2020 Alexa, sub $5k baby edition

Hunter Hampton

Hunter Hampton

Carbonite Member
Not sure where to post this but wanted to share, I’ve loved filming on the Alexa series for the past decade (and now the love Alexa mini LF!) I’ve always wanted my own and def like it in handheld mode but it can be a bit cumbersome and I like using smaller cameras for little doc projects. Audio is also a pain on the Alexa (with all except the Amira) because they are line level only so you need a mixer or preamp to even get scratch/nat sound.

With that said I’ve kept an eye out on eBay and have been thinking about how to build as tiny and light weight and *least expensive* of an Alexa as possible.

I’ve been putting this together for the past month or so, here’s what I’ve got so far : )











Basically, it’s an Alexa Plus with high speed license, wooden right hand grip, pix-e5 for 12-bit recording (with a rode video mic for scratch audio), canon FD Mount, and a variable ND (which I don’t love but just for the sake of a “run n gun” set up)- I mounted the v-Mount on top with a custom cable and mount (I can remove the AB Mount too).

I also have the evf and of course can put it back in regular “big camera” Alexa mode. Also not pictured- an lcdEvf 5” loupe for quick peeks at the image in sunlight. Without putting the evf and top handle back on.

Todo list; cable management and maybe a tiny xlr preamp- and also I’m attempting to modify a speed booster for it : )

For sub $5k- What do ya think?
 
I watched at the start of the lockdown an auction in LA and Alexas were going for $1800...... they sold about 20 of them. Pretty crazy for such a great machine..... We just bought lights!
 
thekreative said:
I watched at the start of the lockdown an auction in LA and Alexas were going for $1800...... they sold about 20 of them. Pretty crazy for such a great machine..... We just bought lights!
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Let me know next time you see that! Ha! That is worth while. Still getting so many Music video types asking for Alexas.
 
thekreative said:
they are the best!..... I'm just looking for a Studio with open gate!.... my dream machine!
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That is the dream, for sure! Can't imagine a better camera right now. Was it Grug that had/has one? Spine breaker, but gorgeous classical camera!
 
I love your thinking on this. It looks downright tiny and totally manageable. What's the weight, without a lens? The idea of using modern tech/shortcuts to bring new functionality to an older cinema camera is so cool to me. It's been a project of mine to do just that with a Red One MX that I recently picked up for $1500:



After a lot of experimentation, I got this puppy down to 17.5lbs sans lens. I can go from shoulder mount to tripod mount in about 30 seconds and I'm really happy with the way it's balanced.

But I digress. Back to the awesomeness that is the Alexa. Can't wait to see where your build ends up.
 
It was more like $4K when all was said and done (including a 100mm Vinten fluid head, v-mount batteries, Canon EF mount, and plenty of Red SSDs). But still a price that I can live with.
 
QuickHitRecord said:
It was more like $4K when all was said and done (including a 100mm Vinten fluid head, v-mount batteries, Canon EF mount, and plenty of Red SSDs). But still a price that I can live with.
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I like RED MX's "grungy" look sometimes. It can be super clean, but it can also go really edgy and crunched in a grunge sort of way. And you get that 120fps. So, in some ways better than a Scarlet MX, and when Scarlets come down in price you get a nice B'cam


And yeah, Alexa. I am tempted to get one, and maybe skip the Komodo for now. The Ranger is deceptively small, and most things I do don't require two cameras or anything smaller. So, those Alexa Classic look very tempting. Hunter's build is so clean too.
 
Most of the good auctions are in LA. Every now and then there will be one in the middle of the country (US) and they seem to have to give the stuff away.
 
Would be fun to find a deal on an SXT, it’s basically the same as the Amira and old mini- you can record 3.4k I think which is the same as the UHD mode. The UHD mode in the LF and mini LF is only using about 15% more pixels and it’s the same sensor quality so...

Also does anyone know this guy? Looks like he already got a speed booster working on the Alexa (and he has an F35):

https://vimeo.com/302628357
 
Hunter Hampton said:
Would be fun to find a deal on an SXT, it’s basically the same as the Amira and old mini- you can record 3.4k I think which is the same as the UHD mode. The UHD mode in the LF and mini LF is only using about 15% more pixels and it’s the same sensor quality so...
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I think that's the reason you can find such good prices on classic alexas but not the sxt. The sxt is more useful today?
 
Hunter Hampton said:
Would be fun to find a deal on an SXT, it’s basically the same as the Amira and old mini- you can record 3.4k I think which is the same as the UHD mode. The UHD mode in the LF and mini LF is only using about 15% more pixels and it’s the same sensor quality so...

Also does anyone know this guy? Looks like he already got a speed booster working on the Alexa (and he has an F35):

https://vimeo.com/302628357
Click to expand...
that speed booster looks like its messing something up. The out of focus is looking funky....... and not in a good funky way
 
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