Panavision Sued Over Unpaid Loans (http://news.doddleme.com/equipment/panavision-sued-over-unpaid-loans/)

I didn't realize how bad things have been for Panavision. There's a possibility Panavison can be broken up and sold by its creditors.
It looks like digital film has really taken its toll.

I used to drive by the Panavision offices in Woodland Hills all the time, now it's an apartment complex (they just moved around the block).

Any chances of Black Magic or RED buying Panavision?

Panavision is rental company, all the cameras and lenses they manufactured were for rent. A lot of their income would be from renting kit to TV dramas. They've probably over extended themselves internationally in recent years and the shelve life of a digital cinema camera is a lot less than a film camera, so making it more difficult to make a return from their own designs with just rental income.

Their rental fleet has the usual range of Alexa, Red and Sony large sensor and 2/3" cameras, plus the film cameras. There's a lot more competition in the rental market, with companies that traditionally serviced the broadcast market now having large sensor digital cameras in their rental fleet.

Another article: http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/supplier-hollywood-cameras-loan-default-563573

I have a feeling the poster that mentioned the short life cycle of digital cinema cameras vs 35mm film cameras has hit the nail on the head.

Panavision was known for the custom rental packages of equipment that only could be sourced from them for the most part.

Now that other brand names are the leaders in digital cinema I am sure it was difficult for them to adjust to competing as a rental company with competitors who pretty much could offer everything they did.

What a historic name. ARRI or Red would be smart to try and buy the name if the company is broken up and assets sold.

What a historic name. ARRI or Red would be smart to try and buy the name if the company is broken up and assets sold.

That's actually a pretty good idea.

Picking up the R&D from their 70mm digital cam would make sense for RED, but who would want to pick up their lenses? Zeiss? Surely not Canon. Unless Nikon wants to make a power move into the cinema lens market....

Panavision isn't just about camera rental, they own a lighting company (Panalux) and Lee Filters. Panavision lenses aren't mass produced, but can be based on glass from various manufacturers and ELCAN have been involved in Panavision's Primo lenses.

I recommend anyone who is truly interested in camera technology and history to make a stop by the Panavision facility in Woodland Hills and ask for a tour. While the facility has scaled down a bit from the previous building, it's still impressive (probably the largest prep floor out there, for instance). Visit their complimentary espresso bar and sip a latte while examing a museum lineup of their cameras including the venerable PSR and original Panaflex (the one used on Steven Spielberg's first feature) up to their last great film camera, the XL2. Against the other wall, the much shorter lineup of digital cameras include the Panavised F900 as used on Phantom Menace and the camera that pioneered the Super35 format for digital, the Genesis. A real curiousity is the Panacam, an early attempt at a video cinematography camera from the 80's (with optical viewfinder!). They also have an amazing gallery of George Hurrell prints from the "golden age" of Hollywood on the walls.

I personally think Panavision will pull through this, and while it's been a few years since I've worked with their gear, I spent some 12 years almost exclusively with it and I always admired it.

I remember the first time I was on a feature film set in a studio and they were shooting with a Panavision PSR.

Some great car stuff in "The Sugerland Express", they made full use the Panaflex. Many of the accessories we use today on all types of camera were developed by Panavision..

I once even had a panavized HVX200 for a production from them - but it was not much more than the Panavision sticker/engraving and a gear on the lens.

And I think that's part of the problem, there is not much they can do with modern video cameras, that sets them apart.

The Panavision F900 was rather different to the standard Sony version. It used Primo lenses, a different body and a full range of accessories.

It's the accessory system that make the Panavised cameras different. It's something they can do to a RED or an Arri Alexa, but not really worthwhile for most prosumer video cameras. Most broadcast video cameras I rented from Panavison were the same as from other rental companies.

I once even had a panavized HVX200 for a production from them

SWEET!

but it was not much more than the Panavision sticker/engraving and a gear on the lens.

Oh...

Here's a Panavized F55, slightly more than a label.

Panavized F55 | Film and Digital Times (http://www.fdtimes.com/2013/07/01/panavized-f55/)