Arri built the original Alexa 35 around clean color, 17 stops of latitude, and a rugged Alexa Mini-sized body.
The newly announced Alexa 35 Xtreme keeps all that character but:
- swaps the engine underneath,
- unlocks true high-speed capture,
- has a lighter data footprint, and
- has a better power draw.
To those who already have an Alexa 35, an upgrade path exists (Arri pulls a Red!). ARRI will convert any Alexa 35 body to Xtreme for €15,900 (prices might vary depending on where you are) while keeping all the licenses intact.
You can also buy it new, and both new and upgrade will be available August 2025. Just be clear, the Xtreme replaces the Alexa 35 completely.
In this article let’s go over the most important quirks and features of the Alexa 35 Xtreme you should be aware of.
Is it a New Sensor?
No. The 4.6K Super 35 ALEV 4 sensor is unchanged.
You still get 17 stops at normal speeds and the full EI 160-6400 range with minimal noise. That means existing LUTs and finishing pipelines port straight across.
Will the Colors and Look Change?
No. The look, texture choices, internal ND, and REVEAL color science carry over. You don’t need to change or relearn anything.
Say Hello to ARRICORE
ARRICORE (not a fan of the name,) is Arri’s new “smart-RAW” recording format for the Alexa 35 Xtreme.
Think of it as ARRIRAW Lite. It sits between full-fat ARRIRAW and Apple ProRes:
- Like ARRIRAW, it records all three RGB color channels with nothing baked in – ISO, white balance, and tint stay editable in post.
- Like ProRes, it uses heavier in-camera compression, so file sizes drop by roughly half. That means fewer drives, faster offloads, and cheaper archiving.
Could Arricore be similar to Blackmagic RAW? Possibly.
Why did Arri built this new codec? Who was asking for it?
High-speed capture at 330 to 660 fps can flood storage. ARRICORE makes slow motion practical on normal cards and networks. The alternative would have been to revamp the capture card workflow.
But, it is a bit of a compromise. ARRICORE is currently a public beta, so we don’t know which software will adopt it, or how. However, Arri has said:
Most third-party tools that already support the current ALEXA 35 codecs will also support ARRICORE.
Arri
We’ll need to see real-world tests to know how much is lost with Arricore. Anyway, compared to the dynamic range and capabilities of other cameras, this still comes out looking good.
What stays the same from ARRIRAW:
- MXF wrapper, clip metadata, and ARRI Look File 4 workflows are unchanged.
- Compact Drives still work; no new media needed.
- Color science, ARRI Textures, and HDR monitoring behave exactly as they do with ARRIRAW.
Here are the Arricore modes available:
- 4.6K 3:2 Open Gate: 80 / 120 / 165* fps
- 4.6K 16:9: 100 / 150 / 200* fps
- 4K 16:9: 125 / 150 / 210* fps
- 3.8K 16:9: 145 / 150 / 240* fps
- 3.8K 2.39:1: 195 / 240 fps
- 3.3K 6:5: 120 / 210* fps
- 2K 16:9 S16: 330 / 660* fps
- HD 16:9 S16: 330 / 660* fps
*with Sensor Overdrive turned on (see below).
Frame Rates and Slow Motion
There are two new modes with the Xtreme:
- Record up to 330 fps while holding the full 17-stop range.
- Record up to 660 fps but dynamic range falls to 11 stops and base ISO rises to EI 1600. To activate this you need to toggle Sensor Overdrive.
Sadly, as far as I know, there a sensor crop at both 330 fps and 660 fps. The Super 35 sensor crops down to a Super 16-size (similar to a V-Raptor). The USP is the dynamic range at 330 fps.
These new frame-rate gains are the result of a new main board with a faster readout.
Here are the maximum frame rates possible:
| Codec | Open Gate | 4K | 1080p |
|---|---|---|---|
| ARRIRAW | 80 fps | 125 fps | 330 fps |
| ARRICORE | 120 / 165* fps | 150 / 210* fps | 330 / 660 fps* |
| Prores 4444 | 120 fps | 150 fps | 330 fps |
| Phantom 4K | n/a | 1000 fps | 1977 fps |
| Red V-Raptor | 120 fps (8K) | 240 fps | 480 fps |
| Original Alexa 35 ARRIRAW | 75 fps | 120 fps | 120 fps^ |
^Only in Prores 4444
This is sort of underwhelming when you compare it with what’s available. Does it replace the Red V-Raptor or renting a Phantom for high-speed filming?
With the Red, there is a similar sensor crop. If such a crop exists for the Xtreme, then it’s not a big deal – except if you’re happy if a compromised dynamic range.
Is this feature worth the upgrade? It’s a tough sell. In Open Gate (what most feature films shoot in) it’s pretty much the same as the Alexa 35, though that camera is now officially discontinued.
New Pre-record Buffer
An expanded buffer of up to:
- 30 seconds at 4.6K Open Gate Apple ProRes 4444, or
- 5 minutes of 24 fps ProRes 422 HQ in 1080p.
That’s five-times longer than with the Alexa 35. And definitely longer than any cinema camera available today. I think this is great, should probably keep it turned on all the time!
Wireless and Remote Control
Dual antennas now support Wi-Fi 5 GHz, roaming across mesh networks, and auto-reconnect.
The Camera Companion app supposedly pairs faster, and crew tablets should stay linked when you walk between stages. No re-rigging of hand units is required. It’s almost supposed to be seamless with no new learning required.
Power Draw
The Arri Alexa 35 Xtreme pulls about 10% less power than the original Alexa 35, extending battery life and cutting some fan noise on dialogue takes.
This is great, too. You’d expect the more processing power to draw more power, so kudos here.
Full Compatibility with Alexa 35 Accessories
Tthe chassis, mounts, and connectors all are exactly the same.
So, all current camera cages, PDM-1 power modules, AEM-1 audio adapters, MVF-2 viewfinders, Compact Drives, and LPL/PL accessories bolt straight on.
Important Quirks to Watch Out For
Overdrive latitude hit.
You lose an extreme 6 stops of DR to shoot at 660 fps (or higher than 330 fps). In other words, the Alexa 35 Xtreme becomes a Canon 5D Mark III.
The base ISO changes to 1600. This isn’t a bad thing, because you’ll need all the extra light you can get.
However, the resolution drops and the upgrades are not that great compared to what you can rent for true high-speed work.
ARRICORE is still in beta.
Confirm post-house support before locking the workflow. I’m confident the major players will adopt it quickly.
You know what? I know it’s not going to happen but it would be great if Arri could open-source Arricore. Imagine that!
Bottom Line
The Arri Alexa 35 Xtreme is not a radical departure; but not automatically a slam-dunk upgrade. There are rental markets where the Alexa 35 is a flop. So a higher frame rate compared to the Alexa 35 isn’t that much of a value proposition.
And especially when you have to buy all these licenses:
- ALEXA 35 Xtreme Premium License
- ALEXA 35 Xtreme Look License
- ALEXA 35 Xtreme ARRIRAW License
- ALEXA 35 Xtreme Open Gate/Anamorphic License
- ALEXA 35 Xtreme Highspeed License
- ALEXA 35 Xtreme Pre-record License
- ALEXA 35 Xtreme Multicam License (optional)
However, in markets where the Alexa 35 is in demand, it’s probably a no-brainer.
Watch the official guided tour:
