Michael Bravin
Forum Replies Created
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In Media Composer 5
Michael Bravin
Alexa Jedi
VP Market Development
ARRI, Inc. -
Wow Fred…don’t know quite what to say. That’s a lot of words strung together. I kinda lost you at the ship sails/photoplate part. What is a photoplate?
For a “slightly more accessible” explanation maybe this will work:
https://www.arridigital.com/technical/bayermask
https://www.arridigital.com/technical/imaging-technology/dteMichael Bravin
Alexa Jedi
VP Market Development
ARRI, Inc. -
Daniel
First of all thanks for your keen interest. The process of CMOS imaging with a Bayer mask is discussed a lot with lots of mis-information. Its important to note that a Bayer mask is just a method for color imaging from a single plane sensor and deriving color information using software formulas to decode the information into RGB colors. Each company that uses this imaging technique has their unique way of processing the information to derive what they consider the optimal image.
We do it by carefully selecting the color dyes used in the color filters in front of each pixel, along with a very sophisticated optical filter in front of the sensor and then carefully decoding the color information derived from the Bayer mask.
The science and physics that go in to ARRI’s color science are part of what makes the ARRI solution produce such a great image, remember we have a very high end scanner (ARRISCAN) that scans motion picture film and provides very high resolution very precise RGB color images for film DI. The same people and science are part of the development for Alexa’s ALEV III sensor. In short, we have A LOT of experience in very high quality imaging with CMOS.
Also keep in mind that realtime playback of ARRIRAW (uncompressed RAW data from the CMOS imager) does not require hardware acceleration like others, chiefly because we use no compression (thus no decompression hardware needed) and there are several solutions based on NVidia Coda which use GPU (Graphics specific Processors) which are very inexpensive and reside on retail available video cards.
Not to stray too far into the technical, lets just say it this way.
Really smart and experienced scientists and engineers at ARRI developed a sensor called ALEV of which Alexa uses the 3rd generation. This sensor makes very high quality color accurate naturalistic organic film like images. We take the raw data from the sensor and derive (through processing in the camera) uncompressed 1080P HD, at 422 and 444 color spaces and output these streams from the back of the camera. We also encode this information as Quicktime files with ProRes encoding at 220Mb ProRes 422HQ and 330 Mb ProRes 444. We then record these images on SxS cards,
Look at the images we produce and record and decide if they meet your technical and aesthetic requirements. On the high end we offer ARRIRAW for the most discerning applications and we move down from there to uncompressed dual 3G (quad link) or dual link for 444 RGB applications as well as uncompressed 422 HD then ProRes encoded 444 and 422, you choose. Choose based on the application and image quality, not the on paper specs. Everyone I have ever showed images from Alexa to, has commented on their quality and natural film like quality, but you must decide for yourself.
Many (almost everyone) Digital Cinema movies have been acquired at 1080P RGB so there is plenty of image quality and resolution quality available for the big screen if ARRIRAW at 2K is too expensive or time consuming of a workflow.
What makes ALEXA more expensive than a couple of cameras (and far less expensive than most cameras) is the build quality, image processing inside and choices it affords for workflow. I think you’ll find that the cost of the camera is FAR outweighed by the savings in post in terms of time money for whichever workflow you choose. Remember 444 ProRes is still RGB and affords a huge range for sophisticated and complicated keying and compositing along with wide range color correction.
Please see the images and workflow then decide what works for you in Chile. ProRes 444 is a non compromise workflow when it comes to image quality and flexibility.
Michael Bravin
Alexa Jedi
VP Market Development
ARRI, Inc. -
Fred
Of course we will have cameras EVERYWHERE, as soon as they start shipping. We have sold MANY ALEXA in NY and CSC will have inventory this summer (soon) and remember, ALEXA will not just be at the big traditional rental houses, we have many owner operators, production companies and smaller rental houses that have decided to buy ALEXA in the eastern US.
Of course Guenter and Juergen will have demo cameras in NY and I will be traveling around and on and on and on…BUT, we still have a bit of time before delivery, first group of deliveries in US is in mid June and we will have more cameras coming its so hard to be patient now that the world knows about ALEXA, but the wait will be worth it.. This will be the summer of ALEXA I promise!
Promise me you wont say “enough already” in the fall 🙂
The next chance in US to see the camera will be at Cinegear where there will be 1 working camera. Stay tuned for more info about NY area demos on our ALEXA website https://www.arridigital.com, and here on the COW
Michael Bravin
ARRI, Inc. -
Michael
Apparently you arent at NAB. 🙁
There is now REALTIME ARRIRAW Playback, and Debayer In GPU Assimilate, Invidia and Glue tools have new products.No hardware acceleration needed. We announced Pro Res DTE Direct to edit proxy and edit recording. This stuff changes at NAB, Workflow is realtime. And this is all before we have even shipped a camera.
Michael Bravin
VP Market Development
ARRI, Inc. -
Pat
What sort of information where you looking for that does not appear on the ALEXA website https://www.arridigital.com/alexa ? I’d be happy to fill you in.
Michael Bravin
VP Market Development
ARRI, Inc. -
We received our brand new HDX900 yesterday but the AJHVF21G viewfinder was back ordered
Yes… But I bet you got a great discounted price.
How can anyone think that doing business with a manufacturer or dealer who delivers a camera without a VF and or a plan to cover you in the meantime, deserves your future business.
I just don’t get it.
Why not tell everyone here, who delivered you a camera without a viewfinder.
Disclaimer: I work for a certain reseller who has had to make a plan to cover our client when a VF was backordered with cameras we have sold.
Michael Bravin
Chief Technology Officer
Band Pro Film & Digital -
John
I do not think you should rename this forum. I wish it had more participation quite frankly.
I welcome the participation and input from all participants it helps me grow professionally.
I really get irritated when people present innaccurate information and present guesses and rumor as fact.
Why not just say I think I guess I want I heard I have a prejudice about etc?
Taking swipes at Sony is a popular sport on the net, hell I have done it, but if one is going to play this sport like any sport one should be a bit proficient at it first, i.e. come with solid verifiable accurate information.
Sadly many do not.
I hope you didn’t misunderstand my posts.
Respectfully
Michael Bravin
Chief Technology Officer
Band Pro Film & Digital -
Michael,
The F900R is FIT and $80K and the info has been on the web since Feb 20
https://news.sel.sony.com/pressrelease/6492
Regardless of what people “think” about IT vs FIT the 1500 with an IT chip is becoming the most popular OB van and Mobile production camera worldwide. IT performance today FAR EXCEEDS FIT in the recent past
The F350 is a 35MB/s system with 25 and 18 as options and the Cinealta badge is Silver instead of Gold, perhaps a minor point but not marketed as the same as the F900 & 750 Cinealta. Hell, here in the US and many other places around the world the 750P is considered CineALta lite already because of 10 bit processing.
Michael Bravin
Cheif Technology Officer
Band Pro Film & Digital -