Panavision Cameras - Panaflex and Panaflex Gold

Panaflex and Panaflex Gold

Panaflex (1972)

Panaflex-X (1974)

Panaflex Lightweight (1975)

The Panaflex Lightweight is a sync-sound 35 mm motion picture camera, stripped of all components not essential for work with 'floating camera' systems such as the Steadicam. Contemporaneous cameras such as the Panavision Gold II can weigh as much as 60 lb (27 kg) depending on configuration. The Panaflex Lightweight II (1993) is crystal controlled at one-frame increments between 4 and 36 frames per second, and has a fixed focal-plane shutter. 200°, 180°, 172.8° or 144° can be installed by Panavision prior to rental per the customer's order. This camera is still available through Panavision.

Panaflex Gold (1976)

Panaflex Gold II (1987)

The Panaflex Gold II is a sync-sound 35 mm motion picture camera. It is capable of crystal sync at 24 and 25 or 29.97 frame/s, and the non-sync speed is variable from 4-34 frame/s (34 frame/s is the figure provided by Panavision; the Gold II can safely run up to 40 frame/s, crystal controlled with a special board which can be fitted on request). It has a focal-plane shutter which can be adjusted from 50-200° while the camera is running, either by an external control unit or manually turning a knob. Improvements over the Panavision Gold include a brighter viewfinder. While the movement remains essentially the same as the original Panaflex movement introduced in 1972, the Gold II's dual registration pins are "full-fitting" according to Panavision, implying a more precise grip on the film during exposure and thus greater sharpness. This camera is still available through Panavision.