What happens when a legendary racing car meets a next-gen cinema camera in the sky? You get GT40, a jaw-dropping showreel shot in the UK that may just redefine what 65mm filmmaking can look like—from the ground and the air. On a crisp autumn day in the British countryside, cinematographer Krystian Winszewski took the ARRI ALEXA 265 for a wild ride—literally. From flying on a drone to squeezing into the tight cockpit of a Ford GT40, the new compact medium format camera proved why it’s a game-changer in high-end cinema production.
65mm Goes Airborne
Until now, putting a 65mm sensor on a drone was a pipe dream. Cameras like the ARRI ALEXA 65 delivered outstanding image quality but were simply too large and heavy for airborne setups. That’s exactly why ARRI’s newly launched ALEXA 265 is turning heads. Built from the ground up to be lighter and more compact, the ALEXA 265 brings the power of a large-format sensor to rigs that previously couldn’t handle such size—most notably, drones. As highlighted in ARRI Introduces the ALEXA 265 – A Compact Medium Format High-End Cinema Camera, this new model offers the elite image performance of ARRI’s large format lineage in a significantly smaller body, unlocking new creative potential.
A Versatile Workhorse for Modern Cinematographers
The GT40 reel shows just how versatile the ALEXA 265 is. Winszewski used it mounted on:
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A drone, flying above the winding roads
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A U-Crane camera vehicle
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A car-mounted rig
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A Steadicam
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Handheld inside the tight quarters of the GT40’s cockpit
Every shot is a visual celebration of cinema’s evolving toolset. “The 65 mm sensor produces images that are nothing short of spectacular. The level of detail, texture, and richness in the footage is amazing,” says Winszewski, who masterfully captured both the mechanical poetry of the historic GT40 and the natural beauty of the UK landscape. The reel also makes use of ARRI Rental’s custom 65mm anamorphic lenses, adding an additional layer of cinematic depth and scale to every frame. These lenses, optimized specifically for the ALEXA 265, contribute to the distinctive, filmic texture that defines the showreel. Check out the video below:
Netflix-Approved and Ready for Action
The timing couldn’t be better. As of last month, the ALEXA 265 has received the green light from Netflix, joining the prestigious list of Netflix-approved cinema cameras. That approval adds commercial confidence to what’s already being hailed as a technical triumph. Productions aiming for the highest visual standards—whether narrative features, docuseries, or premium commercials—can now fully leverage this format from sky to street.
Final Takeaway: A New Era for 65mm Filmmaking
The GT40 showreel is more than a flashy camera test—it’s a clear demonstration of how medium format cinema is evolving beyond its traditionally grounded limitations. The ALEXA 265 brings 65mm into motion, allowing filmmakers to merge large-format aesthetics with agile camera movement. How cool is that?!
