ARRI Alura: zoom lenses in three focal lengths (15.5–45mm, 18–80mm, 45–250mm) with constant T2.6–2.8, developed with Fujinon technology for compact digital cinema cameras.
Focal Lengths (Zoom)
| 15.5-45 | 18-80 | 45-250 |
|---|---|---|
| T2.8 | T2.6 | T2.6 |
| 0.45m | 0.75m | 1.20m |
| 2.6kg | 2.9kg | 3.9kg |
| 114 | 114 | 114 |
| 100°–48° | 90°–27° | 48°–9° |
| ◀━━━━━━▶–◀━━▶ | ◀━━━━▶–◀━▶ | ◀━━▶–◀▶ |
PL · S35/FF · 280° Focus · 120° Zoom
Technical Details
Three zoom lenses cover 15.5-250mm. 12-16 lenses with aspherical elements and fluorite glass. Uniform 114mm front diameter. T-stop nearly constant across the entire zoom range (±0.1-0.2 stops). Smooth highlights, organic bokeh rendering. Developed with Fujinon technology.
History & Development
ARRI introduced the first Alura lenses at NAB in 2011, responding to the growing demand for compact, high-quality zooms for new digital cinema cameras like the ALEXA. The 45-250mm telephoto zoom followed in 2013, and the 15.5-45mm wide-angle in 2016. Development concluded in 2019 when ARRI shifted focus to the new Signature Prime series. The Alura lenses were created in collaboration with Fujinon, partly utilizing their optical technologies but with ARRI-specific coatings and precision mechanical components.
Practical Use in Film
Cinematographers appreciate the Alura series for handheld and Steadicam shots where low weight is crucial. Christopher Nolan used Alura lenses for dialogue scenes in "Interstellar" (2014) as they allow for rapid focal length changes without lens swaps. The Netflix series "Stranger Things" used the 18-80mm consistently for interior shots. The smooth focus transition makes the lenses ideal for follow focus systems, while the constant front element eliminates the need for matte box and filter changes. Typical workflows combine two Alura zooms (usually 18-80mm and 45-250mm) with a few prime lenses.
Comparison & Alternatives
Unlike heavier cine zooms such as the ARRI Master Primes, the Alura series sacrifices extreme speed for portability. Direct competitors include the Fujinon Cabrio series and Canon CN-E zooms, which, however, exhibit different optical characteristics. Since 2020, ARRI recommends the Signature Zoom series as a successor, though it is significantly more expensive. For budget productions, Alura lenses remain a viable alternative to modern optics on the used market, especially for documentary-style productions or fast-paced shooting.