Also I agree with everyone else...Learn to light. Even the Alexa can look like a terrible video camera....have you seen Zombeavers? what is it that you like about the Alexa specifically? Can you actually see the difference or did you just hear Roger Deakins say its the best so you are going with that? Watch your favorite films. Study them and then figure out what quality to the image gets you off. Then go on IMDB or ShotOnWhat and see what camera package and lenses were used. It might not be the camera you're after. You might like 3 movies but those three movies might all be shot on different cameras but the same lenses. You might actually be after the "Cooke Look" or really enjoy the characteristics of vintage lenses or some crazy cocktail of lighting and lens and camera. Basically what I'm saying is instead of asking us this question you should ask yourself. Find shows and movies shot on alexa (that info is readily available int he places i mentioned as well as in American Cinematographer) then go look at things shot on BMCC or A7s or whatever you think might be your answer. Train your own eye. You'll be much better off that way instead of taking advice on which camera to buy from a bunch of people on message boards.
For my 2 cents I'll say the original Black Magic 2.5k camera is the best bet. It has superior color science compared to the other BM cameras and matches the Alexa better than sony or red (which I think are a bit too video-ish to cut). I've used one as a B-cam numerous times and still to this day think the original BMCC is the best looking product they have made and will give you the most cinematic results for the price. Here is an example of Alexa and the BMCC used together...can you tell which shot is which camera? As far as matching the Alexa 2.5k BMCC is the way to go.
lol...how does shooting red mean you don't need to know any of this. Every colorist I know who is working on a Red show always turns the files into RedLOG Film files for grading...Using RedGamma to monitor on set is fine but it is far far far from how I'd ever want my finished footage to look. Also what about the Alexa? 99% of Alexa work is in LOG C...even the arriraw files are log...run your mouth and you just end up looking uneducated and arrogant.
looks pretty good. Looks like dragon footage. Stuck with the canon mount instead of PL is going to kill this though. Who wants to drop 10 grand and not be able to put proper glass on the front?
"Once a viewer selects an HD option in the new quality menu, this option will remain selected for all future videos they view."
So if i select 4k but then realize my roommates are all streaming video as well I can't re-select a smaller resolution? On any other video? Ever? I'm confused...
Hey Matt where did I say anything about black magic? And No one I know has a PL glass collection. I rent my glass and my cameras...ya know like a professional does. And my jobs (where I'm shooting and not ACing) usually don't have huge budgets so I'd rather rent a cheaper camera like this and get some really cool glass. I'm not big on modern glass...its the quickest way to soap opera town and exposes the video look really fast. I try to mainly use older vintage lenses like Lomo's or Kowa's or Cooke's if the client wants a shaper look with less "character". And I often pair very expensive glass with cheaper cameras. In fact the last 2 jobs Ive worked as an AC did the same thing (a fidelity investment spot done on an FS7 with the Cooke S4i, A spot for Adobe on the Fs7 with ultra primes,) It gives a different look and aesthetic. I won't be able to do that with this camera making it not that interesting to me. Thanks for yelling at me about black magic though. And telling me the footage that I already complimented was incredible and explaining to me how RED works even though I've been using their cameras for over half a decade and am more than familiar with their customer service and up grade plans. Its not like I pay the bills doing this or anything... Have fun making the internet worse.