The Arri Signature Primes are designed for the next generation of digital cinema cameras.
Arri has radically redesigned the lens of the future by minimizing the flange depth and creating the LPL mount - or ‘large positive lock’. The benefits of getting the lens closer to the sensor are numerous, including faster t-stops, higher resolving power, and less fall off. It’s not only Arri moving away from the limits of the “mirror flange”. Nikon and Canon both have recently released still cameras with a shorter flange. Cinema lens manufacturers like Sigma and Ziess have also seen the light by announcing LPL lens mount options for their cine lenses. I had the opportunity to shoot a small project with the LF and Signature Primes and I will touch on some of the benefits below.
Alexa LF with a 125mm Signature Prime
Alexa LF with a 125mm Signature Prime
The Signature look.
Instead of making another set of lenses that are clinical with minimal flare, Arri opted to make a set with softer contrast, unique flaring, and subtle, swirly, bokeh. Despite having softer contrast, the colors are faithful yet nicely saturated. These lenses flare beautifully but only when you want them to. The flare has a beautiful multi point star at the source followed by a trail of detailed points and circles with a hint of eyelash-like whisks.
The Signature detail.
Being that these lenses have a shorter flange depth, they have very little fall-off around the edges and resolve extremely well on a high resolution sensor. There is something at work here that is extra special about these lenses on the Alexa LF. Looking at the native 4k files at full resolution I was blown away by the amount of detail. The details are not overly sharp but appear lifelike and three dimensional.
LF at the derby
I spent some time with one of horse racings most notable horseshoers, Steve Norman. Shoeing horses is an extremely tedious task and one misstep can result in fatally injuring a million dollar horse. To see some sample footage captured with the LF and Signature primes check out the Youtube link below.
All six of the current lenses are a fast T1.8 across the board. Our set currently consists of 18, 25, 35, 47, 75, and 125mm. More focal lengths and lens adapters will be added to the set in 2019.