Jump to content

Should I buy a new Arri Alexa 35 or a used mini LF?


Edith blazek

Recommended Posts

Basically what the title says, I just don't know where to go as I found a really good deal on the mini LF and I'd save a good amount of money, and it has the aesthetic I'm looking for when in combination with the lenses I'd use and how I shoot, and has a sensor size that fits my needs in terms of cropping. But at the same time, the Alexa 35 has better image quality in basically every way and looks like it will last longer as an investment as I'm not just buying and shooting for myself obviously, I'm renting whatever I get out to others in my area and I'm not sure how much longer the Alexa mini LF has in terms of longevity. I know Arri is committed to it as they made it the camera to get the monochrome treatment in their rental fleet and they said it will be their main LF camera for the next 3 years at least, but I don't know if that will be long enough to make buying a mini LF over a 35 worth it. But at the same time, I'm just not sure the image quality advancements over the LF sensor will sell to the point of killing it as the LF was already so good, you have people like Roger Deakins not overly enthusiastic about the 35 for that reason (just read posts on his forum) and I personally am not sure either from what I've seen so that's why I'm here, what are your thoughts?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Member

Really it comes down to what you're interested in doing with it. What sort of clients do you see renting it and what do they want?

From a purely theoretical point of view there are ways in which bigger sensors can become something of a zero sum game (I'll pontificate about that if you like, but you'll end up calling me a nerd). All else equal I'd get the Alexa 35. But all things are very rarely equal and it is very rarely a choice that simple.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

48 minutes ago, Phil Rhodes said:

Really it comes down to what you're interested in doing with it. What sort of clients do you see renting it and what do they want?

From a purely theoretical point of view there are ways in which bigger sensors can become something of a zero sum game (I'll pontificate about that if you like, but you'll end up calling me a nerd). All else equal I'd get the Alexa 35. But all things are very rarely equal and it is very rarely a choice that simple.

 

Can you elaborate on the zero sum game aspect of a larger sensor? 
I’ve always followed the simple logic of the larger the sensor the inherently more sensitive it is. So hearing an alternative would be great. As the simplistic logic above does apply, but the potential loss of say the larger column lines does interest me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Premium Member

The regular Alexa and the Alexa LF have the same sensor so the same-sized photosites, same sensitivity - the LF is just two of the Alexa sensors stitched together. The difference is that when presented on the same-sized screen, the LF image is enlarged less so the noise is physically smaller, which does allow you to get away with a notch higher ISO if desired. One could also argue that having less visible noise causes a small increase in useable dynamic range at the low end.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

If you're renting out, go with whichever you can get cheaper. They'll both be relevant for a while. The regular mini still rents out after all. And I believe Arri has said that they aren't planning to stitch two Alexa 35 sensors together anytime soon, so I don't think we'll be seeing an update on the LF for a bit. Unless someone here has more up-to-date info than me.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...