In professional camera setups, a cable that is only a few inches too short can make a big difference.
For one ARRI ALEXA Mini setup, the standard 14-inch cable was not long enough to provide the necessary clearance around a Noga arm. The customer needed additional length while keeping the cable suitable for the existing camera rig.
The Challenge
The customer was using an ARRI ALEXA Mini with a Noga arm and found that the standard cable length was too short for the desired setup.
The original requirement was:
- Camera: ARRI ALEXA Mini
- Standard cable length: 14 inches
- Required additional length: approximately 4 inches
- Custom total length: 18 inches / 46 cm
- Length definition: including both connectors
- Application: Camera rig and Noga arm setup
Instead of changing the camera configuration or adding an unnecessary extension, a custom-length cable provided a cleaner solution.
The Custom Cable Solution
Alvin’s Cables produced the cable at a total length of 18 inches (46 cm), including both connectors.
This additional length provides more room for cable routing around the Noga arm while maintaining a simple and practical camera-rig configuration.
Custom cable length can be especially useful when standard products do not provide enough routing clearance or when the cable needs to follow a specific path around camera accessories.
Why Cable Length Matters on a Camera Rig
Cable length is not simply the distance between two connectors.
When building a professional camera rig, the cable may need to:
- Route around a camera cage or support arm
- Allow movement of a monitor or accessory
- Avoid excessive tension on the connectors
- Provide enough slack for repositioning
- Maintain a clean and organized rig
A cable that is too short can place unnecessary stress on connectors and restrict movement. A cable that is excessively long can create unwanted loops and make cable management more difficult.
For this reason, measuring the actual cable routing path is often more useful than measuring only the straight-line distance.
Custom Cable Manufacturing by Alvin’s Cables
At Alvin’s Cables, we support custom cable solutions for professional camera and production equipment.
Depending on the application, we can review requirements such as:
- Equipment model
- Connector type
- Connector gender
- Cable length
- Straight or right-angle connector
- Connector orientation
- Wiring and pinout
- Power requirements
- Special cable construction requirements
For complex or application-specific setups, customers can provide equipment information, connector details, reference photos, or other technical information for our team to review.
From Standard Cable to Custom Solution
This ALEXA Mini case is a simple example of when a custom cable can make a professional workflow more practical.
The customer needed only a few additional inches, but that small adjustment made the cable better suited to the actual camera-rig configuration.
Standard cable: 14 inches
Custom cable: 18 inches / 46 cm total
Length: Including both connectors
Application: ARRI ALEXA Mini with Noga arm
Whether you need a specific length, connector combination, cable direction, or wiring configuration, Alvin’s Cables can review your requirements and develop a cable solution for your setup.
Need a Custom Cable?
Tell us what equipment you need to connect, the required connectors, cable length, and any special requirements.
Our team can review the specifications and confirm compatibility and production feasibility before production.
Build your custom cable with Alvin’s Cables and get a solution designed around your actual setup.
