Leading German manufacturer of cinema cameras, lenses, and lighting equipment used internationally in filmmaking production.
Technical Details
ARRI's current ALEXA camera series utilizes ALEV III CMOS sensors in Super 35mm format (23.76 x 13.41 mm) and achieves a resolution of 3414 x 2198 pixels with 14 stops of dynamic range. The ALEXA LF uses a full-frame sensor (36.70 x 25.54 mm) with 4448 x 3096 pixels. ARRI's proprietary ARRIRAW format stores uncompressed 12-bit image data at up to 150 fps in 2K resolution. The company also manufactures Master Prime lenses with a T1.3 aperture and SkyPanel LED lights with a color temperature range of 2800K to 10000K.
History & Development
August Arnold and Robert Richter founded the company in 1917 in Munich as a repair workshop for cinema equipment. In 1924, their first own camera, the ARRI I, was released. The legendary Arriflex 35 (1937) established the single-lens reflex viewfinder system and revolutionized mobile film production. In 1972, the modular Arriflex 35BL appeared with improved sound dampening. The transition to digital technology began in 2010 with the ALEXA, which achieved over 80% market share in Hollywood within three years. In 2018, ARRI introduced the ALEXA LF and expanded the portfolio in 2019 with the compact ALEXA Mini LF.
Practical Use in Film
ARRI cameras are used in 90% of all Hollywood blockbusters. "Skyfall" (2012) was one of the first major films shot entirely with the digital ALEXA. Christopher Nolan used a combination of ALEXA 65 and IMAX film cameras for "Dunkirk" (2017). The typical workflow includes recording in ARRIRAW or ProRes, color grading via ARRI's Look Files, and output in various cinema formats. The warm color reproduction and high dynamic range enable natural skin tones even in challenging lighting conditions.
Comparison & Alternatives
ARRI primarily competes with RED Digital Cinema (compression-based RAW formats, higher resolutions) and Sony (Venice series with Dual-Base ISO). While RED focuses on maximum resolution, ARRI prioritizes image quality in established formats. Blackmagic Design and Canon serve the lower market segment. ARRI's strength lies in system integration: cameras, lenses, lighting, and accessories come from a single source and are optimally coordinated.
Current News
The ARRI ALEXA 35 continues to establish itself as a premium digital camera for cinema productions. The system features a 4.6K Super 35 sensor and the new REVEAL Color Science for precise color reproduction. The extended dynamic range and flexible recording formats, in particular, make the camera a sought-after option for high-quality film productions.