Motion Picture Camera Notes

Southern Methodist University – Spring Term 2007
117 Umphrey Lee, Mondays 9:00-11:50am
Robert Flowers, Instructor

  • Intermittent Movement = start/stop
  • Film Loop must be maintained through gate
  • Film Gate = Aperture plate & Pressure Plate
  • NEVER CLEAN GATE WITH METAL OBJECTS!!
  • Use only:

Canned Air, Air-Bulb, Orange Stick, Arri-Stick

Chamois, (Thumb grease)

  • Pull-Down Claw = single or double
  • Registration pin = single, double or Quad (35mm)
  • Standard Shutter = 180 degrees – mirrored- 90 degree Bow-tie
  • Shutter speed = 1/48
  • Bolex shutter = 135 degrees
  • Parallax vs. Beam Splitter vs. Reflex viewfinder
  • Stroboscopic Effect – e.g. Wheel spokes
  • Motion Blur = smooth movement
  • Film Speeds 24 fps (sound) 18 FPS (silent)
  • Slow-motion = e.g. 64 fps —– Fast-Motion = 12 fps
  • Lens Mounts- C-Mount (Bolex) B-Mount or Bayonet (Bolex, Arriflex, etc.
  • PL or positive lock = Arri, Pana
  • Diopter = adjust for camera operator eye
  • Magazines typical sizes 400’ 800’ 1200’ on cores total darkness
  • Magazine types = Displacement or Coaxial
  • Camera Body 100’ day light spools
  • Video Tap = video camera that displays viewfinder image
  • Motor Types:

Hand-crank – human powered film transport

Spring Wound – wound spring produces energy

Variable speed – 1 fps – 72 fps

Constant speed – usually 24fps (not – crystal) sometimes slaved to audio device

Crystal Speed – runs exactly 24fps used for sync sound

Power 12 Volt (16 mm) or 24 Volt (16 and 35 mm)

  • MOS or non-sound 16mm cameras: noisy and do not run crystal sync*

Bolex REX-5

100’ Daylight spools

400’ MAGAZINE

Bolex REX-4

100’ Daylight spools

H-16 SBM (Bayonet mount)

100’ Daylight spools

400’ MAGAZINE

Beavlieu R16B

Zoom Lens 100’ Daylight spools

Battery Driver

Constant Speed

Built Light-Meter

Canon Scoopic 16

Built in Zoom Lents 100’ Daylight spools

Constant Speed Meter

REFLEX-Built in Lightmeter

Bell & Howell Dr 70

Spring-Wound 100’ Daylight spools

Parallax Viewing

Arri-S

Constant/Variable Speed 100’ Daylight spools

Single pin registered 400’ Magazine

Krasnogorsk-3

Spring Wound 100’ Daylight spools

REFLEX

Built-in Zoom Lens

* There may be crystal or constant speed motors available

  • Sound Cameras: all run at crystal sync 24fps and are relatively quiet

Arri-BL

400’ Magazine

Arri-SR Series

400’ Magazine

Aaton (various models)

400’ Magazine

CP-16

400’ Magazine

  • Lens accessories and support systems

Lens shade

Matte Box w/ support rods

Follow Focus

  • TRIPODs and HEADs

Fluid head

Gear head

Friction head

Ball or Mitchell Flat Base

Standard or Baby legs

Spreader or Spider

Hi-Hat

Low-Hat