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A Test Drive with the ARRI ALEXA 265 & the Prodigy Air Deflector
ARRI has recently unveiled the ALEXA 265: a brand-new 65mm camera designed for compact shooting without sacrifices to image quality. One of the practical applications that ARRI used to demonstrate the power and versatility of the ALEXA 265 was a car shoot with cinematographer Krystian Winszewski, shooting some classic Ford GT40 sports cars.
We had lent the team our flagship Prodigy Air Deflector for the shoot, having collaborated with Winszewski before. With the production taking place at the Wroughton Science and Innovation Park in Swindon, the Prodigy didn’t have to travel far from our Surrey base.
Jon Wetherall, the 1st Assistant Cameraman for the project, caught up with us after the shoot to discuss the particulars of capturing sports cars, and what it was like working with this brand-new cinema camera.
“The new ALEXA 265 is an absolute powerhouse. As with most ARRI cameras, it remains simple and intuitive to use due to ARRI’s commitment to consistent design and user-friendly interfaces. It’s really remarkable that they got the 65mm sensor in such a small and lightweight body – a fantastic camera to work with!”
– Jon Wetherall
Shooting racing footage like this is a challenge even with cameras as powerful as the ALEXA 265, as there are a lot of moving parts – literally. Wetherall explained just some of the factors that they have to consider when creating fast-moving car content:
“There are numerous challenges to tackle, including properly rigging the cameras, maintaining stable wireless signals, and working in the cramped confines of the tracking vehicle — where, as the focus puller, I’m often stationed in the boot. The cars rarely maintain a consistent distance, constantly moving closer and farther away.
This forces me to make quick, strategic decisions about which part of the car to keep in focus — sometimes it’s the driver, other times it’s the nose or another critical element of the vehicle. Also, knowing what is happening around you, as we were shooting multiple cars, it’s not always clear where the next car is until it appears in the frame, so trying to judge when and where to change focus isn’t easy.”
– Jon Wetherall
For those unfamiliar with the Prodigy, it is our bespoke lens-clearing solution, designed to keep your image free of interference. Our patented system uses compressed air fired at over 300mph; blasting away moisture, dust and debris from your camera’s front element.
Fortunately, Britain’s notoriously unpredictable weather didn’t spoil the shoot; but Winszewski and Wetherall still needed to protect their shots from stray dirt kicked up by the speeding cars. Though we primarily market it as a rain deflector for extreme conditions, this is another crucial way in which the Prodigy protects your visuals.
“Knowing that the Prodigy is mounted on the front of the lens provides peace of mind, as it significantly reduces the need to constantly clean the lens from dust, dirt, or debris. This not only saves time on set but also minimises the risk of scratching or damaging the lens.”
– Jon Wetherall
As the ALEXA 265 and its accompanying anamorphic lenses were shuttled from Steadicam to low-loader and even to a drone, the Prodigy was on-hand to insure against interference in every shot.
Though the ALEXA 265 is a rental-exclusive, you can keep a Prodigy Air Deflector for yourself using the link below.
Try Before You Buy
Alternatively, several rental houses stock the Prodigy Air Deflector, so you can take it out as and when you need it. If you want to test the protective power of the Prodigy, here is a list of our affiliated dealers across Europe and the USA:
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