You all know how much I enjoy playing with this equipment. This afternoon I was revisiting John Hora’s Mitchell MK II S35R camera. It brought back to mind how much I hate the door on this camera, but love everything else the camera can do. John’s camera features the BNCR hard front, a swing-away video tap, and a Fries Engineering crystal motor. The magazine John put on this camera is from his Cinema Products XR35, which was sadly lost when John passed away.
![Mitchell S35R MK II with the video tap in the shooting position](https://cinemagear.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/hora-mitchell-s35r-mk2-1-1024x1024.jpg)
![Mitchell S35R MK II with the video tap in the door-open position](https://cinemagear.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/hora-mitchell-s35r-mk2-2-1024x1024.jpg)
The MK II represents a step forward in high speed 35mm spinning mirror reflex cameras, capable of shooting from 1 frame per second to 128 frames per second. It features many of the same conveniences that Mitchell cameras were famous for, like a variable shutter, as well as critical focus, contrast filter, and color filter all built into the viewfinder door.
![Mitchell S35R MK II with the camera door open](https://cinemagear.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/hora-mitchell-s35r-mk2-3-1024x1024.jpg)
![a close-up on the high speed movement of the Mitchell S35R MK II](https://cinemagear.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/hora-mitchell-s35r-mk2-4-1024x1024.jpg)
The Mitchell MK II S35R uses NC style magazines, and this model can still use the shoulder mounted magazines if you can find them (though I don’t know why you’d want to). While not Mitchell’s most elegant design, this camera is easy to thread, easy to maintain, features a lot of accessories, and can be used for animation, live action, or high speed cinematography, all in one reasonably portable package.
![the Mitchell MK II S35R from the operator’s position along with the shoulder mount magazine port](https://cinemagear.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/hora-mitchell-s35r-mk2-5-1024x1024.jpg)
![the Fries crystal motor and the shoulder mount magazine port on the the Mitchell MK II S35R](https://cinemagear.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/hora-mitchell-s35r-mk2-6-1024x1024.jpg)
Mitchell did manufacture a blimp for the MK II (which I had the misfortune of picking up once, do not recommend) which did make the camera reasonably quiet. The two blimps I have used were not super quiet, but if you need a spinning mirror reflex high speed camera, this is a pretty good choice.
![the BNCR hard front on the the Mitchell MK II S35R](https://cinemagear.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/hora-mitchell-s35r-mk2-7-1024x1024.jpg)
![the riser and accessory plate designed and built by my mentor John Russel of JAR Enterprises](https://cinemagear.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/hora-mitchell-s35r-mk2-8-1024x1024.jpg)