ARRI's New ALEXA HD is a 'Budget' Version of the Industry-Leading Digital Cinema Camera

Want that sweet ALEXA look but can’t quite afford the full price to buy one? Or need the rental to be just a little cheaper? What if you don’t need that fancy schmancy RAW option? Then the new ARRI ALEXA HD might be in your immediate future. ARRI has taken everything that’s good about the camera series — like the 14-stop 800 ISO sensor, 10-bit Log-C ProRes, SxS cards, and the intuitive menu system — and is passing the cost savings on to the customer. Here is AbelCine’s Mitch Gross explaining exactly what this camera has to offer for users who want their ARRI just a little cheaper: 

So what about price? This isn’t going to be Canon DSLR affordable (obviously), but it is a good $10,000 to $20,000 cheaper than a comparable setup from one of the lower-end ALEXA models that has the ability to shoot RAW. It was looking like this might be a steal for the hardware at around $30,000 for body, but it must be purchased with a few key components that bring the price up a bit. Thanks to Katie Shipsides from AbelCine for the clarification on Twitter (AbelCine is selling the camera exclusively for ARRI):

Alexa HD Body Only is $30,300 but MUST be purchased w/ ProRes Codec, ALEXA SxS Module, ARRI QT File Format = $44,008

AbelCine has a starter package available for $65,000, but you might be able to find a used ALEXA with RAW for somewhere around that price. The base price, however, is probably the cheapest you’re going to find an ALEXA that could theoretically shoot with some cards and a battery, but this will likely appeal to shows already using ALEXA, who want a few additional cameras but don’t need the extra capabilities, like the 4:3 sensor or RAW of higher-end models. We’ll see if it will do anything to bring back users who might be moving to the F55, but I think if ARRI had figured out a way to get a full starter package under $30,000 they’d really be putting serious pressure on Sony and Canon.

Links:ARRI ALEXA HD Body 

DIRE Studio announces the immediate availability of version 2.7 of their highly acclaimed Viewfinder family of apps for iPhone and iPod touch. Along with small fixes and enhancements, this new version brings three notable new features: Volume Shutter – Users can now save the current view the same way they take pictures with the Volume Up button on their devices. The headphone cable is also supported. iOS 5 or later is required for this feature.Custom Cameras – In the Pro and Cine editions users can create new cameras by specifying the effective image size and the lens mount to use.
Cine edition/Pack is limited to 36×24 mm maximum custom camera image size, while the Pro edition supports cameras up to image 1000x1000mm size. Acquisition Formats Several cameras support recording from differently sized and shaped areas of the whole sensor. Previously these were represented as distinct cameras on the camera list. Now they are grouped together resulting in a more clean and logical camera selection. This feature is also used to set anamorphic recording mode simulation for supported cinema cameras (which includes almost all the cameras that use the ARRI PL mount).Almost every release extends the list of supported cameras. The most notable new cameras in this release are the entire lineup of Cambo’s technical cameras in the Pro edition and new digital cinema cameras made by Canon, RED and Sony. Augmenting this release a new, PDF format version of the The Viewfinder Handbook replaces the former web-based handbook. Written by Laszlo Pusztai, the creator of Viewfinder, this eBook is the definitive source for all things Viewfinder. 
The Viewfinder Handbook is available free of charge through the app’s web site DIRE Studio Viewfinder Handbook. 
Download Viewfinder at iTunes and see DIRE Studio for more information.