ARRI has published a very useful piece of educational info. The ALEXA mini LF Recording Formats Poster Pack is an “easily-digestible” poster with visual aids to help clarify the recording format size, resolution, and maximum frame rates of the ARRI Mini LF. Download it for free.

ARRI Mini LF: Multiple recording formats now organized

As stated by ARRI: “New downloadable poster! The ALEXA Mini LF now offers you the choice of twelve different recording formats for productions of all shapes, sizes, and budgets. We know that all that choice can be a challenge to communicate with customers, so we’ve designed an easily-digestible poster with visual aids to help clarify the recording format size, resolution, and maximum frame rates”.  ARRI also made a simplified version in A4 and Letter size which can fit neatly into a camera case, or be used by rental house staff as a cheat-sheet”.

List of the formats

Here’s the list of the recording formats and their purpose as defined by ARRI:

1. 4.5K LF 3:2 Open Gate: Maximum image quality, image area, and resolution for spherical and anamorphic lenses providing enormous flexibility in post.
2. 4.5K LF 2.39:1: Designed for shooting 2.39:1 cinematic widescreen with spherical large-format lenses.
3. 4.3K LF 16:9: The unique large-format look with a drastically reduced data rate, through in-camera down-sampling to your target deliverable of 16:9 UHD or HD.
4. 3.8K LF 16:9: The smallest sensor area compliant with 4K mandates allows the use of many spherical S35 lenses. In-camera down-sampling options provide lower data rates for cost-efficient ways to achieve the large-format look.
5. 2.8K LF 1:1: Designed for shooting with 2x anamorphic lenses for a target deliverable of 2:1, fulfilling 4K mandates.
6. 3.4K S35 3:2: The most flexible format for S35 projects, covered by most S35 lenses and with enough resolution for many postproduction workflows.
7. 3.2K S35 16:9: Ideal for shooting with spherical S35 lenses for a 16:9 target deliverable.
8. 2.8K S35 4:3: For projects using anamorphic S35 lenses for
   a target deliverable of 2.39:1, or spherical S35 lenses for a target deliverable of either 1.33:1, or 1.85:1 with extra room above and below the image.
9. 2.8K S35 16:9: The quickest way to an HD deliverable, with a super-low data rate and the assurance that the sensor area is covered by any S35 lens.

Download it for free

The ALEXA Mini LF Recording Formats Poster Pack is now available to download from the links below:

• ALEXA Mini LF Recording Format Poster A1 size
• ALEXA Mini LF Recording Formats Sheet A4 size
• ALEXA Mini LF Recording Formats Sheet Letter size

Product List

Here’re the products mentioned in the article, and the links to purchase them from authorized dealers. 

• ARRI ALEXA Mini LF
  • BUY on B&H
• ARRI ALEXA Mini Body with 4:3 and ARRIRAW
  • BUY on B&H