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 can see in later examples of the ARRI S/ST that the camera door housings were updated to accommodate the improved optical viewfinding system.
I took some time this week to look through these two cameras and get them cleaned up, oiled, and tested. Both cameras ran well, and the included variable speed motors ran like new. One of the cameras is equipped with a 16mm, 25mm, and 50mm Schneider Cine Xenon lens set, all of which were checked on the collimator. And the other camera is fitted with an Angeineux 9.5-57mm zoom lens which was also collimated. I didn’t have time to take all the necessary photographs of them yet, but the cameras should both be listed on our website in the next week or two.
