Alexa Mini LF and S35 lens compatibility

[kjansch]

Hello everyone,

I wonder if someone from Arri could chime in on this question:

I’ve just placed an order for a Mini LF, but, as all of my lenses are S35, and I doubt I'll be getting any LF glass in the short term, I wanted to find out how well the Mini LF handles S35 glass.

I noticed that there doesn’t seem to be a non-large format recording option in the specs.

From what I can tell, it seems that there is no way to crop the sensor back down to a S35 area when using lenses that don’t cover the full LF sensor. For me that means that even though there is an LPL > PL mount adaptor, I won’t be able to use the majority of my lenses without vignetting and a bunch of post work to crop back to S35 size.

Is that correct or am I missing something? If that is correct, is it something that will be addressed in firmware, and if so, do we have a sense of when that will be?

Cheers!

Kieron Jansch

[Jan Heugel]

Dear Kieron,

a Super 35 mode is definitely on the timeline, but it won't make it into FCS.
At first, the ALEXA Mini LF will have the same recording formats as the ALEXA LF. We will add a set of Super 35 recording formats with a future Software Update Package.

Best,
Jan

[amirpohan]

do the leitz M 0.8 lenses fit without any vignetting? in their ad it says that the image circle fits the alexa LF image circle

Leica M 08 lens.jpg

[Jan Heugel]

ALEXA LF and ALEXA Mini LF share the same sensor, so yes!

[Lennywood]

that brings up another question. does the mini LF have other mount options? like ef or leica? (as the current mini does). and if so, will the current mounts available now fit the mini LF or will you be making new ones? otherwise, how could you mount the Leica .08 lenses?

[Jan Heugel]

Dear Lenny,

LPL is not a closed system, since e.g. Wooden Camera already makes LPL mounts for other systems I don't think it will take long until you will see adapters for ALEXA Mini to various lens mounts or Moun A to LPL Adapters (as far as technically possible).

Cheers,
Jan

[Lennywood]

thanks, Jan.

so to be clear, the arri made mount i currently use on my amira, or the mini, won't work on the new camera?

[Jan Heugel]

Hey Lenny,

the lens mounts from/for ALEXA Mini are compatible with ALEXA Mini LF.
As long as the lens covers the sensor you are good to go.

Cheers,
Jan


EDIT: I attached an image from our manual:

ALEXAMiniLF_MountOptions_Manual.jpg

[jakecamera]

When the s35 window mode is enabled in mini LF, will it give roughly the same frame rates as the regular mini?

[Jan Heugel]

Dear Jake,

there is no "S35 window mode" on ALEXA Mini LF, hence the frame rates are as stated here:

LF Open Gate ProRes 4.5K: 0.75 - 40 fps
LF Open Gate ARRIRAW 4.5K: 0.75 - 40 fps
LF 16:9 ProRes HD: 0.75 - 90 fps
LF 16:9 ProRes 2K: 0.75 - 90 fps
LF 16:9 ProRes UHD: 0.75 - 60 fps
LF 16:9 ARRIRAW UHD: 0.75 - 60 fps
LF 2.39:1 ProRes 4.5K: 0.75 - 60 fps
LF 2.39:1 ARRIRAW 4.5K: 0.75 - 60 fps


See our ALEXA Resolution Overview for more.


Cheers,
Jan