If you’re a filmmaker or cinematographer, you’ve probably dreamt of owning an ARRI ALEXA 35—the industry’s gold standard for digital cinema cameras. But let’s be real: the price tag has always made it more of a rental house favourite than an option for indie filmmakers or owner-operators.

Now, ARRI has dropped a more affordable version: the ALEXA 35 Base model. Sounds exciting, right? But before you start reaching for your wallet, there’s a catch—it’s feature-locked unless you pay for software upgrades.

So, is this a smart way to make the ALEXA 35 more accessible? Or is it a frustrating new trend of “pay-to-play” filmmaking? Let’s break it down.

What’s the Difference Between ALEXA 35 Premium and Base?

At first glance, the ALEXA 35 Base model and ALEXA 35 Premium look identical. In fact, they share the exact same hardware—same Super 35 sensor, 17 stops of dynamic range, and industry-leading image quality.

The only visual difference? A blue jog wheel on the Base model to help rental houses tell them apart.

The real distinction is in the software. The Base model has a core feature set but locks away some of the premium functions—until you pay to unlock them.

What Features Are Locked?

If you go for the Base model, here’s what you’ll be missing out of the box:

• 120 fps recording – No high-speed frame rates unless you pay.
• ARRIRAW support – Want uncompressed image quality? That’s extra.
• Open Gate/Anamorphic modes – No full 4.6K sensor readout unless unlocked.
• Pre-record – Need to capture moments before hitting record? That’s locked.
• ARRI Look features – No in-camera textures, Look Library, or Custom Color Management.

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But here’s where it gets interesting—you can rent these features.

ARRI’s New Pay-As-You-Go Model

Instead of committing to a fully specced camera, ARRI is letting you buy temporary software licenses for:

• 7 days
• 30 days
• 1 year
• Permanently

For indie filmmakers or short-term projects, this could actually be a game-changer. Imagine needing ARRIRAW for just one shoot—now you can activate it only for that job, without paying full price upfront.

Cheaper Media: Codex Compact Drive Express

It’s not just the camera that’s getting a price cut. ARRI has also introduced the Codex Compact Drive Express 1TB, which is 40% cheaper than the original Compact Drive 1TB.

Here’s what you need to know:

• Same write speeds & fps support as the original drive.
• Only records ProRes (no ARRIRAW support).
• Identified by a white ring to differentiate it from pricier Compact Drives.

For productions using only ProRes, this could significantly cut storage costs, making the Base model even more attractive.

Who Is the Arri ALEXA 35 Base Model For?

So, who benefits from this new model?

🎬 Indie Filmmakers & Owner-Operators – Get ALEXA 35 quality at a lower cost, with the ability to scale up features as needed.
🎥 Rental Houses – Offer a cheaper entry point for productions while letting clients upgrade features per project.
🏎️ Specialty Shoots – Sports, commercials, or music videos that don’t always need ARRIRAW or Open Gate can save big upfront.

On the flip side, if you regularly use high-end features, you might be better off buying the Premium model outright—because unlocking everything permanently will cost the same as a full Premium model anyway.

Final Thoughts – A Smart Move or a Step Back?

ARRI’s move to a modular, upgradeable camera is undeniably smart. It lowers the entry price and gives filmmakers the freedom to buy features only when needed.

But is this a slippery slope? Will more camera companies start locking features behind paywalls? And will filmmakers end up paying more in the long run?

That’s up for debate.

One thing’s for sure: ARRI is making its high-end image quality more accessible than ever, and that’s something worth talking about. Want to up your filmmaking skills? Check out our upcoming Cinematography and Lighting Courses.