The ALEXA 65 has a massive sensor. The 54.12 mm x 25.58 mm active image area is even bigger than the gate of ARRI 765 70mm film camera; it allows for the presence of 6560 x 3100 photosites while maintaining the image quality for which the smaller sensor ALEXA is famous. However, most cinema lenses are only designed to cover Super 35mm at most, with a sensor size of 24.89 mm x 18.66 mm, and don't have anywhere near the image circle to cover a sensor that large.

Since its launch, ARRI has made two lines of lenses available for rent: the Prime 65 line (eight modern lenses designed specifically for work with the ALEXA 65) and the Vintage 765 line (a set of 11 lenses designed and built in the late '80s for working with the ARRI 765 film camera, and still frequently used on both film and digital productions). 

At the cinematography festival Camerimage this year, ARRI released two new lines of lenses for the ALEXA 65: the Prime 65 S line and the Prime DNA line. These two lines added 15 new lenses, bringing the total available options to 34. 

Alexa_65_prime_s_single_lensALEXA 65 Prime S Single Lens 35 mm focal lengthCredit: ARRI

The Prime S line is a seven-lens series designed for a consistent softer look with lens contrasty images. The line is compatible with the ARRI Lens Data System (LDS), which records lens focus, iris, and, when applicable, zoom data, along with the image file. This metadata is extremely useful for VFX workflows involving composites, where artists can use the data to expedite their process and make it more accurate.

Arri-prime-65-s-lensesALEXA 65 mm Prime S lineCredit: ARRI

The Prime DNA line of lenses is designed to have more personality and to be customized to the needs of a cinematographer for a particular project and a specific set of optical goals. 

Arri_prime_nda_lensARRI ALEXA 65 mm Prime DNA 80mm T1.9 lensCredit: ARRI

Already in use on the upcoming productions Breathe and Mary Magdalene, shot by Robert Richardson and Greig Fraser, respectively, the DNA line should offer more character in the image than the traditionally clean, crisp image reproduction we associate with the standard ALEXA 65 Prime glass.

Prime_dna_imageALEXA 65 Prime DNA Lens lineCredit: ARRI

All ALEXA 65 products are currently rental only. Get in touch with Arri Rental for more information.

Tech specs for Prime S

  • Full ALEXA 65 mm sensor coverage
  • ARRI Lens Data System (LDS)
  • All T.28 or faster
  • 90mm has 16" close-focus 

    Arri_prime_s_chartALEXA 65 Prime S Lens ChartCredit: ARRI

Tech specs for Prime DNA

  • Full ALEXA 65 mm sensor coverage
  • Guided by cinematographer input, customized by ARRI technicians
  • 80 mm T 1.9 available for low light work

    Arri_prime_dna_chartALEXA 65 Prime DNA Lens ChartCredit: ARRI

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