As the pursuit for ultra-high resolution continues, the prices for those mighty HD cinema cameras (the ARRI ALEXA Classic) drops. That lays the groundwork for being an owner of one of the best cinema cameras ever made. Check out this used ALEXA Classic from Adorama. Price: $6,100…and you can start doing some ALEV III magic.
ALEXA Classic: Price keeps dropping
Nowadays, when one of the most important factors regarding cinema cameras specs is the resolution, the price of HD cameras is being dropped significantly. Among them is the mighty ARRI ALEXA Classic, which now reaches $5,000 on eBay. The ALEXA Classic is a 35 format film-style digital camera with an electronic viewfinder and a 16:9 active sensor area. Records QuickTime ProRes (4444, 422 HQ, or 422) files onto in-camera SxS PRO or SxS PRO+ cards. MXF/DNxHD (444, 220x, and 145) recording available with optional DNxHD license key. HD video or ARRIRAW T-link output via HD-SDI. Frame rate: 0.75 to 60 fps (0.75 – 120 fps available with optional High-Speed license key).
It’s a heavy beast, weights almost 6.5 Kg for the body alone, eating batteries like no tomorrow, yet armed with one of the best image sensors ever created – the ALEV III CMOS, which is implemented in the ALEXA 65 and Mini LF as well.
Priced at $6,000 on Adorama
The ALEXA Classic kit is offered for just $6,100 on Adorama. It includes a High-speed License Installed (can reach 120 fps recording ProRes). The camera accumulated 5903 hours of operation, which sounds quite a lot, but for ALEXA cameras is not an indication of sensor fatigue. The ALEV III can reach 10,000 hours and beyond, without damaging it and without any reduction of image quality. ALEXA camera should be fine for shooting, even when passing 10,000 hours. At that point, you should send it to ARRI for a refurbished process.
What’s in the box
- 1x Electronic Viewfinder EVF-1 K
- 1x Viewfinder Mounting Bracket VMB-3
- 1x Viewfinder Cable Short (0.35m/1.2ft) KC 150-S
- 1x Center Camera Handle (CCH-1)
- 1x Wedge Adapter (WA-1)
- Firmware ALEXA_11.1:31779
Condition
The camera is marked as “G” (Appears to have been used heavily, showing multiple dings, scrapes/scratches, cracks, and heavy brassing but functions correctly).
30-Day Money-Back Guarantee
Adorama offers a 30-day-money-back-guarantee for every used product purchased. If for any reason you are not satisfied, just ship it back to Adorama and your account will be credit accordingly.
Click here for the product page on Adorama.
Final thoughts
There’s no better time to be an ALEXA owner. The Adorama deal is a pretty solid deal with the offering of a 30-day money-back Guarantee, contrary to other platforms like eBay. However, if you want to sleep better at night, you should consider buying a used ALEXA from the ARRI CPO (Certified Pre-Owned) program, which allows a 1-year warranty, after a vast process of refurbishment and sensor testing. Nevertheless, the cameras offered by the CPO are much more expensive – you’ll not find an ALEXA Classic below $9,000 in the CPO platform. But it’s definitely worth exploring. So, are you ready to be an ALEXA owner?
