I wanted to share another item from John Hora’s fantastic collection of movie gear. This Mitchell Mark III is one of three cameras that I know about that were completed by Mitchell before they closed their doors. Design on this camera began sometime in the late 1960’s. Their intention with this model was to build a lightweight, silent, crystal controlled, reflex viewfinding 35mm camera suitable for location or studio work. Contemporary advertising claims the camera to weigh 23 lbs. without the lens, and to produce noise in the 30db or less range. The camera features a Mitchell Mark II-type movement with its famed dual-pin registration and pulldown, and a 170 degree adjustable shutter. This beautiful camera was left sitting for a number of years and consequently, the many drive belts that run the mechanism deteriorated, leaving it currently inoperable. Tragically, development of the Mitchell Mark III was abandoned, and to the best of my knowledge, only 3 cameras were completed. John clearly loved this camera and used it on many of his projects.
