	V-Mount Batteries ..................................................................	20
	8.7	Gold Mount Batteries.............................................................	21
	8.8	Power Outputs........................................................................	23
	8.8.1	12 V Accessories.....................................................................	23
	8.8.2	24 V Accessories.....................................................................	23

II			Contents
9	Installation of The Camera		24
	9.1	Minimum Equipment Recommended For Operation .........	24
	9.2	Tripod and Remote Heads.....................................................	24
	9.3	Electronic Viewfinder EVF-1 ..................................................	25
	9.3.1	Viewfinder Cables ..................................................................	26
	9.3.2	Viewfinder Mounting Bracket ...............................................	26
	9.4	Center Handle CCH-1 .............................................................	29
	9.5	Camera Side Handle CSH-1...................................................	30
	9.6	Bridge Plate BP-12..................................................................	30
	9.7	Bridge Plate adapter BPA-1 ...................................................	31
	9.8	Leveling Block LB-1 ................................................................	31
	9.9	Shoulder Pad SP-3 .................................................................	31
10	Connectors		33
	10.1	BAT ..........................................................................................	35
	10.2	REC OUT 1&2..........................................................................	35
	10.3	RET/SYNC IN...........................................................................	35
	10.4	MON OUT ...............................................................................	35
	10.5	EXT ..........................................................................................	35
	10.6	Ethernet...................................................................................	36
	10.7	EVF...........................................................................................	36
	10.8	AUDIO IN.................................................................................	36
	10.9	RS.............................................................................................	36
	10.10	12 V ..........................................................................................	36
	10.11	TC.............................................................................................	37
	10.12	3.5mm TRS connector ...........................................................	37
	10.13	SD Card ...................................................................................	37
	10.14	SxS...........................................................................................	38
11	Optics		39
	11.1	Lens Adapter PL Mount LA-PL-1 (no LDS) ...........................	39
	11.2	Lens Support ..........................................................................	40
12	User interface		42
	12.1	Main UI ....................................................................................	43
	12.1.1	Display.....................................................................................	43
	12.1.2	Screen Buttons .......................................................................	43
	12.1.3	Function Buttons ....................................................................	44
	12.1.3.1	TC (Time Code).......................................................................	44
	12.1.3.2	INFO.........................................................................................	46

12.1.3.3	USER........................................................................................	47
12.1.4	Homescreen............................................................................	48
12.1.4.1	Lists and User Lists ................................................................	50
12.1.4.2	FPS...........................................................................................	51
12.1.4.3	SHUTTER ................................................................................	54
12.1.4.4	EI ..............................................................................................	55
12.1.4.5	WB ...........................................................................................	56
12.1.5	Menu........................................................................................	59
12.1.5.1	Recording................................................................................	59
12.1.5.2	Monitoring ..............................................................................	61
12.1.5.3	Project......................................................................................	66
12.1.5.4	System.....................................................................................	66
12.1.5.5	User Setups ............................................................................	69
12.2	Operator UI .............................................................................	70
12.3	EVF UI ......................................................................................	70
12.3.1	Viewfinder EVF menu ............................................................	71
12.3.2	Viewfinder CAM menu...........................................................	72
Appendix		73
12.4	Camera Dimensions...............................................................	73
A.1	Camera Accessory List...........................................................	74
12.5	ARRIRAW ................................................................................	77
A.2	ALEXA Frame Lines ...............................................................	78
A.3	ALEV III Sensor Specification................................................	81
13 Index		83

4 DisclaimerHow to Read This Manual

1 Disclaimer

Before using the products described in this manual be sure to read and understand all respective instruction.

The ARRI ALEXA is only available to commercial customers. The customer grants by utilization that the ARRI ALEXA or other components of the system are deployed for commercial use. Otherwise the customer has the obligation to contact ARRI preceding the utilization.

While ARRI endeavors to enhance the quality, reliability and safety of their products, customers agree and acknowledge that the possibility of defects thereof cannot be eliminated entirely. To minimize risk of damage to property or injury (including death) to persons arising from defects in the products, customers must incorporate sufficient safety measures in their work with the system and have to heed the stated canonic use.

ARRI or its subsidiaries do not assume any responsibility for incurred losses due to improper handling or configuration of the camera or other system components, due to sensor contamination, occurence of dead or defective pixels, defective signal connections or incompatibilities with third party recording devices.

No part of this document may be copied or reproduced in any form or by any means without prior written consent of ARRI. ARRI assumes no responsibility for any errors that may appear in this document. The information is subject to change without notice.

For product specification changes since this manual was published, refer to the latest publications of ARRI data sheets or data books, etc., for the most up-to-date specifications. Not all products and/or types are available in every country. Please check with an ARRI sales representative for availability and additional information.

Neither ARRI nor its subsidiaries assume any liability for infringement of patents, copyrights or other intellectual property rights of third parties by or arising from the use of ARRI products or any other liability arising from the use of such products. No license, express, implied or otherwise, is granted under any patents, copyrights or other intellectual property right of ARRI or others.

ARRI or its subsidiaries expressly exclude any liability, warranty, demand or other obligation for any claim, representation, or cause, or action, or whatsoever, express or implied, whether in contract or tort, including negligence, or incorporated in terms and conditions, whether by statue, law or otherwise. In no event shall ARRI or its subsidiaries be liable for or have a remedy for recovery of any special, direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential damages, including, but not limited to lost profits, lost savings, lost revenues or economic loss of any kind or for any claim by third party, downtime, good-will, damage to or replacement of equipment or property, any cost or recovering of any material or goods associated with the assembly or use of our products, or any other damages or injury of the persons and so on or under any other legal theory.

Disclaimer

How to Read This Manual 5

In the case one or all of the foregoing clauses are not allowed by applicable law, the fullest extent permissible clauses by applicable law are validated.

ARRI is a registered trademark of Arnold & Richter Cine Technik GmbH & Co Betriebs KG.

Note: This product and the accessories recommended by the manufacturer fulfill the specifications of the European Directive 2004/108/EC (15th December 2004).

2 Scope

This instruction manual applies to the following ARRI ALEXA hardware, software and firmware versions:

ARRI ALEXA basic camera with ARRI EVF-1

Camera software packet: 1.0

3 What's New In This Version

As it is the first version - everything!

8 ALEXA ImagesHow to Read This Manual

4 ALEXA Images

Figure 1: Camera right side

Figure 2: Camera left side

Figure 3: Camera top

ALEXA Images		How to Read This Manual 9

10 Introduction to ALEXAHow to Read This Manual

5 Introduction to ALEXA

ALEXA is a 35 format film-style digital camera made by ARRI, the world leader in professional cinematographic imaging. It combines leading edge digital technology with film camera features that have been refined over the more than 90 years of ARRIs history. The result is a camera that allows classic cinematographers to shoot digitally without the need for a excessive training when transforming from film.

People who are used to shoot digitally will experience a camera like they never did before, providing more powerful features than any camera available today.

Handling

The camera is a true ARRI. It has a high-precision integrated camera housing with an ergonomic design. It is rugged, reliable and flexible. Sealed to make it splash-proof. Countless mounting points for accessories, as ALEXA integrates well with existing ARRI accessories. In addition, a new range of accessories specifically designed for ALEXA is available, too.

Operation

ALEXA features a unique user interface, designed to make camera operation easier than ever, while giving access to more controls than any camera before.

There are three different control interfaces:

∙The Main user interface on the right side gives access to every camera parameter through a graphical display and a button panel.

∙The Operator user interface on the left side for basic control, adjustable to the operator's individual needs by supplying assignable buttons in addition to function buttons.

∙The viewfinder user interface for adjusting the most important image parameters with buttons on the viewfinder and the interface graphics overlayed to the viewfinder image.

Power management

The camera accepts any input voltage from 11-34 V DC. Different power sources can be connected to the camera at once. The camera's power management ensures that the power source with the highest voltage level is used. Power sources are hot-swappable to minimize the risk of sudden power loss. Switching power sources without the need to reboot saves valuable time during a shoot.

Introduction to ALEXA

How to Read This Manual 11

ALEV III sensor

The ALEV III sensor has a horizontal pixel count of 3.5K resulting in true 2K resolution. It covers the full Super-35 format and it provides a latitude of more than 13.5 stops at a base sensitivity of 800 ASA. The result is a superior image quality.

The sensor temperature is kept stable by a Peltier element to ensure optimum image quality under all operating conditions.

AIT - ARRI Imaging Technology

The ARRI imaging technology ensures the most organic, film-like image quality of any digital camera with natural color rendition and pleasing skin tones.

Thermal concept

The camera electronics are fully sealed to protect them from dirt and moisture. Camera heat is transported via heat pipes to a radiator which is cooled by the fan. The fan itself is very silent, so the camera noise floor is below 20 dB (A) - this is the same noise level as with ARRI syncsound film cameras. If the fan noise level starts to increase, the fan can be swapped in a matter of minutes by a trained technician.

EVF-1 electronic viewfinder

ARRI is redefining electronic viewfinders with LED lighting, high resolution and a viewing experience that comes as close to an optical viewfinder as possible.

5.1How to Read This Manual

It is recommended that all user of the ALEXA camera read the manual front to back prior to the first usage. The manual's structure also provides quick access for reference to experienced users.

∙Images: give a quick overview how the camera looks.

∙Safety instructions / general precautions: very important - do not skip this part.

∙Power supply: overview how the camera is supplied with power.

∙Installation of the camera: information on camera mechanics.

∙Connectors: what goes into tha camera and what comes out.

∙Optics: how to get a good image into the camera.

∙User interface: how to set up the camera and how to operate it.

12 Safety InstructionsExplanation of Warning Signs and Indications

6 Safety Instructions

Any violation of these safety instructions or non-observance of personal care could cause serious injuries (including death) to users and affiliates and damage to the equipment or other objects.

6.1Explanation of Warning Signs and Indications

Indicates a possible risk of injury or damage to the equipment

Indicates the risk of electric shock or fire danger that could result in injury or damage to the equipment.

Note: Indicates further information or information from other instruction manuals

6.2General Safety Instructions

∙Always follow these instructions to ensure against injury to yourself or others and damage to the system or other objects.

∙This safety information is in addition to the product specific operating instructions in general and must be strictly observed for safety reasons.

∙Read and understand all safety and operating instructions before you operate or install the system!

∙Retain all safety and operating instructions for future reference.

∙Heed all warnings on the system and in the safety and operating instructions before you operate or install the system. Follow all installation and operating instructions.

∙Do not use accessories or attachments that are not recommended by ARRI, as they may cause hazards and invalidate the warranty!

∙Do not attempt to repair any part of the system! Repairs must only be carried out by authorized ARRI Service Centers.

Safety Instructions

Specific Safety Instructions 13

6.3Specific Safety Instructions

∙Do not remove any safety measures from the system!

∙Do not operate the system in areas with humidity above operating levels or expose it to water or moisture!

∙Do not cover the fan openings at the camera back top and bottom!

∙Do not subject the system to severe shocks!

∙Do not place the system on an unstable trolley/hand truck, stand, tripod, bracket, table or any other unstable support device! The system may fall, causing serious personal injury and damage to the system or other objects.

∙Operate the system using only the type of power source indicated in the manual! Unplug the power cable by gripping the power plug, not the cable!

∙Never insert objects of any kind into any part of the system if not clearly qualified for the task in the manual, as objects may touch dangerous voltage points or short out parts! This could cause fire or electrical shock.

∙Unplug the system from the power outlet before opening any part of the system or before making any changes to the system, especially the attaching or removing of cables!

∙Do not use solvents to clean!

∙Do not remove any stickers or paint marked screws!

∙Always place a lens or a protective cap in the lens mount receptacle!

∙Changing camera lenses should be done in a dry and dust-free environment. If this is not possible, take extra care that no dust enters the camera while the lens is off!

∙When no lens is attached to the camera, immediately place the protective on the lens mount to avoid contamination of the sensor cover glass!

∙After changing lenses, always perform a dust check to make sure no dust has settled on the sensor cover glass!

∙Clean optical lens surfaces only with a lens brush or a clean lens cloth. in cases of solid dirt or grease, moisten a lens cloth with pure alcohol. Discard contaminated lens cloth after use! Never attempt to clean a lens brush with your fingers!

∙NEVER USE CANS WITH COMPRESSED AIR OR GAS TO BLOW OFF THE DUST! This can severely damage optical elements.

14Safety InstructionsSpecific Safety Instructions

∙If the sensor cover glass has been contaminated by solid dirt or grease, special optical cleaning kits should be used for dirt removal under very high care! If the contamination cannot be removed, the camera should be taken to an ARRI service center for cleaning.

∙NEVER USE METHANOL OR ACETONE TO CLEAN OPTICAL SURFACES!

∙NEVER TRY TO REMOVE THE SENSOR COVER GLASS!

∙DO NOT POINT THE CAMERA INTO DIRECT SUNLIGHT, VERY BRIGHT LIGHT SOURCES, OR HIGH-ENERGY LIGHT SOURCES (e.g. laser beams)! This may cause permanent damage to the camera image sensor.

∙DO NOT POINT THE VIEWFINDER INTO DIRECT SUNLIGHT, VERY BRIGHT LIGHT SOURCES, OR HIGH-ENERGY LIGHT SOURCES (e.g. laser beams)! This may cause permanent damage to the viewfinder display and optical elements.

General Precautions

Storage and Transport 15

7 General Precautions

7.1Storage and Transport

∙To prevent damage to the optical filters and the sensor, a protective cap must be on the lens mount receptacle while no lens is attached.

∙All cables have to be unplugged from the camera when it is transported or stored inside a camera case.

∙Do not store the camera in places where it is subject to extreme temperatures, direct sunlight, high humidity, severe vibration, or near strong magnetic fields.

7.2Electromagnetic Interference

Portable communication devices such as mobile phones or walkietalkies may cause interference with video signals or even lead to malfunction of the camera. It is recommended to keep these devices turned off when near the camera.

7.3Condensation

When moving the camera from a cool to a warm location or when the camera is used in a damp environment, condensation may form inside the lens compartment, on the sensor cover glass, between sensor and its cover glass, and on internal or external electrical connections.

∙Operating the camera in these conditions may result in personal injury or damage to the equipment!

Condensation on the optical components may have a visible effect on the output images. To reduce the risk of condensation:

∙Find a warmer storage location.

∙Attach the ARRI air-drying cartridge (silica bottle) to the PL-Mount of the camera during storage (NOT during transport!)

∙If camera needs to be stored in a place that is considerably cooler than the location where it will be used, consider keeping the camera powered from a mains unit in addition to using the airdrying cartridge.

16General PrecautionsCondensation

∙In ambient temperatures above 30°C/86°F and/or humidity above 60%, always attach the air-drying cartridge to the PL-Mount of the camera when not in use. This not only applies to storage, but also to shooting breaks and situations when the camera remains without an attached lens for an extended time.

∙MAKE SURE THE SILICA BOTTLE IS SECURELY FASTENED. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SPILL SILICA INTO THE LENS COMPARTMENT!

Power Supply

Power Management 17

8Power Supply

∙Only use recommended power supply solutions.

∙Manipulation of power supplies can result in severe damage to the equipment and humans, including death.

ALEXA accepts an input voltage range from 11 to 34 V DC. The camera can be powered through the BAT connector or can be quipped with battery adapters accepting V-Mount or Gold mount batteries.

The power supply should deliver an output of more than 90 W to power the camera sufficiently. The power draw of the camera in basic configuration is about 85 W.

Note: when powering accessories through the camera, the power draw of the camera is increased by the amount of power drawn by the accessories.

8.1Power Management

When using the BAT connector and one or more onboard battery adapters at once, the camera power management ensures that always the power source with the highest voltage level is used. When the voltage level of one power source drops below the level of the other, or a power source is disconnected from the camera, the power management automatically switches to the other power source, avoiding shutdown of the system.

So as an example, one could use a 12 V onboard battery as backup for the main 24 V battery, or power the camera from the 24 V battery while on a tripod and use the 12 V battery for fast switching to handheld mode by just unplugging the power cable.

When using two onboard battery adapters with batteries in parallel, they are treated as one source by the camera. This allows combining small batteries with less load per item into one strong power source.

18 Power SupplyBAT Connector

8.2BAT Connector

The BAT connector of ALEXA is a Fischer 2-pin socket located on the bottom back of the camera right side.

The socket accepts power cables KC-20S and KC-29S. The cables can either be connected to the mains unit NG 12/26R or to 24V Cine-style batteries with three-pin XLR outputs.

Figure 4: BAT connector

8.3Mains Unit NG 12/26 R

Use of the mains unit is recommended for shooting in the studio and when using electronic accessories with high power consumption.

∙First check that the correct mains voltage is set on the mains unit (fuse on back of unit).

∙Connect the mains unit to AC mains power.

∙Ensure that the camera power is turned off.

∙Set the voltage switch on the mains unit to 26 V.

Plug the battery cable KC-20S or KC-29S (spiral cable) into the power supply socket on the camera and into the 26 V socket on the mains unit.

Note: The NG 12/24 R was the original design that provided 12 & 24 volts output – it was superseded by the NG 12/26 R, which outputs 12 & 26 volts. The NG 12/24 R can easily be upgraded to NG 12/26 R specification at an ARRI service center.

8.4Cine-Style Batteries

Any Cine-style battery with level of 24 V and a three-pin XLR out can be used to power the camera through a KC-20S or a KC-29S.

Power Supply

Onboard Batteries 19

Available from ARRI is the battery CINE VCLX/2 battery (280 Wh) with charger.

To connect the battery to the camera:

∙Ensure that the main switch on the camera is off.

∙Plug the battery cable KC-20S or KC-29S (spiral cable) into the power supply socket on the camera and the battery 28 V output socket.

Note: When the battery voltage drops below the warning level, the BAT1 level in the camera display will start flashing. A white "i" will appear, signaling more information is available on the INFO screen.

Note: For more information on setting the low battery warning level, see

Menu>System>Power (on page 66).

Charging the battery

∙Connect the charger to AC mains power.

∙Plug the charger cable into the charge input socket of the battery.

∙Once charged, batteries may be kept on the charger until required.

Note: For more information on CINE VCLX/2 battery and charger, please check the corresponding manual.

8.5Onboard Batteries

The camera can be equipped with adapters for either V-Mount or Gold mount video-style batteries.

The following adapters are available:

∙BAT-V: Top-mount adapter V-Mount batteries

∙BAB-V: Back-mount adapter V-Mount batteries

∙BAT-G: Top-mount adapter Gold mount batteries

∙BAB-G: Back-mount adapter Gold mount batteries

Note: Adapters must be installed by a trained technician!

20 Power SupplyV-Mount Batteries

Anton Bauer Gold Mount batteries and ID-X V-Mount batteries transmit their remaining capacity to the camera, which is displayed in percent on the Homescreen of the camera display. For these batteries, the user does not need to set the battery warning level due to the communication between the camera and the battery.

8.6V-Mount Batteries

V-Mount batteries are available from a number of manufacturers. V- Mount batteries from ID-X transmit information on their remaining capacity to the camera. ALEXA displays the remaining capacity in percent on the Homescreen of the camera display. For ID-X batteries, the user does not need to set the battery warning level due to the communication of camera and battery.

Attaching the battery to the adapter

∙Place the battery with the V-shaped wedge into the adapter so that the wedge sits right above its counterpart of the mount.

∙Move the battery downwards until you hear a snap.

∙Make sure it is connected correctly and sits tight.

Releasing the battery

∙When facing the battery, press the button located on the mount on the left side. Some batteries have an additional top-release mechanism.

Power Supply

Gold Mount Batteries 21

∙ Move the battery upwards and remove it.

Figure 5: ALEXA with BAB-V and V-Mount battery

Note: Not all V-Mount batteries deliver enough power to supply the camera. We recommend to not use any batteries with a capacity of less than 90 Wh to prevent damage to the battery and unpredictable camera behaviour. Any camera-battery combination should be tested prior to use, especially when accessories are powered through the camera.

8.7Gold Mount Batteries

Gold mount is the battery mounting system of Anton Bauer batteries. The batteries transmit information on their remaining capacity to the camera. ALEXA displays the remaining capacity in percent on the Homescreen of the camera display. For Gold Mount batteries, the user does not need to set the battery warning level due to the communication of camera and battery.

Attaching the battery to the adapter

∙Place the battery with the three pins into the adapter so that the pins sit in the corresponding holes of the mount.

∙Move the battery to the right until you hear a snap.

22Power SupplyGold Mount Batteries

∙Make sure it is connected correctly and sits tight.

Releasing the battery

∙When facing the battery, move the lever located on the left side of the mount down.

∙Move the battery left, then pull it towards you and remove it.

Figure 6: Camera with BAB-G and Gold Mount battery

Note: Not all Gold Mount batteries deliver enough power to supply the camera. We recommend to not use any batteries with a capacity of less than 90 Wh to prevent damage to the battery and unpredictable camera behaviour. Any camera-battery combination should be tested prior to use, especially when accessories are powered through the camera.

Power Supply

Power Outputs 23

8.8Power Outputs

The camera has three power outputs for accessories, 2x 24 V and 1x 12

V.

Figure 7: 24 V outputs (RS) and 12 V output

8.8.112 V Accessories

The 12 V output is located on the right side of the camera. It has a 2-pin LEMO connector and can supply a device with a current of up to 3 A, depending on the camera power supply.

8.8.224 V Accessories

The two 24 V outputs are located on the right side of the camera. They are labeled RS and have a 3-pin LEMO connector. They can supply two devices a combined load of up to 3 A, depending on the camera power supply.

Besides powering accessories, these sockets can also be used to send a remote start + stop signal to the camera.

24 Installation of The CameraMinimum Equipment Recommended For Operation

9 Installation of The Camera

9.1Minimum Equipment Recommended For Operation

∙ARRI ALEXA body including DTE-SxS module and lens adapter PL mount (LA-PL-1)

∙EVF-1 electronic viewfinder

∙VMB-1 viewfinder mounting bracket

∙KC 150-S viewfinder cable short 0.35m/1.2ft

∙CCH-1 center camera handle

∙BP-12 bridge plate with base plate, or BPA-1 with BP-5/BP-8 bridge plate and base plate, or WA-1 and quick-release base-plate

∙SD card

9.2Tripod and Remote Heads

Tripod and remote heads used with ALEXA have to provide enough load capacity to support the camera and attached accessories. The table to the right shows the camera weight for different components.

Note: Check for the payload of remote heads and cranes.

∙In applications where the camera mount is subject to high forces (e.g. car or helicopter mounts) the camera must be additionally secured with retaining cords. All fastening screws must be tightened firmly with an appropriate screwdriver (not with the commonly used coin!).

Camera weight	lbs	kg
ARRI ALEXA incl. SxS module, EVF-1, VMB-1,	17.62	8.0
CCH-1
ALEXA camera body including SxS module	13.79	6.26
EVF-1	2.42	1.1
VMB-1	0.55	0.25
KC-150S	0.26	0.12
Handle CCH-1	0.6	0.27