ALEXA 35 Known Issues

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Matthew Allard ACS
Posts: 7
Joined: Fri Mar 25, 2016 3:46 am

There are still a couple of bugs with the ALEXA 35 that I have discovered even after installing the latest firmware.

1. The AEM-1 Audio module, defaults back to the original input levels every time you turn the camera off and then on again. If you have the audio levels set and then you do a battery change, those levels get changed back to default.

2. When you use VF Zoom or SDI Zoom with an anamorphic lens attached, the image loses its de-squeeze factor.

3. There doesn't seem to be any way of changing the EI value when the camera is recording. You could do this on the Mini, Mini LF, and Amira. Is there a reason why this isn't possible on the Alexa 35?
Andreas Berkl
Posts: 41
Joined: Thu Nov 26, 2015 6:35 pm
Location: Munich, Germany
Contact:

Dear Matthew,

sorry for the delayed reply.

> There are still a couple of bugs with the ALEXA 35 that I have discovered even after installing the latest firmware.
See my comments below.

> 1. The AEM-1 Audio module, defaults back to the original input levels every time you turn the camera off and then on again.
> If you have the audio levels set and then you do a battery change, those levels get changed back to default.
We are aware of this issue and will fix this in a future software update for the AEM-1.

> 2. When you use VF Zoom or SDI Zoom with an anamorphic lens attached, the image loses its de-squeeze factor.
This is rather a feature than a bug. The reason of existence for ZOOM is to have the best possibility to check focus. This is best achieved with a pixel-to-pixel mapping (sensor to display). When anamorphic de-squeeze is activated, the scaler inevitable reduces the vertical resolution and thus be less suitable to judge focus.

>3. There doesn't seem to be any way of changing the EI value when the camera is recording. You could do this on the Mini, Mini LF, and Amira.
> Is there a reason why this isn't possible on the Alexa 35?
There is indeed. With the introduction of Enhanced Sensitivity ES (and it´s implementation) it is technically not possible to switch between ES and non-ES.
Your finding/question implies you would like to change EI while recording. Are you working mostly documentary-style or scenic? How important is this to you and how often/under which circumstances would you use it?

Hope this answers your questions.
Best regards
--
Andreas Berkl
Digital Camera Specialist ARRI
Andreas Berkl
Posts: 41
Joined: Thu Nov 26, 2015 6:35 pm
Location: Munich, Germany
Contact:

Dear Matthew,
Andreas Berkl wrote: Thu Mar 30, 2023 7:21 am > 1. The AEM-1 Audio module, defaults back to the original input levels every time you turn the camera off and then on again.
> If you have the audio levels set and then you do a battery change, those levels get changed back to default.
We are aware of this issue and will fix this in a future software update for the AEM-1.
I have to correct myself: This should not happen when the AEM-1 runs the latest software. Can you please get in touch with us directly writing to digitalworkflow@arri.de to narrow the problem down?

Thanks, Andreas
--
Andreas Berkl
Digital Camera Specialist ARRI
StefanWiesen
Posts: 6
Joined: Sat Jun 04, 2016 4:33 pm

coming back to ISO changes while rolling: I'm shooting a lot of verite doc with Master Grips and I'm used to being able to change ISO while rolling with all other Arri cameras. I'm also slightly annoyed that this doesn't work with Alexa 35
JHutch
Posts: 16
Joined: Thu Oct 28, 2021 5:02 pm

Agreed on the need to be able to change ISO while recording - It’s absolutely necessary for any verité doc shooting or other fast-paced, non-controllable natural light scenarios when the NDs don’t get you where you need to be and you have to keep an unbroken clip/roll going as the scene develops - without having to stop recording to make ISO adjustments.

It's fantastic there's so much dynamic range in the camera, but if an image is over or under exposed in the field and dailies are made using that incorrect exposure then anyone viewing those dailies will assume there's an issue or a mistake with the imagery. The DP and camera department understand the abilities of the camera and how dynamic range works, but most people reviewing footage won't have that same knowledge, and they would assume that the DP is making mistakes during filming. Even if they do realize the camera has enough dynamic range to push or pull the exposure as desired, they'd become accustomed to seeing an incorrect look in the dailies - and when you get to the end of the project and they've spent months seeing it incorrectly, it makes for a tougher fight in the color suite to bring it back to looking the way it was always intended to look.

The functionality to change ISO while recording exists on both the Mini and MiniLF - it’s just not currently a possibility to change ISO while recording right now on the Alexa 35. So hopefully that gets fixed very, very soon. It would be fine if you can't access the ES settings while recording, but at least all the non-ES ISO options should be changeable without having to stop the record.

I know of a few DPs that are holding off on placing an order on the camera until they know that feature is up and running.
Cory_baker
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat May 06, 2023 2:13 am

THat is a quality answer. How about a preston iris control to do iris rolls instead of messing around with menus while you roll?
Andreas Berkl wrote: Thu Mar 30, 2023 7:21 am Dear Matthew,

sorry for the delayed reply.

> There are still a couple of bugs with the ALEXA 35 that I have discovered even after installing the latest firmware.
See my comments below.

> 1. The AEM-1 Audio module, defaults back to the original input levels every time you turn the camera off and then on again.
> If you have the audio levels set and then you do a battery change, those levels get changed back to default.
We are aware of this issue and will fix this in a future software update for the AEM-1.

> 2. When you use VF Zoom or SDI Zoom with an anamorphic lens attached, the image loses its de-squeeze factor.
This is rather a feature than a bug. The reason of existence for ZOOM is to have the best possibility to check focus. This is best achieved with a pixel-to-pixel mapping (sensor to display). When anamorphic de-squeeze is activated, the scaler inevitable reduces the vertical resolution and thus be less suitable to judge focus.

>3. There doesn't seem to be any way of changing the EI value when the camera is recording. You could do this on the Mini, Mini LF, and Amira.
> Is there a reason why this isn't possible on the Alexa 35?
There is indeed. With the introduction of Enhanced Sensitivity ES (and it´s implementation) it is technically not possible to switch between ES and non-ES.
Your finding/question implies you would like to change EI while recording. Are you working mostly documentary-style or scenic? How important is this to you and how often/under which circumstances would you use it?

Hope this answers your questions.
Best regards
Derithe
Posts: 1
Joined: Wed Sep 06, 2023 9:38 am

Cory_baker wrote: Sat May 06, 2023 3:27 am THat is a quality answer. How about a preston iris control to do iris rolls instead of messing around with menus while you roll?
Andreas Berkl wrote: Thu Mar 30, 2023 7:21 am Dear Matthew,

sorry for the delayed reply.

> There are still a couple of bugs with the ALEXA 35 that I have discovered even after installing the latest firmware.
See my comments below.

> 1. The AEM-1 Audio module, defaults back to the original input levels every time you turn the camera off and then on again.
> If you have the audio levels set and then you do a battery change, those levels get changed back to default.
We are aware of this issue and will fix this in a future software update for the AEM-1.

> 2. When you use VF Zoom or SDI Zoom with an anamorphic lens attached, the image loses its de-squeeze factor.
This is rather a feature than a bug. The reason of existence for ZOOM is to have the best possibility to check focus. This is best achieved with a pixel-to-pixel mapping (sensor to display). When anamorphic de-squeeze is activated, the scaler inevitable reduces the vertical resolution and thus be less suitable to judge focus.

>3. There doesn't seem to be any way of changing the EI value when the camera is recording. You could do this on the Mini, Mini LF, and Amira.
> Is there a reason why this isn't possible on the Alexa 35?
There is indeed. With the introduction of Enhanced Sensitivity ES (and it´s implementation) it is technically not possible to switch between ES and non-ES.
Your finding/question implies you would like to change EI while recording. Are you working mostly documentary-style or scenic? How important is this to you and how often/under which circumstances would you use it?

Hope this answers your questions.
Best regards
I also wonder about a preston iris control to do iris rolls instead of messing around with menus while you roll?
linda68
Posts: 1
Joined: Tue Oct 24, 2023 9:01 am

If using VF Zoom or SDI Zoom with an anamorphic lens results in a loss of the de-squeeze factor, it's essential to check the camera settings and ensure they are correctly configured for anamorphic shooting. You might need to consult the camera's user manual or reach out to ARRI's support to troubleshoot this problem.
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