Alexa High Speed Upgrade

Alexa High Speed Upgrade

I had a chance to check out the newest Alexa features last weekend and they're super cool. I also checked out the upcoming Alexa Studio which allows for an optical viewfinder as well as the EVF, true digital anamorphic, and includes the new High Speed 120fps frame rate option. As far as I could tell, the Studio is about the same size as the Alexa Plus. I was expecting it to be quite a bit bigger than the other cameras so this is good news. 

It's no Phantom but it's certainly a big improvement. 

The Alexa High Speed upgrade is a paid license but I don't recall the price off the top of my head. The new Sony 64GB SxS Pro cards are requisite to doing both 120fps shots at ProRes 422HQ and 60fps shots at ProRes 4444. Note the cheaper SBS version of SxS card with the orange plastic band doesn't have sufficient write speeds for use with the Alexa. 

The high speed option has to be turned on via the "Recording" menu in the camera and it takes about 40 seconds to load. 

up to 120fps @ProRes HQ to SxS cards

Note that when the High Speed option is turned on, you get a "HS" next to your frame rate on the home screen. While in HS mode, you cannot turn on the 4444 codec. 

up to 60 fps @ ProRes 4444 to SxS cards as well

For the work I do - commercials and episodic - it seems like it's going to be Alexa for some time to come. Now with the Studio option, 120fps, and more cost effective ways of recording Arri Raw, it's even more versatile and well suited for the rigors of production. ProRes 4444 to SxS cards has proven to be a great format for broadcast destined projects. It's definitely not the most robust or high quality image you can get out of the Alexa but as has been proven time again, good enough for TV. Not only that but if anyone saw Nicolas Winding Refn's film Drive, this was shot dual link 1080p 444 to HDCamSR at Standard Quality 440mbps. I've seen it projected digitally several times and I think it's some of the best digital cinema I've seen yet. Incredible resolution, dynamic range, and virtually noiseless images. It's stunning work and a kick ass movie to boot. The soundtrack is amazing as well. 

120 fps on Alexa

120 fps on Alexa

120 fps to ProRes HQ recorded right to on-board SxS media. There is no sensor windowing to achieve this higher frame rate so no change in Depth of Field, Field of View, or Dynamic Range. I was under the impression that this functionality would be arriving very soon but no time frame has been set other than "later this year".

3D Phantom Flex Tease

3D Phantom Flex Tease

Individually; I love high speed videography, macro photography, and 3D. For the past year or so I've been wondering what sort of visual sensation one could achieve by shooting super slow motion in 3D at the macro level. Ben Schwartz and I just did a job with Director/DP Ben Dolphin where we got to do just that and really push 3D in new and interesting ways. The results will speak for themselves but I can say with confidence that will be an incredible effect. I'll also disclaim that we're the first ones to try this but I think what the director did was very unique. 

The rig was 2 Phantom Flexes in an ET Quasar. Running the 2 cameras in sync was actually fairly straightforward and I'll go over the workflow on this site at some point. As always with Phantom, post is an intensive process so it will be awhile before we're able to see these spots. If and when I'm able to, I'll definitely be posting some side by side video here for your web consumption. The Passive 3D LGTV has made viewing stereo from the web incredibly easy so I'm pleased that little by little, web distro for these projects is becoming a reality. 

Most of our shots were at 1000 fps on Macro Lenses stopped way down to create as deep focus as possible. And with a skinny shutter going through a beam splitter so as you might imagine, this required some firepower. The shots were mostly liquids involving waves, splashing, and bubbles. Once completed, the effect will be drops of water slowly moving towards your face. Awesome! 

Patiently awaiting a screening..