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The new ALEXA XT B+W camera represents the state-of-the-art in digital monochromatic cinematography, and the latest addition to the ALEXA camera family, available exclusively from the ARRI Rental Group. The camera combines all the features of an ALEXA XT Plus – including in-camera ARRIRAW recording up to 120fps, 4:3 sensor, and LDS system. The camera has a modified ALEV III ALEXA sensor, which creates high contrast rich monochromatic images with increased spatial resolution and around 15 stops of dynamic range.
ALEXA XT B+W Camera Main Features
Film-like, organic look
Wide exposure latitude of 15 stops
EI 2000 base sensitivity (EI 160 to EI 3200)
SENSOR CONFIGURATION AND FILTER SYSTEM
The ALEXA XT B+W sensor assembly has no Bayer mask, optical low-pass filter (OLPF) or IR block filter allowing each photosite to capture the full spectrum of visible light increasing spatial resolution and contrast. In this mode the camera’s look is very much like a 35 mm camera loaded with panchromatic film – the classic black-and-white look. As well as this the camera can also operate in an infrared mode in which the camera only ‘sees’ the reflected infrared non-visible light. These images appear dramatically different producing white foliage, blemish-free skin, black eye pupils, and moody dark skies. The camera is also more sensitive than a regular ALEXA XT Plus, with a native sensitivity of around EI 2000. Through the use of two new ALEXA In-Camera Filter (IFM) system compatible filters, the ALEXA XT B+W can be easily configured with either a BG39 filter to shoot stunning B+W images, or a BG87C infrared pass, visible light block filter for infrared capture.
RECORDING OPTIONS
The ALEXA XT B+W uses the same internal camera ARRIRAW recording system as the ALEXA XT family, recording to 512GB XR capture drives. Native resolution of the ALEXA XT B+W images are the same as a regular ALEXA recording ARRIRAW – i.e 16:9 format at 2880 x 1620 and 4:3 format at 2880 x 2160. Spatial resolution, sharpness and image contrast however are all improved over a regular color ALEXA XT. ProRes HD/2K and DNxHD recording is not supported in camera, but these file types can be quickly and efficiently generated off-line during ingest and archival using Codex VFS software which has been optimized for the ALEXA XT B+W.
WORKFLOW
Since the sensor does not have a Bayer mask, images need to be processed using the ARRI SDK / ARC 3.0 reference tools or other ARRI approved image-processing products. ARRIRAW images captured on ALEXA XR Capture Drives can be quickly and easily off-loaded; then LogC DPX sequences can be rendered from the ARRIRAW master prior to transcoding to editorial proxy formats such as ProRes or DNxHD.
ARRI ALEXA XT B+W Showreel
Shot on ARRI ALEXA XT B+W and Cooke S4, Classic Uncoated lenses and ARRI Shift and Tilt.
TOUT DANS LA TÊTE (MEURTR’RAP) – ZOXEA
World exclusive: Audi A3 Cabriolet – Infrared!
ARRI ALEXA XT B+W Specifications:
Please see ARRI for more details about their Alexa XT B+W camera.