Alexa Not-so-MINI

JMtheDP

JMtheDP

Veteran
Have you guys seen an ALEXA mini? It's not as small as I expected... at all.

I could not really see myself using one for anything other than the intended uses (aerial, remote head).

FJS posted this image on their facebook page

11429212_762437710542593_6141230679814846119_o.jpg


The reason I like the ALEXA (and I think that goes for most DoPs) is it is very simple in the way the basic unit works. Doing this modular bit I think isn't going to be popular as an A-Camera.

Not that ARRI care, but I think it is interesting nonetheless
 
I held that camera at Cinegear and was quite impressed with how it felt on my shoulder. Not too light but not too heavy. Two weeks ago I shot a project with the Alexa classic and Panavision Primos. After the first hour the front end weight from the Primos was murderously painful on the shoulder. It just wasn't fun. The image quality of the Alexa with the body size of the Epic PLUS internal NDs, 4:3 mode and '4k'? I think the Mini is going to be huge, especially for the owner/operator crowd.
 
It looks pretty small to me - the one on the left - I am excited to own it after 3 years once it drops in price to under 10k. Until then I am excited to rent it or the Amira on shoots or keep trucking with my F35!
 
It depends on how you configure it, it can be very minimal on a 3axis stabliser, have a look at “Journey" shot on Alexa mini.
 
I saw one at ARRI recently although wasn't able to have a play, it just seemed bigger than I was expecting.

What kind of NDs does it have though? Are these f65-style switchable filters or is it the internal filter you have to physically remove/install?
 
Just saw it is a motorised filter stage - I would say that is probably a more tangible benefit for many people than the actual size reduction. For guys with them in inaccessible situations (crash housings, heli housings) the switchable NDs must be a godsend.
 
It's really small and light. Ideal for making into a shoulder mount cam. You can pop it on a zacuto uni plate, plug in the Amira EVF and go and have a much better camera than an Epic. A TON of Epic people are selling because of this camera (and the Amira). No good audio control or XLRs kills it for me for being a great all-arounder but its the best thing going for anything else in my book. The $60K price will keep it out of many hands though.
 
that's just stupid rig building right there, give me an Alexa Mini and a few thousand dollars and I'll make you a rig as small as an Aaton A-minima.
 
yachacha said:
that's just stupid rig building right there, give me an Alexa Mini and a few thousand dollars and I'll make you a rig as small as an Aaton A-minima.
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Very true. I held one that had (and was recmd. by the Arri guy) a velcro'ed battery plate on the side since you can't mount straight to the carbon. On the Zac. plate it would be small as hell. Add a couple of 6" carbon rods to the plate, an Amira handle and you are smaller than you ever need to be. I wouldnt want a smaller rig!

That price I listed may have been a little high, btw.
 
I wasted some time playing with both Amera and MINI

The MINI is wide ie viewed from the top down it is fat.

Viewed from the top down the Amera is long and thin

The MINI can therefore never be configured as well as the Amera for shoulder use.

The cubic form of the MINI of course lends itself extremely well to devices that rely on compating the masses.. remote heads

Different tools for different uses.

S
 
Who uses a camera on their shoulder that often? I have been using a red epic for years now and it seems like the Amira Mini is not really that much different in config - maybe better with placement of inputs - I'm excited to start using the Mini and then buying it in 2 years when it's price drops to under 10k.
 
yeah the mini was more of a cube than I expected it to be. I guess those of us wondering what a small F35 would look like could look at it?
 
eddavid said:
Who uses a camera on their shoulder that often? I have been using a red epic for years now and it seems like the Amira Mini is not really that much different in config - maybe better with placement of inputs - I'm excited to start using the Mini and then buying it in 2 years when it's price drops to under 10k.
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I recently shot for 4 weeks and it was 80% shoulder and wish they rented an Amira or I had owned one for that shoot. So the answer is, me.

That red one is a boat anchor compared to the mini. The mini weighs probably half and of course has ND's built in and an EVF with full controls on it, for starters. $10K? its an Arri, so that wont happen in two years.
 
morgan_moore said:
The specific view I am talking about is clearly seen in this image. The Amera can sit close to the ear of a shoulder operator, which hugely benefits how unbalanced it makes that operator become.

Image.
https://library.creativecow.net/articles/wall_kylee/NAB_2014-ARRI/assets/2014-03-19-AMIRA-top_l.jpg
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Yes and your ear doesnt hit buttons like it does on that damned FS7.

Sorry this is way off topic but does anyone know what kind of shotgun mic that is on the Amira? I'd love a compact set-up like that.
 
This could have been a deadly camera. But the designed is clearly crippled (or let's say re-routed) to make it fit into another use group vs the Alexa. This camera could have had a small 3"/4"/5" LCD folded in the body on top and a side handle and a couple of XLRs, voila, a handheld alexa with all the benefits but in more of a C300/Epic/Weapon shape. These omissions are clearly strategic for their line-up sales.
 
morgan_moore said:
The MINI is wide ie viewed from the top down it is fat.

Viewed from the top down the Amera is long and thin

The MINI can therefore never be configured as well as the Amera for shoulder use.
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I don't agree on that one, Sam. A wider camera, assuming proper distribution of masses inside (which the Mini appears to), will be more stable on the shoulder than a skinnier body. Less inclination to roll (yaw). One of the worst setups was the original dockable Betacams, which were tragically tall and slender. Panaflexes were great in this regard as they were "meatballs" with a low CG (which inspired the form factor of the Genesis and then the F35).
 
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VinceinLA said:
Sorry this is way off topic but does anyone know what kind of shotgun mic that is on the Amira? I'd love a compact set-up like that.
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What is in my opinion, the absolute best scratch mic out there - the Ambient TinyMike. I use one of my F35 as well as most other cameras I use a scratch mic with.
 
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