Confused about Arri Standard mount

[David Bowsky]

This is probably one of those questions that I'm going to realize was really silly once an answer or two comes along. I understand that Arri standard mounts were found on both 16mm and 35mm cameras long ago. Were just the mounts common, or were all the lenses fundamentally the same in terms of image circle and could be used on either format? Is there anyway to research or just know which lenses where used where in this mount type?

[Dom Jaeger]

There were lenses made for both formats in standard mount. Those designed for 16mm won't cover a 35mm frame.

 

With Cookes for example, it's fairly easy to distinguish them - Kinotels were for 16mm, Speed Panchros for 35mm.

 

Zeiss lenses are a bit trickier - generally you need to go by the focal length/aperture, and know which ones are which. The 16mm lenses tend to stick out further at the back, and obviously go to wider focal lengths. There's a comprehensive list of Zeiss cine lenses here:

 

http://cinematechnic.com/resources/zeiss_cinematography_lens.html

 

A quick test to determine what format a lens is designed for is to hold the lens facing towards a bright light source that also contains some contrast pattern (a window with open blinds works well) and hold a piece of white paper 2 inches behind the lens mount seat (or just play with it until a sharp image forms). If the image circle has a diameter that would cover a 35mm frame, it's a 35mm format lens.

[John Sprung]

Another thing to be aware of is the possibility that some lenses made for 16mm could hit the mirror shutter on a 35 camera.

 

 

 

 

-- J.S.

[David Bowsky]

Thanks!

 

After a bit of digging, looks like one can generally tell by the number of digits in the price as well. :lol: