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Why The Arri Alexa 35 is a Game Changer
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Why the ARRI Alexa 35 is a Game Changer for Cinematographers
Hey everyone, Hugo here, a Los Angeles-based cinematographer, and today I want to dive into why the ARRI Alexa 35 has completely blown me away. I've used all kinds of cameras over the years, but this one is something special. Let's break down what makes the Alexa 35 stand out, especially for anyone looking to make a serious investment in their gear.
The Investment Decision: Alexa 35 vs. the Competition
When I decided to get a high-end camera that would hold value and deliver serious performance, I was weighing options between the Alexa Mini LF, Sony Venice 2, and Alexa 35. Now, the Venice 2 is tempting-there's a lot it can do. But when I looked at how the Venice 1's value plummeted after the Venice 2 came out, it was a deal-breaker for me. On the other hand, the Alexa Mini LF has held its value incredibly well; it's been around for about seven years, and even used ones still go for over $60,000. But the Alexa 35 is ARRI's latest flagship, with a totally new sensor and tech I hadn't seen before, so I took the plunge.
Shooting a Feature Film with the Alexa 35: Real-World Testing
Since getting the Alexa 35, I've had the chance to put it to the test on a feature film. Shooting a feature is the best way to really dig into a camera's performance-it's like a battlefield test. And honestly, it's hard to impress me these days. Modern cameras are all pretty solid, and it's been a while since anything really felt revolutionary. But this camera surprised me, especially with its insane dynamic range.
Just to give you an idea, one of my early tests was pointing it at my backyard on a sunny day. No ND filters, just clear, bright light hitting it at ISO 800, 24 FPS, 180-degree shutter, and a T-stop of 4. I expected the highlights to blow out, but they didn't. I checked the false color, and everything was still within range. That's rare-this camera somehow pulled all that data from what looked like a blown-out scene.
Highlight and Shadow Handling: The Best of Both Worlds
What really sets the Alexa 35 apart is how it handles highlights and shadows. Film traditionally had this amazing dynamic range in the highlights, and while digital cameras have come a long way, they tend to hold more range in the shadows. This camera gives you the best of both worlds-highlight roll-off that feels filmic and a digital sensor's shadow detail. I had scenes where I was shooting from a dark interior out into bright daylight, and not once did I lose any detail in the highlights. It's like the camera just refused to blow out the whites, no matter what I threw at it.
Consistency Across Different Lighting Setups
When you're shooting narrative work, you know how much of a headache it can be to keep shots consistent, especially as the light changes throughout the day. With the Alexa 35, I had one of those days where we shot half the day with changing light, adjusting exposure on the fly. The camera stayed rock-solid in its consistency. Even when you push exposure up or down, it doesn't break or shift-it just stays true to the look you're going for. This consistency saved me a lot of time in color grading later on, too.
Low-Light Performance and Enhanced Sensitivity Mode
ARRI hyped up this new "Enhanced Sensitivity" mode on the Alexa 35, and I was skeptical. But when I tried it on a nighttime scene, it was a lifesaver. I pushed it to ISO 2560, then even to 3200, and the image held up. In one shot, I had to push it to 6400 ISO with just a few streetlights in the background. Sure, there was some noise, but it looked natural-more like film grain than digital noise. It's similar to what Sony did with the Venice's dual ISO, except the Alexa 35 can go even higher without giving up image quality.
The "Textures" Feature: Not Just a Gimmick
One of my favorite aspects of the Alexa 35 is the new "Textures" feature, which lets you add a filmic grain right in-camera. At first, I thought it might just be a gimmick, but it's actually brilliant. I used the "Nostalgic" and "Soft Nostalgic" textures, and they give this organic, real-film feel by applying grain differently in the highlights and shadows. It's not like slapping film grain on in post-it's integrated into the image processing early on. Even if you're shooting in RAW, that grain is baked in, and it looks incredible.
Final Thoughts: Who is This Camera Really For?
A friend of mine made a great point: high-budget productions often have the time and resources to make almost any camera work with enough lighting and setup. But for those of us working on tighter budgets, or projects where we need that extra help from the camera itself, the Alexa 35 is a game-changer. This camera has saved me in scenarios where I didn't have the ideal lighting, or when I was tight on time. It's powerful enough to let you pull off shots you might not be able to with other setups.
My Instagram: @hugo_willl
Hey everyone, Hugo here, a Los Angeles-based cinematographer, and today I want to dive into why the ARRI Alexa 35 has completely blown me away. I've used all kinds of cameras over the years, but this one is something special. Let's break down what makes the Alexa 35 stand out, especially for anyone looking to make a serious investment in their gear.
The Investment Decision: Alexa 35 vs. the Competition
When I decided to get a high-end camera that would hold value and deliver serious performance, I was weighing options between the Alexa Mini LF, Sony Venice 2, and Alexa 35. Now, the Venice 2 is tempting-there's a lot it can do. But when I looked at how the Venice 1's value plummeted after the Venice 2 came out, it was a deal-breaker for me. On the other hand, the Alexa Mini LF has held its value incredibly well; it's been around for about seven years, and even used ones still go for over $60,000. But the Alexa 35 is ARRI's latest flagship, with a totally new sensor and tech I hadn't seen before, so I took the plunge.
Shooting a Feature Film with the Alexa 35: Real-World Testing
Since getting the Alexa 35, I've had the chance to put it to the test on a feature film. Shooting a feature is the best way to really dig into a camera's performance-it's like a battlefield test. And honestly, it's hard to impress me these days. Modern cameras are all pretty solid, and it's been a while since anything really felt revolutionary. But this camera surprised me, especially with its insane dynamic range.
Just to give you an idea, one of my early tests was pointing it at my backyard on a sunny day. No ND filters, just clear, bright light hitting it at ISO 800, 24 FPS, 180-degree shutter, and a T-stop of 4. I expected the highlights to blow out, but they didn't. I checked the false color, and everything was still within range. That's rare-this camera somehow pulled all that data from what looked like a blown-out scene.
Highlight and Shadow Handling: The Best of Both Worlds
What really sets the Alexa 35 apart is how it handles highlights and shadows. Film traditionally had this amazing dynamic range in the highlights, and while digital cameras have come a long way, they tend to hold more range in the shadows. This camera gives you the best of both worlds-highlight roll-off that feels filmic and a digital sensor's shadow detail. I had scenes where I was shooting from a dark interior out into bright daylight, and not once did I lose any detail in the highlights. It's like the camera just refused to blow out the whites, no matter what I threw at it.
Consistency Across Different Lighting Setups
When you're shooting narrative work, you know how much of a headache it can be to keep shots consistent, especially as the light changes throughout the day. With the Alexa 35, I had one of those days where we shot half the day with changing light, adjusting exposure on the fly. The camera stayed rock-solid in its consistency. Even when you push exposure up or down, it doesn't break or shift-it just stays true to the look you're going for. This consistency saved me a lot of time in color grading later on, too.
Low-Light Performance and Enhanced Sensitivity Mode
ARRI hyped up this new "Enhanced Sensitivity" mode on the Alexa 35, and I was skeptical. But when I tried it on a nighttime scene, it was a lifesaver. I pushed it to ISO 2560, then even to 3200, and the image held up. In one shot, I had to push it to 6400 ISO with just a few streetlights in the background. Sure, there was some noise, but it looked natural-more like film grain than digital noise. It's similar to what Sony did with the Venice's dual ISO, except the Alexa 35 can go even higher without giving up image quality.
The "Textures" Feature: Not Just a Gimmick
One of my favorite aspects of the Alexa 35 is the new "Textures" feature, which lets you add a filmic grain right in-camera. At first, I thought it might just be a gimmick, but it's actually brilliant. I used the "Nostalgic" and "Soft Nostalgic" textures, and they give this organic, real-film feel by applying grain differently in the highlights and shadows. It's not like slapping film grain on in post-it's integrated into the image processing early on. Even if you're shooting in RAW, that grain is baked in, and it looks incredible.
Final Thoughts: Who is This Camera Really For?
A friend of mine made a great point: high-budget productions often have the time and resources to make almost any camera work with enough lighting and setup. But for those of us working on tighter budgets, or projects where we need that extra help from the camera itself, the Alexa 35 is a game-changer. This camera has saved me in scenarios where I didn't have the ideal lighting, or when I was tight on time. It's powerful enough to let you pull off shots you might not be able to with other setups.
My Instagram: @hugo_willl
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