Broadcasters who want their studio and outside broadcast productions to look more like a movie now have the option of a fibre-equipped Arri Alexa that fits into their live production chain. The new Alexa Fibre Remote Box and software upgrade allows users to control the film-like parameters of the camera from the broadcast control panel, and was developed for customers “doing high-profile music shows who wanted to have a filmic look,” said Arri’s Director of Business Development, Milan Krsljanin (pictured). It uses a Telecast Copperhead system for fibre output, and the Alexa and Fibre Remote Box combination costs just €40,000 (not including the Alexa SxS recording module, which can be added later). The Box itself costs €10,000 (plus the Telecast system). Arri isn’t going into the system camera business. “This is not a camera for sports. It’s for programmes that want to reach new heights in terms of quality and the look,” he added. The camera can be used with PL-mount lenses or, via an adapter, B4 broadcast lenses (although you lose two stops – “but with the huge sensitivity of this camera it is not an issue”). Indeed, its sensitivity and dynamic range was why four fibre-equipped Alexas were used on a Coldplay concert in Paris just before IBC, intercut with conventional cameras – to avoid burnout on the faces in difficult lighting. – David Fox11.F21
