Antique 16 mm waterproof cameras

Alastair Traill · June 7th, 2012, 06:44 AM

At one stage instead of housing existing cameras I made two waterproof 16 mm cameras. My starting point was to remove the movements from Arriflex S cameras and build these into waterproof enclosures. A major benefit was weight reduction, at that time a housed 400’ load 16 mm camera weighed about 95 pounds whereas my larger unit weighed 37 lbs and the smaller about 20 lbs.

Obviously no one would be interested in using them nowadays but I am having trouble bringing myself to scrap them. I was wondering if any one has a better use for such items?

A few specifications: -
Both used 400’ load magazines, both had basic control boxes on a flexible lead that could be used on either the body itself or a tripod.
Both had reworked viewfinders so that they could be used with a diving mask.
The larger one had a turret of three lenses so that I could select from a 12-120 zoom, a 55 mm Micro nikkor or a 55 mm Micro nikkor with a 2X televerter. I could also add or remove a close-up lens on the zoom.
The smaller one had a 6X zoom only. I could remove the front part of the housing for out of water use. In the rebuilding process I scrapped the Arri mount and replaced it with Nikon and made an adapter that converted Nikon to Arri. That is I could use any Nikon or any Arri Std lens.

For those who have forgotten 400’ of 16 mm film ran for ~ 12 minutes at normal speed, a single light work print cost ~ $0:50 per second, was not re-usable, had to be handled in a light proof changing bag and depending on the location it could be several weeks before viewing the results.

http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/images/a...attach/jpg.gif

Brian Drysdale · June 7th, 2012, 07:30 AM

There are quite a few camera collectors out there, a specialised camera could appeal. Also, some people do shoot regular 16mm for their own projects, so they might be interested, assuming the cameras are in running order or easily made to run with a service.

Unfortunately, I gather the Arri ST isn't an easy camera to modify to Super 16, although that professional market has mainly fallen way anyway.

Bob Hart · June 7th, 2012, 08:19 AM

Alistair.

What about enquiriing with ARRI themselves?

Gary Nattrass · June 7th, 2012, 10:40 AM

Get in touch with Films at 59 Bristol and see if they are interested, they are specialists in the wildlife shooting area and provide a lot of kit to the BBC for their wildlife filming.

Films at 59 - Pre and Post Production

Allan Black · June 7th, 2012, 03:35 PM

Congratulations Alistair well done, yep it'll be difficult to part with them.

Can I suggest before you do, get a buddy to shoot a vid (sic) with you explaining and demonstrating how you made them.
For future generations, Arri might like a copy and you could put it up on utube.

Cheers.

Alastair Traill · June 8th, 2012, 07:07 AM

Thanks Brian, Bob, Gary and Allan for the interest.

I really do not see these cameras being used again. Their format is standard 16 and even if it could be changed to Super 16 it would be a very big job. The major advantage of film is that the standards have lasted a very long time – 16 mm was introduced in 1923.

There is a film equipment rental firm here in Melbourne that has strong ties with Arri and as I learned today with the Australian Museum of Motion Picture & Television that originated in Perth (attention Bob). I will await the development of this institution with interest. At the moment it is collecting exhibits but as yet has no home. I have also started Googling collectors.

June 7th, 2012, 06:44 AM	#1
Alastair Traill Major Player Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 626	Antique 16 mm waterproof cameras – home wanted. At one stage instead of housing existing cameras I made two waterproof 16 mm cameras. My starting point was to remove the movements from Arriflex S cameras and build these into waterproof enclosures. A major benefit was weight reduction, at that time a housed 400’ load 16 mm camera weighed about 95 pounds whereas my larger unit weighed 37 lbs and the smaller about 20 lbs. Obviously no one would be interested in using them nowadays but I am having trouble bringing myself to scrap them. I was wondering if any one has a better use for such items? A few specifications: - Both used 400’ load magazines, both had basic control boxes on a flexible lead that could be used on either the body itself or a tripod. Both had reworked viewfinders so that they could be used with a diving mask. The larger one had a turret of three lenses so that I could select from a 12-120 zoom, a 55 mm Micro nikkor or a 55 mm Micro nikkor with a 2X televerter. I could also add or remove a close-up lens on the zoom. The smaller one had a 6X zoom only. I could remove the front part of the housing for out of water use. In the rebuilding process I scrapped the Arri mount and replaced it with Nikon and made an adapter that converted Nikon to Arri. That is I could use any Nikon or any Arri Std lens. For those who have forgotten 400’ of 16 mm film ran for ~ 12 minutes at normal speed, a single light work print cost ~ $0:50 per second, was not re-usable, had to be handled in a light proof changing bag and depending on the location it could be several weeks before viewing the results. http://www.dvinfo.net/forum/images/a...attach/jpg.gif Attached Thumbnails

June 7th, 2012, 07:30 AM	#2
Brian Drysdale Inner Circle Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Belfast, UK Posts: 6,152	Re: Antique 16 mm waterproof cameras – home wanted. There are quite a few camera collectors out there, a specialised camera could appeal. Also, some people do shoot regular 16mm for their own projects, so they might be interested, assuming the cameras are in running order or easily made to run with a service. Unfortunately, I gather the Arri ST isn't an easy camera to modify to Super 16, although that professional market has mainly fallen way anyway.

June 7th, 2012, 08:19 AM	#3
Bob Hart Inner Circle Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: PERTH. W.A. AUSTRALIA. Posts: 4,476	Re: Antique 16 mm waterproof cameras – home wanted. Alistair. What about enquiriing with ARRI themselves?

June 7th, 2012, 10:40 AM	#4
Gary Nattrass Trustee Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Cornsay Durham UK Posts: 1,992	Re: Antique 16 mm waterproof cameras – home wanted. Get in touch with Films at 59 Bristol and see if they are interested, they are specialists in the wildlife shooting area and provide a lot of kit to the BBC for their wildlife filming. Films at 59 - Pre and Post Production __________________ Over 15 minutes in Broadcast Film and TV production: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1044352/

June 7th, 2012, 03:35 PM	#5
Allan Black Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Sydney. Posts: 2,927	Re: Antique 16 mm waterproof cameras – home wanted. Congratulations Alistair well done, yep it'll be difficult to part with them. Can I suggest before you do, get a buddy to shoot a vid (sic) with you explaining and demonstrating how you made them. For future generations, Arri might like a copy and you could put it up on utube. Cheers. __________________ Drink more tap water. On admission at Sydney hospitals more than 5% of day patients are de-hydrated.

June 8th, 2012, 07:07 AM	#6
Alastair Traill Major Player Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Melbourne Australia Posts: 626	Re: Antique 16 mm waterproof cameras – home wanted. Thanks Brian, Bob, Gary and Allan for the interest. I really do not see these cameras being used again. Their format is standard 16 and even if it could be changed to Super 16 it would be a very big job. The major advantage of film is that the standards have lasted a very long time – 16 mm was introduced in 1923. There is a film equipment rental firm here in Melbourne that has strong ties with Arri and as I learned today with the Australian Museum of Motion Picture & Television that originated in Perth (attention Bob). I will await the development of this institution with interest. At the moment it is collecting exhibits but as yet has no home. I have also started Googling collectors.