Information about crystal motors for the Arri S.

Neal Levendel · April 18, 2023

Hello,

I'm looking for information regarding what sort of crystal motors exist for the Arriflex 16S, which are the best, and how much they are generally.

Thanks in advance,

Neal

Robin Phillips · April 18, 2023

the tobin ones were the most recent made for them I think, IIRC they were actually made in the 90s. I've seen those go for as much as $800 USD

Neal Levendel · April 19, 2023

19 hours ago, Robin Phillips said:

the tobin ones were the most recent made for them I think, IIRC they were actually made in the 90s. I've seen those go for as much as $800 USD

Thanks. Could you tell me what models are on the cheaper end?

Aapo Lettinen · April 20, 2023

19 hours ago, Neal Levendel said:

Thanks. Could you tell me what models are on the cheaper end?

there has been some other small batch crystal motor designs for the 16s cameras but they are pretty rare overall and even rarer in working condition. The issue with crystal sync motors in general is that they are often from extremely difficult to downright impossible to get repaired if they malfunction badly. That is because they are technically complicated, often use obsolete parts and every single design is different from the other and very little to none documentation is available how to service them so it is trial and error and pure luck to try to get them restored.

From 500 to 800 is considered "cheap" nowadays for a fully working crystal sync motor for any camera model and the better ones easily go over a grand a piece. If it needs to be really affordable, then a non-crystal mains synced motor could do if used with a inverter (cumbersome yes but that means cheaper too) .

I can maybe arrange something for the arri16s later on, I am working on various crystal sync motor developing projects at the moment and can probably arrange something for that camera though it will likely be pretty advanced design and likely costing over a grand minimum

Joerg Polzfusz · April 20, 2023

Looks like Du All has sold its last new crystal sync’ed motor for your Arri:

http://www.duallcamera.com/store/CrystalMotors.shtml

In June 2016, the TCS TXM-22a and the TCS TXM-22 have been listed as „new“ for 995 US$ (thanks to archive.org for storing this information!)

It looks like the 22a was only for forward, while the „22 without a“ could also run the camera in reverse.

Edited April 20, 2023 by Joerg Polzfusz

Joerg Polzfusz · April 20, 2023

A description of the „22 without a“ on TCS‘ webpage in September 2000:

https://web.archive.org/web/20000919004615/http://www.tobincinemasystems.com/page7.html

Back then, it was the only available option from TCS for your Arri. Price was 995US$ in 2000.

Joerg Polzfusz · April 20, 2023

The version „without a“ was still in production in 2004.

In 2005, the version „with a“ got introduced: https://web.archive.org/web/20050214185847/http://tobincinemasystems.com/page5.html

Joerg Polzfusz · April 20, 2023

There was also the „24fps only“ model „Jensen Crystal Controlled Multisync Model 504“ by the Danish company „Georg Jensen“ for the Arri 16s.

And it looks like a company called „G.Thoma“ also produced such crystal sync motors.

Uli Meyer · April 21, 2023

8 hours ago, Joerg Polzfusz said:

And it looks like a company called „G.Thoma“ also produced such crystal sync motors.

Here is my Thoma Crystal sync for my Arriflex 2C 2perf. (The photos only load upside down, no idea why that is.)

Edited April 21, 2023 by Uli Meyer

Uli Meyer · April 21, 2023

Recently I bought two Tobin Crystal sync motors for my Arriflex 16 S. I have tested one and it is working perfectly. This second one I haven't tested yet. What is nice about them is that they are lighter in weight compared to the regular motors.

Duncan Brown · June 20, 2023

On 4/20/2023 at 5:11 PM, Joerg Polzfusz said:

There was also the „24fps only“ model „Jensen Crystal Controlled Multisync Model 504“ by the Danish company „Georg Jensen“ for the Arri 16s.

I posted about my Model 504 a while back:

Fabian Schreyer · July 4, 2023

Just to add some information: One observation of mine is that the original ARRI crystal sync motor seems to be the only one that has this feature where it always stops in the viewing position.

Duncan Brown · July 5, 2023

4 hours ago, Fabian Schreyer said:

Just to add some information: One observation of mine is that the original ARRI crystal sync motor seems to be the only one that has this feature where it always stops in the viewing position.

Well that would be handy! As I discovered with some Eclair motors this trick depends on you putting the motor on the body with the parts in the right orientation, then it just always puts it back there. I'll have to test my model 504 and see if it does that, if I assemble it properly - hadn't even thought of that, thanks for the heads up!

Duncan