Roll number incrementing and changing sensor mode

[Brian Udoff]

Was just on a quick job the other day that required a lot of bouncing back and forth between spherical and anamorphic lenses. As could be expected, we created user setup files for both 4:3 and 16:9 modes. One thing we noticed, slightly belatedly, was that the next time we reloaded after a mode change, the card formatted itself to A001. Obviously we kept a much closer eye on the numbering afterwards, but I'm wondering where in the process did that reset itself? Is that part of the user setup file or does the sensor mode change and camera reset bounce the roll number back to the factory default? If it's the setup file, it seems to me that the roll number shouldn't be a part of the settings that are remembered (since it presumably will always be different). If it's because of the mode change, is there some way to keep that stored in the camera's overall system memory?

Thanks in advance!

[Jan Heugel]

Dear Brian,

each time you change ALEXA's sensor mode, the camera is doing a full factory reset, this includes the roll number (so not part of the setup file). As changing back an forth within a production in not standard procedure, some productions we know of simply stuck to 4:3 mode all the time.

Since a mode change is "a major change" we decided two to three years ago to keep it that way for the sake of simplicity and that you know that the camera is in the same state all the time when you're doing the mode change or a factory reset.

One more thing...
Of course you can change the roll number manually to match your shot-count.
Go to MENU > PROJECT > Next Reel Count


Best,
Jan