Arricam
Arri's flagship sync-sound camera line, replacing the Arriflex 535.
Arricam is a line of 35 mm motion picture cameras made by Arri. This series serves as the company’s top-tier sync-sound camera system, succeeding the Arriflex 535 line. The cameras were designed by Fritz Gabriel Bauer and Walter Trauninger, and their construction borrows heavily from the designs Bauer created for his Moviecam company, which Arri acquired in the mid-1990s. As a result, the Arricam blends the mechanical and user-friendly innovations of the Moviecam with the interchangeable components and sophisticated electronic systems of the Arriflex. By 2006, the Arricam was regarded, alongside the Panaflex Millennium line, as one of the leading sync-sound camera systems in use, especially popular on high-budget feature films. The line includes two body models: the ST (Studio) and the LT (Lite). The Arricam ST is a full-featured camera that offers two configurations for mounting magazines, while the Arricam LT is designed for lighter, more compact use in handheld and Steadicam work, allowing only a rear magazine mount. Both models use motorized displacement magazines, feature electronic rotating mirror shutters positioned beneath the film gate (rather than beside it, as in Panavision cameras), and include independently adjustable sprocket pulleys inside the camera body.
Quick Facts
- Cameraline
- Arricam
- Models
- Studio (ST), Lite (LT)
- Manufacturer
- Arri
- Introduced
- 2000 (ST and LT)
- Gauge
- 35 mm
- Weight
- ST 8.15 kg/17.95 lbs (body with finder); LT 4 kg/8.8 lbs (body), 5.25 kg/11.56 (body with finder)
- Movement
- Five link with dual registration pins and pulldown claws, 3 or 4-perf pulldown, pitch adjustment
- Aperturesize
- .980" x .735"
- Apertureplate
- removable, includes gel holder
- Motor
- DC with quartz crystal control, separate electronically linked motors for shutter and movement
- Operatingnoiselevel
- ST <20 dB LT <24 dB at 4-perf.
- Lensmount
- Arri PL (Super 35 compatible)
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Arricam line comprises two camera body models: the ST (Studio) and LT (Lite). The Arricam ST is intended as a full-capability camera, including two camera magazine mounting configurations, whereas the Arricam LT is optimized for smaller, lightweight usage in handheld and Steadicam application, with only the option to mount the magazine in the rear position. Both cameras use motorized displacement magazines, have electronic rotating mirror shutters mounted beneath the film gate, and contain independently adjustable sprocket pulleys within the camera body.
Reader's Guide
The Arricam represents a fusion of the mechanical and intuitive design innovations of the Moviecam and the interchangeable accessories and complex electronic integration of the Arriflex. As of 2006, the Arricam is considered, along with the Panaflex Millennium line, the top sync-sound camera system currently in usage, and is extremely popular amongst bigger budget feature films. Its design was developed by Fritz Gabriel Bauer and Walter Trauninger, and is heavily derivative of the cameras Bauer created for his Moviecam company, which was bought out by Arri in the mid-1990s. The line's two models, the ST and LT, cater to different production needs while sharing core features such as motorized displacement magazines and electronic rotating mirror shutters mounted beneath the film gate.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Arricam?
The Arricam is Arri's premium 35 mm sync-sound camera line, introduced as the direct successor to the Arriflex 535 series. It occupies the top tier of the company's professional camera offerings.
Who designed the Arricam?
Fritz Gabriel Bauer and Walter Trauninger were the designers behind the system. Bauer's earlier work at Moviecam, a company Arri acquired in the mid-1990s, heavily influenced the camera's mechanical construction.
What models of Arricam are available?
The Arricam line is offered in two configurations: the ST (Studio) model and the LT (Lite) model.
How does the Arricam differ from the older Arriflex 535?
Rather than simply updating the 535, the Arricam merges the user-friendly mechanical design language of Moviecam with the interchangeable-component architecture and electronic sophistication of the Arriflex platform.
Why is the Arricam considered important in German camera manufacturing?
As Arri's flagship sync-sound system, it represented the pinnacle of the company's 35 mm camera technology by the mid-2000s. Its design philosophy of blending proven mechanical reliability with modern electronics set a benchmark for professional motion picture cameras.
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