Robert Borowski

This sounds like an invaluable resource, Tim. I can't think of anything specifically I'd like to see covered at the moment, but I'm sure others will chime in when word of the book spreads. Any ballpark on when it will be published? Robert

Thanks so much for getting the site back up and running, Tim. 16s users are still out there and your site is invaluable. Robert Borowski

Thanks for the info about the Panchros, Tim. I'll stick with the Kinetals for the BL. I picked up a 50mm, which works great. I'm keeping my eyes peeled for a 25mm with the shaved metal sides. Robert

Just curious...would the 50mm and 75mm Speed Panchro lenses produce a sharper image on the Arri 16BL than the Kinetals, or would it be a wash? Robert

Thanks for the info Dom and John. I did a lot of digging, and now I've got a couple of leads for the "wings" here in the US, so it looks like I'll be able to pick them up locally. I appreciate your input--and this thread may be of use for others looking for the same thing. Thanks, Robert

I have a Cooke Kinetal lens that's missing the "wings" that are normally attached to the barrel with two small screws. Does anyone know where I might be able to acquire this part? Thanks, Robert

Yeah, I recently picked this up from a guy in England. All I can figure is, years ago, before these lenses sold for high prices, a madman came home late from the pub one night determined to get the lens to fit into a camera and set to work with a file. How he missed hitting the glass is a mystery, because as Dom points out, the metal is shaved right up to the edge.

Here's what the wee beastie looks like, for anyone else who comes across one.

Okay, thanks Dom and Tim. I suspected it wouldn't work, and was surprised when the lens fit perfectly into the slot, snapped in place and focused, and didn't seem to interfere with the mirror when I gently turned the blades. But as you said, Tim, the whole mirror issue stopped me from turning on the camera. I was just curious, especially with the odd-looking filing job someone did to the end of the lens. It looks like they narrowed it down by hand with a file to make it fit a camera. Tim, I've been reading through your old posts and came upon your favorable comments about the Aaton, so I'll look into that camera as well. Thanks again. Robert

Question about the Arri BL and a 12.5 Kinetal lens. I noticed that the metal on my 12.5 Kinetal lens's bottom is shaved on both sides, as if someone filed it down to get the lens to fit into a camera of some kind. As an experiment, I rotated the mirrors on the BL to one side and slowly pushed the Kinetal into the camera, where it fits perfectly. I gently rotated the mirrors and there was no resistance. My question is this: is the Kinetal lens unusable on a BL because it's too short in comparison to other lenses and won't focus properly, or is the Kinetal lens unusable because the bottom of the lens is too wide and will hit the mirrors when the power is turned on? Granted, this lens may have been shaved to fit a different camera. My hunch is that no Kinetal lens is usable on the BL despite modifications, but I'm just curious if anyone knows why. Thanks, Robert

Hi, I recently purchased an Arri S. I wasn't aware at the time of purchase that the serial number on the body and outside door are supposed to match. As it turns out, the serial number on the outside of the door is completely obscured; it looks as if it was repainted. The serial number on the body is fine. Is there any way (other than having a technician look at it) to find the door's serial number? I assume the number was painted on by Arri and not engraved, is that correct? Thanks for your attention. Robert