Alexa / Codex Onboard combination

[Mark Karavite]

I'm starting a feature mid April, using Alexa & Codex Onboard recorder. I'm interested to hear how you've configured this combination. I have the option of mounting the Codex on the rear of the Alexa, or possibly on the bottom of my sled. I'm leaning towards the Codex mounting on the rear of the camera body, but would like to hear from someone who has already flown this combination.

 

Any photos of your setup would be cool.

 

I've done Alexa shows before, so I'm very familiar with the camera, just not in combination with the Codex.

 

Thanks,

Mark

[Jens Piotrowski SOC]

I'm starting a feature mid April, using Alexa & Codex Onboard recorder. I'm interested to hear how you've configured this combination. I have the option of mounting the Codex on the rear of the Alexa, or possibly on the bottom of my sled. I'm leaning towards the Codex mounting on the rear of the camera body, but would like to hear from someone who has already flown this combination.

 

Any photos of your setup would be cool.

 

I've done Alexa shows before, so I'm very familiar with the camera, just not in combination with the Codex.

 

Thanks,

Mark

 

flying the codex in the aft makes a lot of sense, it is very compact and not heavy (5.7lbs), also you don't want to take a chance and send the REC out signals through the post....

 

http://www.codexdigital.com/support/downloads/Codex_Onboard_Specification.pdf

 

codex with alexa plus

[Dave Thompson]

Mark-

Here are a few photos from today. Started a job yesterday with the Alexa and Codex and it was sad with the recorder mounted on top. Got to this point today which is much much better. Still needs to be refined, but am on the right track. Balances better and can now use the lowmode plate. Basically an AB plate screwed to the Codex. CPT in Atlanta did a wicked job of making the plate after one phone call and a sketch from the 2nd AC. Props to them. There are some other problems that have come about so if you have questions, email me.

 

 

Dave

Davethompsonsoc@mac.com

[nealnorton]

Here is what I'm doing with the Codex and Alexa on my current job.

 

The 2 little video cables are not too bad.

 

Neal

[Pedro Guimaraes SOC]

dig your setup neal...

[James Davis]

Nice Neal,

 

Is that one of those new Nebtek monitors, if so what do you think of it?

 

Very neat set-up especially considering the amount of stuff you have attached!

[Mark Karavite]

Hey Neal,

 

Thanks for the photo. I had a couple questions for you:

 

Anton Bauer Mount:

- Codex and Arri are trying to discourage us from mounting a AB plate to the Codex. They have said they're not sure the plastic will hold the weight. I've explained that the heaviest AB battery, a Hytron 140 weighs 5.5lbs., while the Codex is 5.7lbs. I have an email into Paul Dudeck to get the exact weight capacity of a AB Gold Mount. It should be fine.

- Who mounted the AB plate to the Codex? Do you have the specs on the plate used, how attached, etc...

- Otto Nemenz & Codex are willing to help fabricate something for us.

 

Battery Run Times:

- How are you powering the Codex?

- It looks like you have 3 Dionic 90's. How long are you getting with this setup?

 

Transmitter:

- Is that the Transvideo XMitter?

- Otto has ordered the Microlite HD. Hopefully they'll get it for our show starting mid April. It's supposed to be 1/4 the size with a solid link & adjustable frequency.

 

I have a MK-V Nexus base, so I can put 4 AB plates on the base. If I mount Codex to the bottom, I would probably put the Codex right under the post, then have 3 HC's running the entire rig. On a previous F35 / SSR job, I mounted the transmitter on the base & ran a lightweight cable to it, and it didn't affect my operating at all. The only inconvenience was pulling the cable to spin balance, then putting it back on.

 

I'd love to chat in person if you have a minute. Ill try giving you a call this weekend. I'm shooting nights on a commercial, but around during the day.

 

Thanks,

Mark

[Eric Fletcher S.O.C.]

Here is what I'm doing with the Codex and Alexa on my current job.

 

The 2 little video cables are not too bad.

 

Neal

 

 

Who's cinetape is that?

[RonBaldwin]

Eric, I was thinking the same thing.

[Lawrence Karman]

Here is what I'm doing with the Codex and Alexa on my current job.

 

The 2 little video cables are not too bad.

 

Neal

 

First off, "F" camera? How many do they carry?

Secondly, how do you power the Codex and trip the start/stop?

And last, how is that transmitter?

[nealnorton]

Hi all:

 

The job is a film shooting in Germany. We have 7 Alexas and a 435 on 1st unit. 4 of the alexas are set up for 3D rigs and then 3 for 1st unit 2D.

 

Almost everything we are using is Arriflex including the cinetape. It appears to be a cinetape re-housed by Arri but I'm not sure.

 

The transvideo HD transmitter has been very good. We put it on a cablecam rig set up in a forest and it could not handle the >50 meter distance but for steadicam it has been good.

 

The preston G4 I'm carrying has been flawless. . . the new DM1x motor is really fast. . . the 5 Arri wireless focus systems are pretty finnicky and the a/c's are constantly fiddling to keep them lined up.

 

The Nebtek monitor is very good. I am waiting on the new digital level which is being installed on my 2nd monitor now. I used a Transvideo for a long time and it was bullet proof. . . but the Nebtek price/size/features pushed me to try it and I'm happy with the result. Nebtek service has been excellent.

 

I am powering the Codex from a D-tap from the monitor mounted battery. The Codex will run/stop from a normal 3 pin acc cable plugged into the Alexa from the preston. The run command works through the video cables comming from rec out on the Alexa.

 

Mark, the codex has 4 mounting holes that are used with the 'large' Alexa handle. I just took a regular A/B gold mount (not the slim) and the tech at Arri drilled holes to match the 4 Codex mounting points. It seems very strong and I think there is little likelyhood it will fail. The distribution of weight has been a challenge. I got caught in a middle of the night-run-from A camera to build-the-steadicam quick situation and ended up with a

very long gimbal to camera distance, too much bottom weight and poor dynamic balance that resulted in embarrassingly bad steadicam during a fire/stunt sequence. Of course I spent some time re-thinking the setup and it is better now. . . but the relatively heavy bottom end and long gimbal to camera distance does amplify any crappy operating so I am having to really pay attention more than I normally would with the film cameras I'm used to.

 

The dionics are working fine. . .and it has been cold. The battery running the monitor and codex seems to work fine, although we have had a take lost due to a codex shut-down when the battery dropped below the codex voltage limit. We now change out the codex/monitor battery when the battery shows '3' bars to prevent a repeat of that failure. The 2 camera batteries are running everything else and seem to work fine with the Alexa/Preston/HD Transmitter/cinetape requirements. I have been getting a reasonable amount of time >30 minutes? but I do shut down everything when I can to save the batts.

 

As much as I disliked the F35/F23/Genesis cameras, I'm really surprised how much I like the Alexa. I do miss an optical viewfinder but I'm adjusting to the Alexa viewfinder. Hand-held is a joy much like a 235. 16 days into this film with 7 cameras and NO down time due to the cameras in rugged cold and wet conditions. I have seen the Arriraw taken through post and projected on a big screen and it is. . . really beautiful.

 

Disclosure: I have bought 2 Alexa cameras so I'm not an impartial source. I bought the cameras because I like them but I guess I do sound a bit like a shill. My cameras are not rented on this film.

 

Hope I've answered all the questions.

 

Neal

[Lawrence Karman]

Thanks for the comprehensive response.

[Alec Jarnagin SOC]

Neal,

 

Thanks for the great posts and pictures. I think that redistributing weight is the name of the game and I like the approach you have taken. I'm curios, have you tried mounting the codex to the back of the Nebtek monitor and returning the third battery to its original position on the base? This would of course get your gimbal to a more familiar position and replicate the mass of a green screen a bit more. If the codex is too much there, maybe put it on the back of the camera and move the HD transmitter to the back of the Nebtek?

[RonBaldwin]

maybe I missed it...so pardon if this is repetitive -- how much does the codex weigh? The Nebtek is roughly 2 lbs, and balances nice (for me at least) with an hc or boxx bringing it up to about 4 lbs.

[Jens Piotrowski SOC]

maybe I missed it...so pardon if this is repetitive -- how much does the codex weigh? The Nebtek is roughly 2 lbs, and balances nice (for me at least) with an hc or boxx bringing it up to about 4 lbs.

 

codex: 5.7 lbs, i would fly it on the back of the camera, just like a film mag and put the transmitter on the back of the nebtek, also i think neal's center post is extended, shorten it and you can move you gimbal upwards....