London-based hire company VMI has placed the first order for Arri’s new digital cameras, hoping to take delivery of the first two models next June.
In all, VMI managing director Barry Bassett spent _160,000 at IBC. “That’s not bad for a weekend shopping in Amsterdam,” he quipped.
To go with the Alexa 35mm sensor camera, he also ordered two sets of the new Panchro by Cooke lenses, to support its fleet of Cooke S4 lenses, two new VariCam 2 HPX-2700 P2 cameras from Panasonic, plus monitors and other accessories. He also committed to buy four Thales Angenieux Optimo zoom lenses, but hasn’t decided which models yet.
“The most exciting thing for us is the departure from the Red to go for the Arri, because Arri is a tried and trusted brand name that we feel confident with,” he said. VMI currently has two Reds and was going to buy more until seeing Arri at IBC. “What swung it for us was our confidence in the German R&D team and the build quality of the product. Arri have never let us down.”
