Arri Alexa SUP 7.0 User Manual
USER MANUAL
ALEXA
Software Update Packet 7.0
Date: 19
th
November 2012
All rights reserved.
This document is provided under a license agreement containing restrictions
on use and disclosure and is also protected by copyright law.
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.
Arnold & Richter Cine Technik
Tuerkenstr. 89
D-80799 Munich
Germany
mailto: service@arri.com
http://www.arri.com
III
Contents
1 Disclaimer 7
2 Scope 9
3 What's new in 7.0 10
4 Introduction to the ALEXA 14
4.1 About This Manual ................................................................... 17
5 Layout of the ALEXA 18
6 Safety Guidelines 20
6.1 Explanation of Warning Signs and Indications ........................ 20
6.2 General Safety Guidelines ....................................................... 20
6.3 Specific Safety Instructions ...................................................... 21
7 General Precautions 23
7.1 Storage and Transport ............................................................. 23
7.2 Electromagnetic Interference ................................................... 23
7.3 Condensation ........................................................................... 23
8 Power Supply 25
8.1 Power Management ................................................................. 25
8.2 BAT Connector ......................................................................... 25
8.3 Mains Unit NG 12/26 R ............................................................ 26
8.4 Cine-Style Batteries ................................................................. 26
8.5 Onboard Batteries .................................................................... 27
8.5.1 V-Lock Batteries ....................................................................... 27
8.5.2 Gold Mount Batteries ............................................................... 28
8.6 Power Outputs ......................................................................... 30
8.6.1 Powering 12 V Accessories ..................................................... 30
8.6.2 Powering 24 V Accessories ..................................................... 30
9 Camera Support 31
9.1 Minimum Equipment Recommended For Operation ............... 31
9.2 Tripod and Remote Heads ....................................................... 31
9.3 Electronic Viewfinder EVF-1 .................................................... 32
9.3.1 Viewfinder Cables .................................................................... 33
9.3.2 Viewfinder Mounting Bracket ................................................... 34
IV Contents
9.4 Center Camera Handle CCH-1 ................................................ 36
9.5 Side Camera Handle SCH-1 .................................................... 37
9.6 Bridge Plates BP-12/BP-13 ...................................................... 38
9.7 Bridge Plate adapter BPA-1 ..................................................... 39
9.8 Wedge Adapter WA-1 and Quick-Release Plate QR-HD-1 ..... 40
9.9 Leveling Block LB-1 ................................................................. 40
9.10 Shoulder Pad SP-3 .................................................................. 41
10 Connectors 42
10.1 BAT .......................................................................................... 44
10.2 REC OUT 1 + 2 ........................................................................ 44
10.3 RET/SYNC IN .......................................................................... 44
10.4 MON OUT ................................................................................ 44
10.5 EXT .......................................................................................... 44
10.6 ETHERNET .............................................................................. 45
10.7 EVF .......................................................................................... 45
10.8 AUDIO IN ................................................................................. 45
10.9 RS ............................................................................................ 45
10.10 12 V .......................................................................................... 46
10.11 TC ............................................................................................. 46
10.12 AUDIO OUT ............................................................................. 46
10.13 SD Card ................................................................................... 46
10.14 SxS Slots .................................................................................. 48
11 Lens Mounting 50
11.1 Lens Adapter PL Mount LA-PL-1 (no LDS).............................. 50
11.2 Lens Support ............................................................................ 51
12 Camera Controls 53
12.1 Main Controls ........................................................................... 54
12.1.1 Display...................................................................................... 54
12.1.2 Screen Buttons ......................................................................... 54
12.1.3 HOME screen ........................................................................... 55
12.1.3.1 Lists and User Lists .................................................................. 57
12.1.3.2 FPS .......................................................................................... 59
12.1.3.3 AUDIO ...................................................................................... 64
12.1.3.4 SHUTTER ................................................................................ 66
12.1.3.5 EI .............................................................................................. 67
12.1.3.6 COLOR..................................................................................... 68
12.1.3.7 WB ............................................................................................ 71
12.1.4 Function Buttons ...................................................................... 73
Contents V
12.1.4.1 TC ............................................................................................. 75
12.1.4.2 INFO ......................................................................................... 77
12.1.4.3 USER ....................................................................................... 80
12.1.4.4 PLAY ........................................................................................ 83
12.1.5 Menu ........................................................................................ 86
12.1.5.1 Recording ................................................................................. 86
12.1.5.2 Monitoring ................................................................................ 92
12.1.5.3 Project ...................................................................................... 99
12.1.5.4 System ................................................................................... 101
12.1.5.5 Frame grabs ........................................................................... 108
12.1.5.6 User Setups ........................................................................... 109
12.2 Operator controls ................................................................... 111
12.3 EVF-1 Controls ....................................................................... 112
12.3.1 Viewfinder EVF menu ............................................................ 112
12.3.2 Viewfinder CAM menu ........................................................... 114
13 Operation of the Camera 114
13.1 Recording ............................................................................... 114
13.1.1 Internal recording ................................................................... 114
13.1.2 External recording .................................................................. 122
13.1.3 Parallel recording ................................................................... 124
13.1.4 High Speed recording ............................................................ 125
13.2 Monitoring .............................................................................. 125
13.2.1 Frame Lines ........................................................................... 125
13.2.2 Status Info Overlays ............................................................... 128
13.3 Using Timecode ..................................................................... 129
13.4 Syncing the Sensors of Two Cameras ................................... 131
13.5 Syncing the Settings of Two Cameras ................................... 132
13.6 Sensor modes 16:9 and 4:3 ................................................... 134
14 ALEXA Plus 136
14.1 General Description ............................................................... 136
14.2 Optics ..................................................................................... 137
14.2.1 Lens Adapter PL-Mount LA-PL-2 (with LDS) ......................... 137
14.3 Radio System ......................................................................... 138
14.3.1 Yellow Radio .......................................................................... 138
14.3.2 White radio ............................................................................. 139
14.4 Wireless Remote System ....................................................... 139
14.4.1 Lens Motors ........................................................................... 139
14.4.2 Hand Units ............................................................................. 141
VI Contents
14.5 Lens Data Display LDD-FP .................................................... 142
14.6 Plus Camera Controls ............................................................ 143
15 ALEXA Plus 4:3 148
16 ALEXA Studio 150
16.1 General Description ............................................................... 150
16.2 ALEXA Studio Images............................................................ 150
16.3 Optics ..................................................................................... 153
16.3.1 Electronic Mirror Shutter ........................................................ 153
16.3.2 Lens Adapter PL Mount LA-PL-2 (with LDS) ......................... 154
16.3.3 Optical Viewfinder .................................................................. 155
16.3.4 ND Filter ................................................................................. 163
16.4 Studio Camera Controls ......................................................... 164
16.5 4:3 Mode ................................................................................ 167
16.6 Licensed Features .................................................................. 168
17 ALEXA M 169
17.1 General Description ............................................................... 169
17.2 ALEXA M Images ................................................................... 170
17.3 ALEXA M Camera Head ........................................................ 175
17.3.1 CCH-2 .................................................................................... 176
17.4 ALEXA M Camera Backend ................................................... 176
17.5 Fibre Connection .................................................................... 177
17.6 4:3 Mode ................................................................................ 179
17.7 Licensed Features .................................................................. 180
17.8 Lens Data System .................................................................. 180
18 RCU-4 181
19 Index 183
Appendix 187
A.1 Appendix ................................................................................ 188
A.2 Connector Pin Outs ................................................................ 193
A.3 False Color Display ................................................................ 198
A.4 Info Messages and Warnings ................................................ 199
A.5 Dimensions, Weights and Menu Structure Trees .................. 207
About This Manual 7
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, occurrence of dead or defective
pixels, defective signal connections or incompatibilities with third party
recording devices.
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.
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).
8 Disclaimer
The ALEXA viewfinder EVF-1 contains proprietary technology owned by
Fourth Dimension Displays Limited and licensed by ARRI.
This product contains licensed technology from Linotype.
Quicktime and Quicktime logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of
Apple Computer, Inc., used under license therefrom.
Apple ProRes 422 (Proxy), Apple ProRes 422 (Lt), Apple ProRes 422, Apple
ProRes 422(Hq), Apple ProRes 4444 and the ProRes logo are trademarks or
registered trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc., used under license
therefrom.
SxS and are trademarks of SONY corporation.
mkdosfs
Portions © 1998, Robert Nordier. All Rights Reserved.
© 1998, Robert Nordier. All rights reserved.
Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this
list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice,
this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation
and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE AUTHOR(S) “AS IS” AND ANY
EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED
TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS
FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL
THE AUTHOR(S) BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING,
BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR
SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS
INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
(INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY
OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
This product meets CE regulations.
About This Manual 9
2 Scope
SUP
ID
drawing
release/
revision
date
2.1
K5.72550.0
2031-00-00-00-99
FG5445
29th Nov 2010
3.0
K5.72550.0
2031-00-00-00-99
K7741
11th Feb 2011
3.1
K5.72550.0
2031-00-00-00-99-B
K7776
04th Apr 2011
3.1
K5.72550.0
2031-00-00-00-99-C
K7781
07th Apr 2011
4.0
K5.72550.0
2031-00-00-00-99-D
K7817
05th Jul 2011
4.0.1
K5.72550.0
2031-00-00-00-99-E
K7845
24th Aug 2011
5.0
K5.72550.0
2031-00-00-00-99-F
K7874
16th Nov 2011
5.0 +
5.1
K5.72550.0
2031-00-00-00-99-G
K7890
19th Dec 2011
5.0 +
5.1
K5.72550.0
2031-00-00-00-99-H
K8005
26th Jan 2011
5.1 +
6.0
K5.72550.0
2031-00-00-00-99-I
K8021
12th Feb 2012
6.1
K5.72550.0
2031-00-00-00-99-J
K8071
14th May 2012
7.0
K5.72550.0
2031-00-00-00-99-K
K8128
19th Nov 2012
This instruction manual applies to the following hardware, software and
firmware versions:
ARRI ALEXA, ARRI ALEXA Plus, ARRI ALEXA Plus 4:3, ALEXA M with
ARRI EVF-1 electronic viewfinder;
ARRI ALEXA Studio with optical viewfinder or ARRI EVF-1 electronic
viewfinder:
Camera software update packet (SUP): 7.0
EVF-1 software packet: 1.34
Document revision history
10 What's new in 7.0
3 What's new in 7.0
This chapter gives an overview of what has changed with SUP 7.0.
Equipment/Accessories Supported
CLM-4 Support
All ALEXA models with integrated motor drivers for ARRI Controlled Lens
Motors will support the compact and powerful CLM-4 in addition to CLM-2
and CLM-3. As for CLM-3, the motor torque is adjustable for smoother
operation of lens rings with more resistance.
Imaging
Sensor Readout Size for ProRes 2K Recording (see Chapter SxS Cards on
page 87)
When the camera is switched from HD to 2K resolution in-camera recording,
the size of the captured frame changes slightly. This is necessary so that the
de-bayering can work with an optimized downscale factor and deliver the
best possible 2K image quality.
Recording ARRIRAW 16:9, HD-Video, ProRes HD and DNxHD uses
2880 x 1620 photosites with a frame size of 23.76 x 13.365 mm
ProRes 2K 16:9 uses 2868 x 1612 photosites (23.661 x 13.299 mm)
ARRIRAW 4:3 uses 2880 x 2160 photosites (23.76 x 17,82 mm)
ProRes 2K 4:3 uses 2868 x 2150 photosites (23.661 x 17,738 mm)
When recording ARRIRAW and ProRes 2K in parallel, it is important to note
that the ARRIRAW frame holds a few more columns and lines of pixels. This
is taken into account in the latest release of the ARRIRAW SDK, where the
user can select which ARRIRAW frame size will be used to create a 2K
image.
Image Processing/Look Files
New Standard Speed De-bayering Algorithm
ADA-3 HW, a new and improved de-bayering and downscale algorithm is
now available for all ALEXA models. The new algorithm produces cleaner
high contrast edges and crisp fine detail, which results in sharper images.
The camera uses ADA-3 HW for HD-SDI, ProRes and DNxHD output at up
to 60 fps.
Note: The ARRIRAW Converter and ARRIRAW SDK additionally provide
ADA-3 SW, a more sophisticated software version of the new algorithm.
New High Speed De-bayering Algorithm
About This Manual 11
The High Speed de-bayering algorithm provides the same overall image
characteristics as the regular speed de-bayering algorithm. The new version
improves the rendition of flat color fields and delivers a cleaner overall
image. It is used for HD-SDI monitoring and ProRes or DNxHD output from
60 to 120 fps.
Note: In certain situations, saturated objects with little or no texture may
exhibit a faint checkered pattern in the red and blue color channel. This
artifact was clearly visible in the previous SUP release and is now
considered to be reduced to a degree where it does no longer pose a
problem.
Low Contrast Curve (see Chapter ARRI Look Files on page 70)
The LCC ARRI Look File is now part of the SUP. It is always available in the
camera menu, even after a factory reset.
SxS Onboard Recording
ProRes 2K recording (see Chapter SxS Cards on page 87)
Recording 2K resolution to the camera storage module is only possible in
one of the QuickTime ProRes codecs. ProRes recording in HD and 2K
resolution put very similar requirements on the recording media. A 64 GB
SxS Pro card allows recording up to 60 fps in 16:9 aspect ratio and up to 48
fps in 4:3 aspect ratio. It will hold approximately 19 minutes of ProRes 2K 4:3
and approximately 25 minutes in 16:9. ProRes 2K recording is not available
in High Speed mode.
Outputs
MON OUT clone (see Chapter REC OUT on page 90)
The REC OUT output can optionally be configured to show a cloned output
from the MON OUT output. This is the only mode available in High Speed
mode since SUP 6.1 and can now optionally be activated for all other sensor
and recording resolution configurations in regular speed mode.
The MON OUT clone option can be found at MENU > Recording > REC
OUT > HD-SDI format.
Electronic Viewfinder and MON OUT
Redesign of Status Display on EVF and MON OUT (see Chapter Status Info
Overlays on page 128)
The status display in the electronic viewfinder and the MON OUT image has
been redesigned.
New icons indicating SxS recording resolution, screen grab, RET IN
active, settings for MON OUT and EVF, application of ARRI Look File
In 16:9 sensor mode, the camera image is scaled to fit inside the
status info border
12 What's new in 7.0
In 4:3 sensor mode, a few lines on top and bottom of the camera
image are covered by translucent status info bars
The electronic horizon, the LDS info and reel and clip number, when
active, extend into the camera image in all sensor modes
ARRI 1.85 2K DCI Frame Lines (see Chapter Frame Lines on page 125)
The frame size of a 2K DCP container is 2048 x 1080 pixels. A DCI-
compliant 2K image with 1.85:1 aspect ratio has a resolution of 1998 x 1080
pixels. When recording ProRes 2K, it is therefore necessary to either scale
down the recorded image to get to the DCI size, or to crop it from the frame.
ALEXA offers frame lines called ARRI 1.85 2K DCI. These were created to
show the proper framing when a 2K 1.85:1 DCI image shall be cropped from
the captured image.
Metadata and Time Code
External Time Code
The camera will no longer REGEN or JAM time code while it is recording, as
this is suspected to have caused single underexposed frames.
Lens Metadata
The lens metadata is now recorded as both raw lens encoder information
and interpreted LDS information.
Remote Control
3D on ALEXA M
3D sync features are now available without license key on all ALEXA M
cameras.
User Interface
GUI Homescreen and Menus Updates (see Chapter Main Controls on page
54)
Sensor mode (16:9 and 4:3), SxS/ProRes recording resolution and
remaining recording time are now indicated on the camera menu's
home screen
The color settings "DCI P3" and "Film Matrix On" were removed
"Vari Flag" and "SDI Rec Flag" were removed as options and are now
permanently enabled
The "Electronic level" option was renamed to "Electronic horizon"
The "Tropical" sensor temperature setting was renamed to "High
humidity"
A progress bar now indicates the remaining time for switching
between regular and high speed mode
The WNA-1 menu was removed
The RUN beeper indicates when the camera has reached speed
About This Manual 13
The Project menu was extended to show sensor mode (16:9 or 4:3),
SxS resolution (2K or HD) in addition to active codec, project frame
rate, camera index, next reel count and production info
It is now possible to enter upper- and lower case characters for all
user-created items (e.g. user setup)
One additional USER button. Pressing the jog wheel opens the edit
menu
New USER button options for:
− MON OUT look
− EVF look
− Color bars on MON OUT and REC OUT
− Grab GUI to store a .png of the current menu screen (use operator
side buttons 1-3)
− Mirror shutter to leave the shutter spinning or stop in VIEW or
GATE position when stopping the recording (ALEXA Studio only)
14 Introduction to the ALEXA
4 Introduction to the ALEXA
The ALEXA is a 35mm-format, film-style digital camera made by ARRI, the
world leader in professional cinematographic imaging. It combines leadingedge digital technology with film-camera features that have been refined
over more than 90 years of ARRI history. The result is a camera that allows
cinematographers with a film background to shoot digitally without the need
for extensive training.
People who are used to shoot digitally will experience a camera like they
never did before, providing more powerful features than in any other camera
available today.
Handling
The camera is a true ARRI. It has a high-precision integrated housing with
an ergonomic design. It is rugged, reliable, flexible and sealed to make it
splash-proof. It also has 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.
Operation
ALEXA features a unique user interface, designed to make camera
operation easier than ever, while giving easy access to a large number of
controls.
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 10.5-34 V DC. Different power
sources can be connected to the camera simultaneously. 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.
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 14
stops and a base sensitivity of 800 ASA.
About This Manual 15
The sensor temperature is kept stable by a Peltier element to ensure
optimum image quality under all operating conditions.
AIT - ARRI Imaging Technology
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 a fan. The fan itself is very silent, so the camera noise level is
below 20 dB (A)* - this is the same as with ARRI sync-sound film cameras. If
the fan noise level starts to increase due to fan aging, the fan can be
swapped in a matter of minutes by a trained technician.
*at 24 fps and ambient temperature < 25°C
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.
Internal recording
ALEXA can internally record Quicktime movie clips with Apple ProResTM or
MXF files with AVID DNxHD codecs to Sony SxS PRO cards. The cards
deliver high data rates and are very robust. ProResTM can be natively edited
in Apple FinalCutPro, eliminating the need to transcode. ProRes 422 (HQ)
and ProRes 4444 deliver visually lossless compressed images with a color
depth of 10 bit for ProRes 422 and 12 bit for ProRes 4444.
DNxHD can be natively edited in AVID MediaComposer without transcoding.
Quicktime movie clips and and MXF files can be played back in the camera
with output on REC OUT, MON OUT and the electronic viewfinder.
Audio recording
Analog 2-channel audio can be recorded as 24 bit 48 kHz PCM in the
Quicktimes, as well as embedded to the HD-SDI signals.
Licensed features
By adding license keys, new camera features can be enabled that go
beyond the initial camera specification.
16 Introduction to the ALEXA
High speed image capture
In Regular Speed mode, ALEXA has a frame rate range from 0.75 to 60 fps.
By adding a license key for High Speed mode, the frame rate range of the
camera can be extended up to 120 fps.
About This Manual 17
4.1 About This Manual
ARRI recommends that all users of the ALEXA read the manual in its
entirety prior to use. For experienced users, the manual's structure also
provides quick access for reference.
In this manual:
Layout of the ALEXA
Safety Guidelines
General Precautions
Power Supply
Camera Support
Connectors
Lens Mounting
User Interface
Operation of the ALEXA
How to Use This Manual
All directions are given from a camera operator's point of view. For example,
camera-right side refers to the right side of the camera when facing toward
the front of the camera.
Connectors are written in all capital letters, for example, REC OUT. Menus
and screens on the Main Camera Controls are written in all capital letters, for
example, RECORDING menu and HOME screen. Buttons are written in bold
typeface capital letters, for example, PLAY button.
The appendix at the back of the manual contains useful reference material
including ALEXA specifications, connector pin-out diagrams, a false color
display explanation, error and warning message explanations, ALEXA
dimensional drawings and a menu structure tree.
18 Layout of the ALEXA
5 Layout of the ALEXA
Figure 1: ALEXA right
Figure 2: ALEXA left
Figure 3: ALEXA top
About This Manual 19
Figure 4: ALEXA bottom
Figure 5: ALEXA front
Figure 6: ALEXA back
20 Safety Guidelines
6 Safety Guidelines
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.
6.1 Explanation 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
6.2 General Safety Guidelines
Always follow these guidelines 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.
Specific Safety Instructions 21
6.3 Specific 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!
Never run a camera with a mirror shutter without a lens or a protective
cap in the lens mount receptable!
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.
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.
22 Safety Guidelines
THE USE OF METHANOL TO CLEAN OPTICAL SURFACES IS NOT
RECOMMENDED!
NEVER USE 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.
Storage and Transport 23
7 General Precautions
7.1 Storage and Transport
Use a lens port cap to prevent damage to the sensor cover glass and
sensor whenever there is no lens attached.
Unplug all cables when transporting the Alexa in a camera case.
Do not store the camera in places where it may be subject to
temperature extremes, direct sunlight, high humidity, severe vibration,
or strong magnetic fields.
7.2 Electromagnetic Interference
ALEXA meets EC regulations by fulfilling the specifications of the European
Directive 2004/108/EC (15th December 2004).
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a
Class A digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are
designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when
the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment
generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed
and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful
interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a
residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user
will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by the party responsible
for compliance could void the user's authority to operate the equipment.
Complies with the canadian ICES-003 Class A specifications. Cet appareil
numérique de la Classe A est conformé à la norme NMB-003 du Canada.
This device complies with RSS 210 of Industry Canada. This Class A device
meets all the requirements of the Canadian interference-causing equipment
regulation. Cet appareil numérique de la Class A respecte toutes les
exigences du Réglement sur le matérial brouilleur du Canada.
7.3 Condensation
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 port, on the sensor cover glass, between the sensor and the sensor
cover glass, and on internal or external electrical connections.
24 General Precautions
Operating the camera while condensation is present 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
Note: Do NOT leave the air-drying cartridge attached to the PL-Mount
during transportation of the camera!
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 air-drying cartridge.
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
PORT!
Power Management 25
8 Power Supply
Use only ARRI-recommended power supply solutions.
Manipulation of power supplies could result in serious injury or death,
or damage to the ALEXA.
The ALEXA accepts an input voltage range from 10.5 to 34 V DC. The
camera can be powered through the BAT connector or battery adapters
accepting V-Lock 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.
A 12 to 15 V battery should have at least 6 A maximum output current.
Note: when powering accessories through the camera, the total power draw of the
camera is increased by the amount of power drawn by the accessories.
8.1 Power Management
When using the BAT connector and one or more onboard battery adapters
simultaneously, the camera’s power management system ensures that 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 system
automatically switches to the other power source, avoiding shutdown of the
camera.
For example, a 12 V onboard battery can be used as backup for the main 24
V battery. Using a 12 V onboard battery in addition to the main 24 V battery
also allows for quick switchover to handheld mode—the power cable can
simply be disconnected from the BAT connector.
When using two onboard battery adapters (with batteries in parallel—one on
top and one on the back), the camera will treat them as a single source.
When used this way, the load is spread across two batteries, creating a
strong power source.
8.2 BAT Connector
The BAT connector is the primary power input on the ALEXA. It is a Fischer
2-pin socket located at the back of the camera on the camera-right side.
26 Power Supply
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 24 V cine-style
batteries with three-pin XLR outputs.
Figure 7: BAT connector
8.3 Mains 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.
To power the ALEXA using the Mains Unit NG 12/26 R:
1. Set the correct mains voltage on the mains unit using the fuse on the
back of the unit. For example, set it to 220 V if the AC mains power
source is 220 V.
2. Connect the mains unit to AC mains power.
3. Ensure that the camera power is turned off.
4. Set the voltage switch on the mains unit to 26 V.
5. Connect the battery cable KC-20S or KC-29S (spiral cable) to the
power supply socket on the camera and 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.
8.4 Cine-Style Batteries
Any 24 V cine-style battery with a three-pin XLR output can be used to
power the camera through a KC-20S or a KC-29S.
The Anton/Bauer CINE VCLX/2 battery (280 Wh) with charger is available
from ARRI.
Onboard Batteries 27
To connect the battery to the camera:
6. Ensure that the main switch on the camera is off.
7. Connect the battery cable KC-20S or KC-29S (spiral cable) to the
power supply socket on the camera and the 28V output on the battery.
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. For more information on setting the low battery
warning level, see Menu>System>Power (on page 102).
To charge the battery
1. Connect the charger to AC mains power.
2. Plug the charger cable into the charge input socket of the battery.
3. Charge the battery until complete. Fully charged batteries can be left
connected to the charger until required for shooting.
Note: For more information, refer to the Anton/Bauer CINE VCLX/2 manual.
8.5 Onboard Batteries
The camera can be equipped with adapters for either V-Lock or Gold Mount
video-style batteries. When a battery equipped with the TI-protocol for
battery communication is used, the ALEXA will display remaining capacity as
a percentage on the Home screen. For these batteries, the user does not
need to set the battery warning level.
Four different adapters are available:
BAB-G: Back-mount adapter Gold Mount batteries
BAB-V: Back-mount adapter V-Lock batteries
BAT-G: Top-mount adapter Gold Mount batteries
BAT-V: Top-mount adapter V-Lock batteries
Note: Adapters must be installed by a trained technician!
8.5.1 V-Lock Batteries
V-Lock batteries from different manufacturers may be used on the ALEXA.
When batteries from manufacturers such as ID-X and Bebop, are used, their
remaining capacity will be displayed as a percentage on the Home screen.
To attach a V-Lock battery:
1. Align the v-shaped wedge on the battery with the v-shaped notch on
the battery plate.
28 Power Supply
2. Press the battery downwards until you hear a click.
3. Check that the battery is securely mounted on the battery plate.
To release a V-Lock battery:
1. Press the release button on the camera-left side or top of the battery
(manufacturer dependent).
2. While pressing the release button, slide the battery upwards.
Figure 8: ALEXA with BAB-V and V-Mount battery
Note: Not all V-Lock batteries deliver enough power to supply the camera. Use only
batteries with a capacity of 90 Wh or more to prevent damage to the battery and
unpredictable camera behavior. Any camera-battery combination should be tested
prior to use, especially when accessories are powered through the camera.
8.5.2 Gold Mount Batteries
If the ALEXA is equipped with a Gold Mount, Anton/Bauer batteries can be
used. Their remaining capacity will be displayed as a percentage on the
Home screen.
To attach a Gold Mount battery:
1. Align the three pins on the back of the battery to the three
corresponding holes on the battery plate.
2. Press the battery to camera-right until you hear a click.
Onboard Batteries 29
3. Check that the battery is securely mounted on the battery plate.
To release a Gold Mount battery:
1. Press the release button on the camera-left side of the battery plate.
2. While pressing the release button, slide the battery camera-left, and
pull it straight out.
Figure 9: Camera with BAB-G and a Gold Mount battery
Note: Not all Gold Mount batteries deliver enough power to supply the camera. Use
only batteries with a capacity of 90 Wh or more to prevent damage to the battery and
unpredictable camera behavior. Any camera-battery combination should be tested
prior to use, especially when accessories are powered through the camera.
30 Power Supply
8.6 Power Outputs
The ALEXA has two 24 V power outputs and one 12 V power output for
accessories. ALEXA Plus, ALEXA Plus 4:3 and ALEXA Studio models have
three 24 V power outputs and one 12V power output.
Figure 10: 24 V outputs (RS) and 12 V output
8.6.1 Powering 12 V Accessories
One 12 V output with a 2-pin LEMO connector is located on the right side of
the camera. It is limited to 12 V and can supply a device with a current of up
to 2.2 A, depending on the camera power supply.
8.6.2 Powering 24 V Accessories
Two 24 V remote start/stop (RS) outputs with 3-pin Fischer connectors are
located on the right side of the camera. They can supply two devices with a
combined load of up to 2.2 A (shared with the EXT connector power out),
depending on the camera power supply. When the camera is powered from
a source with a voltage below 24 V, they output 24 V. If the camera's power
source supplies more than 24 V, this voltage level is also present on the RS
outputs.
Besides powering accessories, the RS outputs can also be used to send a
remote start/stop signal to the camera.
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