ARRI, Panavision and Aaton have ceased production of film cameras

[NickTrop]

I really hate to post one of these threads, but I stumbled on this on Creative Cow and I had to (sorry). While everyone has been speculating about the effect of the financial health of Kodak...:

While the debate has raged over whether or not film is dead, ARRI, Panavision and Aaton have quietly ceased production of film cameras within the last year to focus exclusively on design and manufacture of digital cameras. That's right: someone, somewhere in the world is now holding the last film camera ever to roll off the line..."The demand for film cameras on a global basis has all but disappeared," says ARRI VP of Cameras, Bill Russell..."

Film Fading to Black
http://magazine.creativecow.net/article/film-fading-to-black


Actually, I think this is worse news than Kodak's solvency woes.

 

[filmtwit]

In the case of Panavision, they don't sell their camera's, they rent what they make.

 

[Vickko]

ummm, so, how is Fujifilm doing?

 

[NickTrop]

In the case of Panavision, they don't sell their camera's, they rent what they make.

Right, and most of the film production equipment business is a rental business as I understand it. However, this is important because a handful of feature film productions shot on 35mm is probably equivalent to all (of course, a wild guess) sales of single color rolls to consumers. Panavision and Arri stopping production of film cameras is a pretty big deal imo. It means that they're banking that the majority of feature films worldwide will no longer be shot on film.

 

[jsrockit]

ummm, so, how is Fujifilm doing?

I would think that its film cameras are a very minute part of its business.

 

[Roger Hicks]

Dear Nick,

There are a lot of film cameras in circulation, and if the percentage of digital shooting is rising (which it must surely be), there'll still be plenty of film cameras left for those who want to shoot film. Yes, there'll be a decline, and the only question is how fast; but I suspect that film itself will become uneconomic or otherwise impractical for movie makers before the available stock of cameras wears out. Movie cameras are BEAUTIFULLY made and highly reparable. Their demise is sad, in a way, but I can't get excited about it,

Cheers,

R.

 

[robklurfield]

arri ... the closest thing in movie equipment to a leica. woe to anyone who drops a 16S on his toe.

 

[NickTrop]

Dear Nick,

There are a lot of film cameras in circulation, and if the percentage of digital shooting is rising (which it must surely be), there'll still be plenty of film cameras left for those who want to shoot film. Yes, there'll be a decline, and the only question is how fast; but I suspect that film will become uneconomic or otherwise impractical for movie makers before the cameras wear out. Movie cameras are BEAUTIFULLY made and highly reparable. It's sad, in a way, but I can't get excited about it,

Cheers,

R.

I hear ya Roger - maybe it's because I've used Arri and Eclair cameras (and recently gave away my 16mm Revere) in the past (like, way in the past...) - and they are truly things of beauty, that this has me bummed a bit. It would seem to me from a production run standpoint that movie film production runs is what keeps some of these plants going for still photography? Dunno. When I think of film and that which is film-related, I think of Panavision and Arri as much as I think of Kodak, Leica, and Fuji. To me, saying Panavision or Arri is no longer producing film cameras, is like saying Leica is no longer producing film cameras.

 

[NickTrop]

MODS - sorry, posted this to the wrong forum didn't I? Somehow I missed those instructions. I'm not the most observant cat on the planet... ask my wife 😉

 

[Sonnar Brian]

In High School, early 70s- I filmed the Football games for my school, used a Super-8. Some of the schools used 16mm Ari's, beautiful cameras. Never used one myself, did own a Beaulieu regular 8 and Bolex.

Anyone taking a film making course? I have a beautiful Canon 814.

 

[Sonnar Brian]

MODS - sorry, posted this to the wrong forum didn't I? Somehow I missed those instructions. I'm not the most observant cat on the planet... ask my wife 😉

I fixed it...

Bet not many people knew we had a forum for movie cameras.

 

[Frank Petronio]

Well it is like Linhof, Rollei, Leica - they made such good cameras that people hold on to their old ones for years and years. Since there are probably hundreds of top-flight 35mm movie cameras already in circulation, how many more would they need?

I bet they service film cameras for many years to come and I bet they have a nice inventory of parts, trained technicians, etc.

But if I were a 25-year old, no I would not want to be a 35mm film camera tech, I'd be diversifying my skills.

 

[NickTrop]

In High School, early 70s- I filmed the Football games for my school, used a Super-8. Some of the schools used 16mm Ari's, beautiful cameras. Never used one myself, did own a Beaulieu regular 8 and Bolex.

Anyone taking a film making course? I have a beautiful Canon 814.

I'm teaching one now. But we're using my DSLR to shoot... But we used to use video camera... (Hey, I got to write a quiz and use the term "bokeh" in it... weee!) Even back in the day - when I took these courses, film costs were murder - even for black and white reversal. We used Bolex (even they were gorgeous), CP 16 for documentary stuff, and Arri... all gorgeous cameras (unless they jammed, of course).

 

[Michael I.]

this reminds me of the mass histeriya around film's death about 5-6-7 years ago. I guess we'll have to wait and see. Worst case scenario? I'll buy a DSLR(never owned one) and\or make wet plates for my speed graphic.

 

[filmtwit]

It is and it isn't. I'm surprised that they waited this long, but it also seems to indicate that they are still doing a decent business in film, it's just that it will no longer grow and will trail off.

What I actually find disparaging is the archiving side of all this. The big studios will still archive all this digital to film (which is good since film sits on a shift far better then any other mass media at this point). But most of the productions will stop using film as an archiving media over the next 10 years or so. Then things will really suck.

Right, and most of the film production equipment business is a rental business as I understand it. However, this is important because a handful of feature film productions shot on 35mm is probably equivalent to all (of course, a wild guess) sales of single color rolls to consumers. Panavision and Arri stopping production of film cameras is a pretty big deal imo. It means that they're banking that the majority of feature films worldwide will no longer be shot on film.

 

[Michael I.]

If film is gone in 10 years, it will be sad, but I guess I dont know where will I be then.
The still film camera buisness is dead, because they made very good ones in the past. I use cameras msde from the 40ties to the 90ties and wouldnt buy a new one.
A used one, maybe.

 

[David Murphy]

I've used the Arri-16, the original Eclair, and the B&H Filmo -- all fabulous cameras. If I had money to burn I'd be using them as a hobby still to this day. The Eclair produced first rate results, but was often in the shop. The Arri's are durable beasts for sure. Of course the Eclair was a synced incredibly quiet sound camera, so it should probably be more aptly compared to the Arri-16 BL.

 

[DominikDUK]

The Movie camera Market and the Leica Market have the same problem superior products with superior durability competing with the the used market. A new digital Cine Camera even a top notch one is at least 20 000 - 30 000 $ cheaper than a new Filmcamera. New Aaton Penelope 120 000$, New Arricam Lite 137 000 $, used Moviecam Compact $ 28 000, Used Mitchell BNCR 3500 - 5000$ The Penelope was supposed to be a cheap entry into the 35mm Business they just forgot that someone whose movies have a Budget of less than a 1 Million don't have that kind of money. I admit I'd buy one in a NY Minute if I had the money.

Dominik

 

[Steve M.]

To be honest, I've been around film photography longer than I'll admit here, and I've never heard of those cameras. Obviously their going out of business isn't going to have any effect on my shooting. In a similar vein, if Ferrari and Mclaren were to fold tomorrow, I would be sad, but it would have 0 effect on my automotive needs.

 

[DominikDUK]

Dear Steve these cameras have in fact a tremendous impact on your photography without them Kodak and Fuji would no longer produce Film. Kodak primary income is from Motion Picture Film not Still photography.

Dominik