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8perf VistaVision?


Sanji Robinson

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It's interesting that it was used on "Tron" -- I was just about to re-read that old Cinefex issue on it. The final post must have been complicated on that film since they did a lot of their efx in VistaVision but the live-action non-Tron scenes were shot in 65mm.

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Like Tyler said, this would not be a good choice for live action. Camera was built for a film recorder, as described below.

 

 

35mm Stein Mitchell VistaVision camera, serial number 10.

This VistaVision camera shoots 8 perf frame 35mm film, as opposed to the standard 4 perf 35mm film and provides a large format original for feature filming. It is called a Stein Mitchell because it was built by a Mr. Stein and utilizes a Mitchell movement, except that the stroke is 8 perfs rather than four. It certainly runs 24 frames per second, but because the frames are twice as big that means that film is moving through the camera at 180 feet per minute, rather than 90 feet a minute.
The camera was owned by Digital Effects Inc.; the company purchased the camera in 1981 and used it as a single frame transport to film on the Dicomed, a CRT color film recorder. All of the sections Digital Effects produced for the original TRON were made using this camera.
Digital Effects purchased the camera from Murray Learner, who used it for shooting some of his features. I do not know how he came to own the camera. Likely it was made in the 1950s, when the VistaVision format was introduced.

It does not come with any lenses or live action motor, it does come with a single frame stepping motor. We do have Mitchell magazines which we could sell in addition to the camera. Most certainly the camera runs at full speed flawlessly.

MORE INFORMATION: In response to questions, we wish to report that this movement has two (not three) registration pins with one claw with (obviously) a very long stroke. The shutter appears to be a single blade of approximately 180 degrees. And yes, the camera is a rackover. Weight with the case is 72 pounds.

Mark in Salt Lake City (ebay ksa50) advises that he owns an earlier one of these camera and that he has drawings he acquired from ILM to convert the camera to reflex operation and we will be happy to pass along his contact information to any purchaser of this camera (although his plans are not part of this offering).

He also ads a bit more history about this instrument "There are less than ten of these cameras still in existence. Originally it was a camera built for two color cinematography known as Fox Nature Color. It had a largish lens that was actually a dual lens. Kodacolor filters snapped in the front half of the lens. Believe it or not the Stein Machine Company is still there in Rochester and the great Grandson has one of these cameras in original condition."

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