Arri BL3 Anamorphic kit for sale

Paul Spurrier · January 17, 2007

Arriflex 35mm BL3 kit

This entire package is in excellent working condition.

It has been regularly maintained.

The camera has run a steadiness test on film which will be included on delivery.

The pictures on this page are all pictures of the actual kit sold, and everything you see is included. (Sorry if some of the pictures are not as sharp as I would like. Hopeless digital camera!)

This kit was put together for the production of a feature film using the 35mm anamorphic widescreen format. The film has shown at a number of international festivals and is now in distribution worldwide. (www.pbar.info )

It took almost three years to build the perfect kit at an economical price.

The camera gate itself had to be laser cut to full-frame (anamorphic uses a slightly taller frame size) by specialists in the UK.

(Note that this doesn't in any way disable the camera from shooting 'normal' 1:1.85 or Academy frames.)

The three Lomo lenses were pulled together from Russia, the Ukraine and Poland. They all film in anamorphic 1:2.35 format.

There are two type of Lomo anamorphic lenses available. These are the round front type - a newer design. They are in absolutely perfect condition. You will not find a finer set of these lenses. All three - 35mm, 50mm, and 75mm have been adapted for PL use. The adapters were engineered by Steve Morton - Lomo expert - in Australia, then the adapters were mounted and collimated by Arri in the UK.

The 35BAC27-1

35mm PL-mount T2.6

The 35BAC22-2

50mm PL-mount - T2.4

35BAC23-2

75mm PL-mount - T2.4

Steve Morton also added a rear Lomo anamorphic adapter to the 25-250mm Angenieux, so that it is compatible with the three Lomo lenses. Normally, one would use the primes, but the zoom also takes a fine picture that I have intercut with no problem with film taken by the primes, and obviously gives you much more at the telephoto end. The lens itself is as good an example of this lens as you will ever find. The optics are perfect. Not a blemish, scratch or speck of dust. The rear anamorphic adapter works very well with this lens. It could of course be easily removed if you wanted to use the Angenieux without. Note that some of these 25-250mm lenses are not in great condition nowadays. Please don't confuse them with this perfect specimen.

Lenses are in a Pelican case with professionally cut foam.

Everything in this whole kit is complete and in perfect working order.

The camera is Serial No.: 35817.

The BL3 is of course a giant leap from the BL2 in terms of noise. It also has a standard PL-mount and does not require a lens blimp. This particular camera seems extremely quiet. I will include, but haven't taken a picture of - a barney for the 400ft mags. I have never had any trouble with noise from the camera even when taking close-ups.

The camera comes with cap for lens mount, and magazine well cover.

It also comes with a handgrip.

And a variable speed control, with the correct dial in place for the 35BL

The mags are both in smooth, clean, perfect order. One looks a little cleaner than the other, but they both work fine.

They come in a sturdy case, and both magazines have loop protectors.

The kit includes the bridgeplate for attaching to tripod heads.

And includes an MB-14 mattebox.

This is the large 6.6 x 6.6 format - two stage - both stages included.

Eyebrow and sidebrows are both included.

19mm rods are included.

The mattebox is in extremely good condition. It looks virtually new.

Two 'donuts' are included for standard diameter lenses.

Normally one would use a large 12-voltage 'brick' type battery for these cameras. I have had a lot of success also using cheap NP1 batteries, using the included NP1-4pinXLR adapter.

Both camera and magazines are in solid flightcases.

If you are interested in shooting in the widescreen 'Cinemascope' anamorphic format (without adding complex optical lab processes), this really is the perfect kit. If you had to build up the kit yourself, adapt the lenses, etc., this would take a lot of time and effort. I imagine some people might be just looking for a BL3, whilst others might be just looking for the lenses. I am obviously reluctant to break up the kit, since it all works so well together.

I've priced the package thinking around $15,000 for the camera body and mags, $6000 for the lenses, and $3000 for the mattebox, bridgeplate and bits and pieces.

TOTAL: $24,000

I will ship worldwide.

Thank you.

Paul Spurrier

contact me at:

paul@paulspurrier.com

or via skype: paulspurrier