The Mitchell KF8 is a 35mm aircraft reconnaissance camera built for the United States Navy in the 1950s. The camera body is based on the design of the Mitchell GC/Standard but adapted to capture high speed reconnaissance motion pictures from the nose cone of an aircraft. The viewfinder and L-base were omitted from the design, […]
Mitchell KF-8 Aircraft Reconnaissance Camera Read More »
These two ARRI 16 S cameras come from the collection of five-time Emmy Award winning photojournalist, author, and owner of video rental firm Videosmith, Steven Trent Smith. These early ARRI 16 Ss, variously nicknamed the “flat door ARRI”, feature the older style viewfinder optics and door castings. You can see in later examples of the
Two ARRI 16S Cameras – Now Available! Read More »
Now that I am fully back in work mode, I thought I would share with you a little more of what work had to be done to bring this Camera Equipment Company Gyro Head back to working condition. Originally, this gyro head had some sort of threaded center axle that did a couple of jobs:
A Camera Equipment Company Gyro Head Read More »
My family and I went on a much-needed weekend road trip to two of the most spectacular places in California this week, Yosemite and King’s Canyon, just to take a little break. One of the projects I started before we left was the restoration of a Camera Equipment Company Gyro Head. I had never seen
A Road Trip and a Gyro Head Read More »
A future project, fresh from the warehouse! This Mitchell BNCR has been waiting patiently for its turn to be cleaned, lubricated, and restored. Recently it has been moved into our showroom and we hope to start work on it in the coming months. It is a wonderful example of a spinning mirror reflexed Mitchell BNCR
An Upcoming Restoration Project: Mitchell BNCR 306 Read More »
It is rare in the used equipment business to find cinema gear like this that is virtually unused. A few years ago we acquired a moving truck full of cameras and other amazing production tools. In amongst these treasures was this Mitchell Camera Company accessory case filled with Mitchell Standard accessories, including a complete matte
A Mitchell Accessory Case Read More »
Two interesting items from the fantastic collection of filmmaker Steven Smith are these really well cared for, early, so-called “flat door” ARRI 16 S cameras. While I can’t date these cameras yet, I believe them to be earlier models of the ARRI S series based on their older style viewfinder optics and door castings. You
A Pair of ARRI 16 S Cameras Read More »
I’m sure everyone out there knows the frustration of finding that perfect, bargain Pro Jr. friction head only to find out that the pan handle is missing. A client called to ask if I had such a friction head in stock and I did, but minus the pan handle. I do have a giant box
A Replacement Pan Handle for a Pro Jr. Friction Head Read More »
One of the things that kept getting put off when we moved from our previous location at MovieTech Studios to our current location in Lawndale is organizing the many, many boxes of documents and printed materials I have collected over the years. Many of these items are service and parts manuals for various cameras, but
Almost Finished with Organizing and Labeling Our Library Read More »
One of the things we never really did after we moved was organize and catalog our small library of camera manuals, advertising, research materials, and other assorted historical documentation. We have been busy the last few days going through the collection, organizing and categorizing what we have, and trying to make a catalog. Just thought
Organization Chaos – Library Edition Read More »
