ARRI's New Complete Large-Format System
At the 2018 BSC Expo in London, ARRI has unveiled a new complete large-format system that meets and exceeds today's production requirements, delivering unparalleled creative freedom whilst also being backwards compatible with existing lenses, accessories and workflows.
The large-format system consists of the new ALEXA LF camera (which we talked about here), new 16 large-format ARRI Signature Prime lenses with a range from 12 mm to 280 mm and fitted with the new ARRI LPL mount. While the Signature Primes exemplify state-of-the-art optical precision, they render organic, emotional images, gently softening and texturizing the large format. A fast T-stop of T1.8 facilitates shallow depth of field and the smooth focus fall-off gives subjects heightened presence in the frame.
The ARRI Signature Prime range is the first cine lens series to feature machined magnesium lens barrels, making the optics incredibly lightweight and robust. They are also the first to incorporate ARRI’s next-generation LDS-2 Lens Data System, with high data rates and absolute encoders for fast initializing. LDS-2 extends the possibilities of lens data and is being licensed to other lens and camera manufacturers.
We also had a chance to chat with Thorsten Meywald, ARRI's Lens Product Manager about the new ARRI Signature Primes.
Prior to the release of this new large-format system, ARRI worked with a number of cinematographers to shoot with the camera and lenses to capture a real world - lifestyle environment. Among them was Dan Laustsen ASC, DFF, who is Oscar-nominated this year for his work on THE SHAPE OF WATER. After shooting with the system, Laustsen commented, "We were trying to tell a story about wideness and freedom; the ALEXA LF worked really well. The depth of field is so small, creating its own world. It's fantastic." Of the Signature Primes, he noted: "The lenses are lightweight and are not too sharp, but with a certain softness and very specific. With the 25 mm lens, you feel like you are there in the scene with the actors."
The announced ARRI Signature Primes focal lengths (in both metric and imperial) are:
The new LPL lens mount has a wider diameter and shorter flange focal depth, allowing the ARRI Signature Primes and all future large-format lenses to be small and lightweight, with a fast T-stop and pleasing bokeh-a combination of features that would not be possible with the PL lens mount. The LPL mount will also be available for other ARRI cameras and is being licensed to third-party lens and camera manufacturers.
More information or technical details can be found at www.arri.com/largeformat
The ARRI Signature Prime range is the first cine lens series to feature machined magnesium lens barrels, making the optics incredibly lightweight and robust. They are also the first to incorporate ARRI’s next-generation LDS-2 Lens Data System, with high data rates and absolute encoders for fast initializing. LDS-2 extends the possibilities of lens data and is being licensed to other lens and camera manufacturers.
We also had a chance to chat with Thorsten Meywald, ARRI's Lens Product Manager about the new ARRI Signature Primes.
Prior to the release of this new large-format system, ARRI worked with a number of cinematographers to shoot with the camera and lenses to capture a real world - lifestyle environment. Among them was Dan Laustsen ASC, DFF, who is Oscar-nominated this year for his work on THE SHAPE OF WATER. After shooting with the system, Laustsen commented, "We were trying to tell a story about wideness and freedom; the ALEXA LF worked really well. The depth of field is so small, creating its own world. It's fantastic." Of the Signature Primes, he noted: "The lenses are lightweight and are not too sharp, but with a certain softness and very specific. With the 25 mm lens, you feel like you are there in the scene with the actors."
The announced ARRI Signature Primes focal lengths (in both metric and imperial) are:
- ARRI Signature Prime 12mm T1.8
- ARRI Signature Prime 15mm T1.8
- ARRI Signature Prime 21mm T1.8
- ARRI Signature Prime 25mm T1.8
- ARRI Signature Prime 29mm T1.8
- ARRI Signature Prime 35mm T1.8
- ARRI Signature Prime 40mm T1.8
- ARRI Signature Prime 47mm T1.8
- ARRI Signature Prime 58mm T1.8
- ARRI Signature Prime 75mm T1.8
- ARRI Signature Prime 95mm T1.8
- ARRI Signature Prime 125mm T1.8
- ARRI Signature Prime 150mm T1.8
- ARRI Signature Prime 200mm T2.5
- ARRI Signature Prime 280mm T2.8
The new LPL lens mount has a wider diameter and shorter flange focal depth, allowing the ARRI Signature Primes and all future large-format lenses to be small and lightweight, with a fast T-stop and pleasing bokeh-a combination of features that would not be possible with the PL lens mount. The LPL mount will also be available for other ARRI cameras and is being licensed to third-party lens and camera manufacturers.
More information or technical details can be found at www.arri.com/largeformat