Here we go with another camera survey. This time we’ve searched after the cameras that shot Netflix’s best original movies of 2020. For the first time, ARRI takes first place with its ALEXA LF. Also, there’s a reduced camera manufacturer diversity compared to 2019, with the domination of only four companies (ARRI, Panavision DXL, Sony Venice, and RED). Let’s have a look.

Cameras Behind 20 Best Netflix Original Movies of 2020

The reference for the list of the best Netflix Originals is the Thrillist Entertainment website. Check it out below with their title, DP (Director of Photography), and cameras:

1. Hubie Halloween: DP – Seamus Tierney. Panavision Millennium DXL2, Panavision Primo 70 Lenses
2. Lost Girls: DP – Igor Martinovic. Sony Venice
3. Over the Moon: DP – Alessio Avezzano. Animation
4. Tigertail: DP – Nigel Bluck. ARRICAM LT, Zeiss Super Speed Lenses, and Panavision Millennium DXL2, Panavision G-Series Lenses
5. #Alive: DP – Won-ho Son. ARRI ALEXA Mini
6. Extraction: DP – Newton Thomas Sigel. Panavision DXL2 8k, and RED DSMC2 MONSTRO
7. Lost Bullet: DP – Morgan S. Dalibert. ARRI ALEXA Mini
8. Uncorked: DP – Elliot Davis. RED HELIUM
9. Horse Girl: DP – Sean McElwee. Sony VENICE, Cooke S5 and Angenieux Optimo Lenses
10. The Trial of the Chicago 7: DP – Phedon Papamichael. ARRI ALEXA LF, Panavision C- and T Series Lenses
11. His House: DP – Jo Willems. ARR ALEXA Mini
12. The Old Guard: DP – Barry Ackroyd, and Tami Reiker. ARRI ALEXA 65, ARRI Prime DNA Lenses
13. The Half of It: DP – Greta Zozula. ARRI ALEXA LF
14. Time to Hunt: DP – Won-Geun Lim. ARRI ALEXA LF
15. Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga: DP – Danny Cohen. Panavision Millennium DXL2
16. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom: DP – Tobias A. Schliessler. Sony Venice, ZEISS Supreme Prime Lenses
17. Mank: DP – Erik Messerschmidt. RED RANGER HELIUM Monochrome. Leica Summilux-C Lenses
18. The 40-Year-Old Version. DP – Eric Branco. ARRICAM LT, Zeiss Super Speed Lenses
19. I’m Thinking of Ending Things. DP – Lukasz Zal. Sony VENICE and ARRI ALEXA LF, Panavision H-Series Lenses
20. Da 5 Bloods. DP – Newton Thomas Sigel. ARRI ALEXA LF, ARRI ALEXA Mini, ARRIFLEX 416, Angenieux Optimo Lenses, and ARRI DNA Lenses

Explore the chart below (Credit: Y.M.Cinema Magazine):

Discussion

ARRI in the 1st place, but no Mini LF

For the first time, we can explore ARRI at the top of the list. RED has been dominating Netflix for a couple of years, however, with the launch of the ALEXA Mini LF which is Netflix approved, more DPs choose to shoot ARRI, when large-format cinematography is needed. By the way, it’s interesting that the Mini LF is excluded from the list. According to our resources, the good old ARRI Mini was preferred over its LF version. It can be explained that many DPs are pleased with the large format look of ARRI, but prefer to use the model that allows more freedom regarding high frame rate (ALEXA LF). Furthermore, nice seeing some presence of film cameras even on Netflix productions.

Check out the slide below which shows the chart of 2019 compared to 2020. Click on the slide for a full resolution view:

Canon…Panasonic…?

Unfortunately, as we can see, the diversity of the camera manufacturers is reduced. In 2019 we had some presence of Varicam and C300 Mark II. That indicates that DPs are locked to use well-recognized camera models (Sony Venice, RED, ARRI, DXL) which can be interpreted as some kind of acquiescence to aggressive marketing by camera manufacturers. Check the slide below which shows the comparison between camera manufacturers’ diversity in 2019 and now.

Final thoughts

It must be noted that this data is based on 19 films. I’m pretty sure we might be exploring more cameras when analyzing the best Netflix TV shows of 2020. Also, keep in mind that RED= DXL so you can count them all together. RED is still very requested and popular in Netflix productions.

What do you think about this data? Have you been surprised by the lack of other cameras? Let’s know your insights in the comments section below.