ARRIFLEX 435 Xtreme Camera

$22,000
Item #C13072

Launched in 1995 as a successor to the Arriflex 35 III, the Arriflex 435 became an industry standard MOS camera. Introduced concurrently with the 435 was the 435 ES which added an Electronic shutter. Six years later, the 435 Advanced was introduced, adding a motion control interface, slow ramping for Steadicam and crane shots, and a new speed control accurate from 0.1 fps to 150 fps. The popularity of the 435 Advanced led to the launch in 2004 of the 435 Xtreme. The 435 Xtreme added ARRIMOTION for stop motion or go motion photography, ARRIMOTION for frame accurate speed ramping, an integrated modular wireless radio unit, integrated lens motor electronics, the Lens Data System, and a new faster, smoother ramp module that generated ramps from 0.1 fps to 150 fps. The Arriflex 435 Xtreme we have on offer includes: two 400' magazines, the FEM-2 (Functional Extension Module), the URM-3 (Universal Radio Module), top carry handle, PL lens mount, the swing-over F-3 Finder and eye piece, a 1.37 ground glass, an HDTV Safe S35 ground glass, a TV Safe S35 ground glass, and a 1.85 ground glass. The Integrated Video System on this camera is PAL format.

A Brief History of ARRI

ARRI was founded by August Arnold and Robert Richter in Munich, Germany in 1917. Friends from school, Arnold and Richter already had some experience in the motion picture business, having worked as cameramen and lab technicians. They began their business by building a film copying machine using parts out of an old film projector they purchased secondhand. While sales of their machine were going well, both men continued their work in many aspects of the movie business, including as cinematographers, producers, and lighting technicians. In 1918, they worked on their first film with director Fred Stranz, a western called "Der Schwarze Jack" (or Black Jack).

By 1920 they were producing their own short films, and using the profits to improve their printers. In 1924, Arnold began designing their first motion picture camera, the KINARRI 35, as well as their first lighting equipment. This camera was completed by 1925 and Arnold sent it to Richter in the United States where he had gone to learn about the American film business. Their second camera, the TROPEN, which featured an adjustable rotary shutter, was produced during this time as well. In 1928, the KINARRI 16 was developed for an amateur filmmaking audience, along with a 2nd more advanced model that featured an internal spring wind mechanism. In 1934, with sound films now dominating the market, ARRI developed a portable sound camera, but patent issues prevented it from being sold commercially. Success came soon after though.

In 1937, the ARRIFLEX 35 was released, a revolutionary handheld spinning mirror reflex 35mm motion picture camera that featured a spinning mirrored shutter and a parallax-free erect image viewfinder. This design, which saw many innovations and updates after its introduction, was produced until 1978. The Arriflex 35 is a World War II vintage camera, and saw use by the German military during the war. Some early examples of the ARRI 35 were captured by American troops and brought back to the US. In 1946, ARRI introduced the next generation of this camera, the Arriflex 35 II. So influential was the Arriflex 35 series of cameras, that it was awarded an Academy Award of Merit in 1983 for "the concept and engineering of the first operational 35mm, hand-held, spinning mirror reflex, motion picture camera."

The Arriflex 35 II B model was released in 1960, and featured a new transport claw design and a fixed 180-degree shutter. In 1964, the Arriflex 35 II C model was introduced, bringing with it an improved viewfinder system with larger viewfinder optics, interchangeable ground glasses, an interchangeable eyepiece, and a variable shutter. The Arriflex 35 II C was manufactured through 1979. In 1979, ARRI introduced the Arriflex 35 III camera, a successor to the ever-popular 35 II C. The Arriflex 35 III was a spinning mirror reflex camera that featured single pin registration, a variable shutter (adjustable from 15 degrees to 135 degrees), interchangeable doors, and an interchangeable ground glasses.

Sources:

1. Jon Fauer, "The History of ARRI in a Century of Cinema", ARRI, updated 2021, View source.
2. "100 Years Inspiring Your Vision", updated 2017, View source.
3. Jorge Diaz-Amador, "Camera Profiles - Arriflex 35-II Series," updated 2020, View source.