Movie Cam Compact

[Guest Blain]

Hey everybody,

 

I just got a gig working on a 35mm film with the Movie Cam Compact. I was wondering if you could give me some tip pointers working with the camera. I have never used the movie cam compact before and just wanted to know what other people though about the camera. Things they ran into. Any special tools i will need for it. Ect. I will be doing a prep on the camera but would like to hear what every one has to say about it.

Edited February 5, 2009 by Blain

[Rob Featherstone]

It's a great camera! and really easy to assist on.

 

It has a little allen key that is the "key" to its configuration changes.

 

I believe its the same movement as an Arricam but it is very easy to load etc.

 

Have fun!

 

-rob

[Matt Irwin]

Yep, fantastic camera.

 

FG Bauer designed the Moviecams, which were then acquired by Arri, who had Bauer head the design of the Arricam system. There is a similar practical logic to both systems, and the movements are interchangeable, if I'm not mistaken.

 

As Rob mentioned above, the body can be built from naked and reconfigured with a 4mm ball driver. Very fast to change tops, remove the optical block, etc.

 

There is a covered data port on the dumbside to accept clip-on control boxes for functions like shutter sync, xtal speed control/ramping, etc. Similar to the smaller boxes on the dumbside of the Arricams.

 

I have on rare but notable occasion experienced rubbing on the 1000' mags, but not a harmful rubbing. If it happens, it will help to have the 2nd AC / loader give the mags a light pop on the bottom / dumbside in the center before handing it off to the 1st for a reload.