I Bought 5 Broken ARRI ALEXAs for $1,250: Could I Fix One?
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The quick answer
I bought five broken ARRI ALEXA bodies for $1,250 shipped at the time of filming, hoping to put together one working cinema camera. After swapping parts and troubleshooting, one ALEXA Classic recorded footage that I could import and play back. The other two Classic bodies powered on, but their sensor problems remained unresolved, and the two ALEXA M bodies did not come with their separate camera heads.
The purchase price was just the beginning. I also needed parts, power, media and monitoring, so this is not a $1,250 ready-to-shoot camera kit. C7 Adapters provided the EF lens mount I used for this project.
Watch the first ARRI ALEXA repair video on YouTube
In this article: The deal | First tests | The camera that recorded | The real cost | FAQs
What came in the broken ARRI ALEXA lot?
The listing was for five broken cameras at $1,500. I offered $1,000 and ended up paying $1,250 shipped. That works out to $250 per body as a simple average, but it does not mean I bought five complete, working cameras for $250 each.
Three were ALEXA Classic bodies with sensor assemblies. The other two were ALEXA M bodies without their separate camera heads. The M uses a separate head and body, so those two were not complete cameras ready for a lens and a recording test. The condition and missing parts were a big part of the gamble.
I have always enjoyed taking things apart and seeing whether I can bring them back. An ALEXA had also been a dream camera for me, so a pile of broken ones was a tempting project even if the sensible outcome was far from guaranteed. You can see the whole lot in my separate unboxing and first impressions.
The first ALEXA Classic tests
My first candidate had a power input but was missing other pieces, including controls. It booted, which was encouraging, but it also reported sensor errors. I swapped in a control panel from another body and worked through the menus, firmware and media. A camera turning on was only the first hurdle.
I eventually found missing cables and boards behind the sensor in that first body. It did not produce a usable sensor image in my tests. That observation does not tell me exactly which missing or damaged part caused every problem.
Another Classic gave me a solid white sensor image. I tried swapping parts and checking the signal, but I could not get a normal picture from that sensor assembly. I suspected a sensor problem, though I did not have a confirmed professional diagnosis.
By moving the DC input between bodies, I could power on all three Classics. That was useful for testing, but it was not proof that all three cameras were repaired.
One ARRI ALEXA finally recorded footage
The most promising Classic gave me an image, although it initially looked pink. After viewers suggested that the infrared cut filter might be missing, I moved a filter from a donor camera. With the filter in place and the C7 EF mount installed, the image looked much more usable.
I also had a piece of debris show up in the image and worked to remove it. There were a few apparent defective pixels, and I discussed trying to mask them. The video does not establish the outcome of that later fix, so I would not call the camera completely sorted.
The important milestone was recording: I used a Sony 64GB SxS PRO card to capture 2K ProRes 4444 clips, then imported and played them in Final Cut. I also shot more footage with the camera. That proved this particular body could record and play back the clips I tested, even though it did not prove every feature worked perfectly.
See the troubleshooting, first recordings and results in part two of the ALEXA repair project.
The cost beyond the $1,250 purchase
Buying the lot did not give me everything I needed to shoot. Between the cameras I was missing pieces such as controls, card bays, a lens mount and power components. The project also needed a compatible power setup, media and a way to monitor and transfer footage.
For example, I mentioned a power cable at around $100 at the time of filming. A battery setup, SxS card and reader, and SDI-to-HDMI converter with a monitor were other parts of the workflow. C7 provided the EF mount. I do not have a verified complete total for every part and accessory, so I cannot honestly present this as a fixed-price kit.
If you are considering a used Classic, price the actual body and the equipment it still needs. My five ALEXA Classic drawbacks cover media, support and other practical costs. ARRI also has recording media compatibility information; check the exact camera configuration and card before buying.
Would I buy a broken cinema camera again?
For a repair project, the appeal was the challenge as much as the camera. I had several bodies to compare and use as donors, and even then the result took more than plugging in a battery. A cheap listing can hide missing assemblies, incompatible media and faults that are difficult to diagnose.
If I needed a dependable camera for a job, I would favor a complete, tested setup over a pile of unknown parts. Ask for a recording test, a clear list of included accessories and a realistic return or repair plan. My guide to buying used cameras covers the tradeoffs between different sellers.
Frequently asked questions
How much did the five broken ARRI ALEXAs cost?
I paid $1,250 shipped for the lot at the time of filming. Parts, power, media and other accessories were additional, and I did not establish a complete project total.
How many of the cameras worked?
All three Classic bodies powered on when I moved a power input between them. One recorded clips that I imported and played back; the other two had unresolved sensor-image problems. The two ALEXA M bodies were missing their separate camera heads.
Did the repaired ALEXA shoot usable footage?
Yes. I recorded 2K ProRes 4444 clips to a 64GB SxS PRO card and played them in Final Cut. A few apparent defective pixels remained a concern in the video, and I did not verify the outcome of the planned masking.
Is a broken ARRI ALEXA a cheap way to get into cinema cameras?
It can be an interesting project, but the listing price alone is not the cost of a working kit. Missing parts, media, power, monitoring and uncertain repairs can change the math quickly.
My verdict
Getting footage from one of these ALEXAs made the project worthwhile for me. It also showed how much work separates a camera that powers on from one that can actually record. If you buy a broken body, go in knowing that the remaining problems may not have an easy or inexpensive fix.
Keep reading
Watch more camera projects on FoxTailWhipz on YouTube.