Movie Making Manual/Cinematography/Cameras and Formats/D-20

Introduction
The D-20 is ARRI's concept of a practical digital movie camera. Like the Panavision Genesis, it uses a single image sensor the same width as a standard 35mm film frame, but unlike the Genesis, this also has the same height as a 35mm frame.

The D-20 uses a custom-designed CMOS sensor rather than the older CCD technology of the Genesis. Instead of the Genesis's RGB stripe filter, the D-20 uses a Bayer Array, similar to that used on digital still cameras. The CMOS sensor's "native resolution" (before the color mask is applied) is 3018 x 2200 pixels, which allows a 1920 x 1080 standard HD output with a resolution similar to the Genesis. Recording can be either on HD Beta tape or a hard disk array.

The D-20 is actually based on a modified ARRIFLEX 435 film camera chassis. It can use any "PL-Mount" cinematography lens, and was specifically designed to be as familiar in operation to a film camera operator as possible. In particular, it retains the rotating mirror shutter/reflex viewfinder that is standard on all ARRI film cameras, which allows the incorporation of a standard optical viewfinder.

This has the advantages that:
 * The optical viewfinder image can safely be used for critical focussing, whereas current model electronic viewfinders tend to have insufficient resolution for this.
 * No power is needed while setting up a shot, nor is there any particular need for a "video village" of monitoring equipment.
 * The camera operator can see outside the frame that is actually being recorded, so (s)he (and/or the focus puller)"can see what's coming". (A major shortcoming of all-electronic viewfinder systems is the camera operator can only see what is actually being sent out to the recording system).

At present (Oct 2005) the D-20 is still undergoing refinement and to date no commercial projects have been shot with it. It has been observed that ARRI seem far less serious about the D-20 than Panavision do about the Genesis, since the CMOS sensor it is based on was principally designed for use in ARRI's advanced film scanner, the Arriscan.

History of the D-20
Currently, as of during the Sundance Film Festival for 2006, there is only one ArriFlex D-20 located in the United States of America. In about a month from the festival, Arri Rental facilities should have the D-20 available for rent. However, rental prices are still unknown.

Rental Facilities
ARRI Rental Germany ARRI Media London ARRI-CSC New York Clairmont Camera, Los Angeles

Films made with the D-20

 * 1 day's usage on Tim Burton's Corpse Bride (2005)
 * 1 day's use on "Caged" - Short film (UK) Official Site
 * The entirety of Chapter III of Max Payne: Payne & Redemption (2006)
 * Virtually the entirety of The Company
 * German Short film Der Häfling des Monats (german: The Detainee of the Month)
 * Hogfather (post-production)
 * German TV-Serie "Afrika, mon amour", 3 parts, summary 270 minutes

Links

 * D-20 info on the ARRI website
 * ARRI News Letter: D-20 Tests

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