Fries Mitchell 35R3 #765

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Item #C14606

The Fries Mitchell 35R3 is one of the most versatile and compact high speed motion picture film production cameras of its time. Modified from an original Mitchell GC, the 35R3’s dual-pin registration and four-pin pull-down mechanism make for exceptionally steady images. This camera features a spinning mirror reflex viewfinding system, an orientable viewfinder, a PL lens mount, and a Sony XC-999 color video tap. It comes complete with two 400' magazines and one 1000' magazine. The most outstanding feature of this camera is its Jackson Woodburn DMS-120S motor. An Academy Award winner for technical achievement in 2002, this amazing motor allows you to run all live action speeds, high speed (slow motion), time lapse, and stop motion. All of these functions are programable from the motor's on-board controls as well as the included remote. Special thanks to Benedict Bannister at Jackson Woodburn for so kindly sharing the included owner's manual with me, along with some history of this parituclar motor and camera. According to the company’s records, Jackson Woodburn added this DMS-120S motor to the Fries 35R3 camera in 1998 for Charles Wittenmeier. Wittenmeier was a member of the independent production company A Band Apart, which was founded by Quentin Tarantino, Michael Bodnarchek, and Lawrence Bender in 1991. They produced feature films, television commercials, and music videos, with Wittenmeier directing commercials and music videos. This Fries Mitchell 35R3 camera is ideal for live action, registered plate photography, stop motion, high speed, motion control, animation, second unit, and MOS production due to the superior registration of the Mitchell movement, and the outstanding functionaity of the Jackson Woodburn motor. This camera began its life as a Mitchell GC, and was originally sold to the U.S. Navy in 1949. This Fries 35R3 package includes:

• Fries Mitchell 35R3 camera body
• PL lens mount
• Sony XC-999 color video tap
• two 400' Mitchell magazines
• one 1000' Mitchell magazine
• Jackson Woodburn DMS-120S motor
• camera case

This is the perfect second unit MOS or VFX production camera, ready to use on your next project!

A Brief History of Fries Engineering

Fries Engineering was established in 1973 by Doug Fries, whose career includes stints at Librascope, Photosonics, Mitchell Camera Co., Film Effects of Hollywood, Todd A.O., Cinema Research, Stereovision, and Cinemobile, among others. Fries Engineering is most famous for its 35R and 35R3 conversions of Mitchell cameras, but Doug has a much more in-depth history of providing equipment and technology to almost every corner of the motion picture industry. Doug first became interested in photography and photographic equipment during his time in the Air Force as a photo interpreter. Through good friends like Ed DGiulio, John Jergens, Lin Dunn, and Hal Scheibe, Doug was able to hone his engineering skills before he started Fries Engineering. Other notable projects Fries Engineering worked on include 40 cameras for Aardman Animations, IMAX, underwater cameras for Jacques Cousteau, the Mitchell AP 65 camera for Todd A.O., the Fries Directors Finder, and scratch-built Fries 435 cameras.

Sources:

1. Doug Fries, interview by Richard Bennett and Marc Wheeler, October 9, 2020.