As we celebrate the nation’s birthday, I thought it would be fun to take a look at one of America’s great camera manufacturers, the Mitchell Camera Corporation. Presented here is a slideshow showing the history of the Mitchell Camera Corporation, one of America’s premiere motion picture camera manufacturers. Beginning with the Mitchell Standard in 1921, […]
A Brief History of the Mitchell Camera Corporation Read More »
This week has been crazy busy with many projects, including work on the Super Baltar lenses I showed you last week. Along with my fellow members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences History and Technology Subcommittee, we have been preparing the Dykstraflex for its appearance at the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
A Guided Tour of the CinemaGear Showroom Read More »
Last week we had a sneak peak at the Moviecam SuperAmerica and the two Showscan CP65 cameras as a couple of the many ongoing projects on my plate right now. On my list of tasks this week were: sourcing and ordering new batteries for the SuperAmerica camera and magazine digital counters; begin planning the baseplates
Even More Too Many Projects Read More »
I know that I said I was going to work on the new display shelving unit for the showroom first thing in the new year, but I needed to get all of these pieces of VistaVision equipment cleaned up, repaired, and put away before I begin to make all that saw dust. I also have
VistaVision 400′ and 1000′ Magazines – Technicolor? Read More »
I had less time than I was hoping to work on the VistaVision butterfly camera this week as the Dykstraflex once again commanded my attention. I am part of a team that is preparing the Dykstraflex to be moved for display at an upcoming event in the new year. My week also saw me servicing
VistaVision and a Very Hectic Week Read More »
A number of years ago, I acquired this Mitchell VistaVision Butterfly camera with the intention of using it to shoot plates for visual effects sequences. When it arrived, all but one of the magazines were frozen closed and every bit of equipment had case foam adhered to it. I was able to use the one
Introducing the VistaVision Butterfly Camera Read More »
Those of you who have been following me for a while now know how much I love and admire Mitchell cameras. A few weeks ago, I was lucky enough to have Mitchell Standard no. 27 left in my care for some basic maintenance and tlc. This very early Mitchell camera was bought by MGM some
Restoring Mitchell Standard no. 27 Read More »
There is always a risk in selling something right after it comes into inventory, and the Mitchell 205 was a painful reminder of this. We put the camera on display right as it came in because it’s so pretty, and coincidentally a client came to visit a few days later and fell in love with
A Fond Farewell to the Mitchell 205 Read More »
Before I had a chance to inspect the Mitchell 205, a client came to visit my shop, saw the 205, and had to have it. Getting any camera ready to ship to a client is an involved process, particularly for a camera whose condition has not previously been assessed. As you saw in our previous
Mitchell 205 – It’s a Process Read More »
Every once in a while, some of the most unique things come across my desk. A few weeks ago, a friend of mine in Australia sent me pictures of Mitchell Standard #27 which he has been lovingly restoring. If this wasn’t unique enough, he also had something I had never seen outside of publicity photos:
Mitchell Standard no. 27 and Amazing Original MGM Bungalow Blimp Read More »
