The ARRI SXU-1 (Single Axis Unit) is ARRI’s single-axis wireless hand unit for remote control of focus, iris or zoom — the simplest, lightest, and most focused tool in the ARRI ECS (Electronic Control System): designed around the philosophy of doing one thing extraordinarily well, weighing only 700g including battery, with a high-strength anodised aluminium housing built with the same legendary ARRI reliability and durability. It operates both wirelessly — via ARRI’s white radio system at 2.4 GHz with 8 channels and a range of up to 200m outdoors and 30m indoors — and wired via LCS connection directly from the ARRI camera or from the HPS-1 power supply unit. Its most common use on set: the perfect tool for the director of photography to control iris independently while the first assistant camera pulls focus with the WCU-4, on moving shots where exposure adjustments require dedicated and separate attention.
The SXU-1’s focus wheel is 3 inches in diameter, with a native 16-bit encoder resolution, LED-backlit for perfect visibility in low-light conditions. Its 1.2-inch high-brightness LC Display is fully readable in direct sunlight and in any lighting condition. It includes a remote REC and tally function, an ergonomic wooden handgrip, and a safety lanyard. Firmware can be updated in the field via SD card. It can be used alone — connected directly to the SMC-1 for a low-cost, minimal-complexity single-axis control solution — or in parallel with the WCU-4 so that two operators simultaneously control different axes of the same lens, expanding the ECS system without any additional configuration. Directly compatible with ALEXA Mini, ALEXA Plus, ALEXA Studio, ALEXA SXT W, ALEXA LF, ALEXA Mini LF and ALEXA 65 without any external receiver.
Perfect for: directors of photography who need to control iris independently during moving shots with delicate exposure adjustments, first assistant camera operators looking to expand the ECS system with a second operator for simultaneous two-axis control, and productions that need the highest-reliability ARRI single-axis wireless control solution at the lowest cost and with minimum complexity — 1 axis, 700g, white radio 2.4 GHz up to 200m, backlit 16-bit wheel, remote REC and tally, in parallel with WCU-4 or standalone with SMC-1, compatible with the entire ALEXA family without a receiver —, for feature films, series, commercials, Steadicam, crane, gimbal, and any ARRI ALEXA production where dedicated, specialised control of a single axis with ARRI precision and reliability is exactly what is needed.
