We all know the moment... when a film cuts to a close up and the depth of field is so narrow that we immediately lock onto the lead’s eyes. The character's emotions and place in their world are so clear to us, the audience, as we experience this moment with them. We are not bystanders; we are participants. The image is intimate, organic, and just like that, we get goosebumps.

AbelCine's new ARRI Applications series begins with insight from Director of Photography Lucas Cohen, exploring why he chose the ARRI ALEXA Mini LF and Signature Primes for this specific project: six shoots in three weeks, covering Major League Soccer.

In this video, I take a deep dive into the features and performance of the ARRI Orbiter LED Light. Key features include the fixture’s incredibly bright output, remarkable versatility (thanks to its changeable optics), 2,000K to 20,000K CCT range, fast processor (4x faster than the SkyPanel), expanded connectivity, integrated array of sensors, weatherproof housing, smooth dimming, and more.

While this article is focused on the advancements in ARRI lighting technology, one can draw parallels from ARRI’s camera and Professional Camera Accessories (PCA) line to understand the design philosophy and evolution of the greater lighting ecosystem. No other brand has such tight integration between camera, lens, and mechanical or electronic accessories. There are plenty of examples to draw from, but innovations like incorporated wireless focus motor receivers and wireless video transmission in the ALEXA SXT-W, the interconnectivity of the entire LBUS range of motors and focus tools, and wireless range extension for various families of products with the ERM-2400 all showcase ARRI’s unified design philosophy.

In late September, ARRI introduced a new line of Signature Zoom lenses in focal lengths of 16-32mm, 24-75mm, 45-135mm, and 65-300mm. All feature full-frame coverage and fast, constant apertures of T2.8. The 65-300mm is also available with a dedicated 1.7x extender, for a 110.5-510mm range and maximum aperture of T4.95 when mounted.

The ARRI ERM-2400 LCS is an external radio module system that provides point-to-point connection between handsets and cameras, making it a valuable tool for distanced camera crews.

The ARRI SRH-3 and DEH-1 are unique wireless tools that are more relevant than ever in today's remote production world.

One of the major technology trends in 2020 continues to be HDR. As you may also know, Netflix has instituted a requirement that all original programming be finished in HDR (the Dolby Vision flavor, to be exact) — not unlike their 2015 edict that all original programming be shot with cameras from a growing list of bodies that capture at least UHD 3840x2160 natively. While a full primer on ‘What to Expect When You’re Expecting HDR’ is beyond the scope of this article, I wanted to highlight one camera particularly well-suited to HDR capture (as well as satisfying the Netflix resolution requirements): ARRI’s ALEXA Mini LF.

The ALEXA Mini LF builds on ARRI's wireless control technology, which was introduced to the ALEXA line with the ALEXA SXT W. Each new ALEXA camera has advanced this capability, and the Mini LF is no exception. In this blog, I take a look at the various options available for wireless camera control and discuss the benefits of each.