Panavision PSR-148 35mm camera used on The Exorcist, The French Connection and other classic films. ...

Description

Panavision PSR-148 35mm camera used on The Exorcist, The French Connection and other classic films. (ca. 1950s-1980s) The Panavision PSR-148 was one of the original Panavision cameras. The PSR (Panavision Silent Reflex) was a remarkable camera in that it took the Mitchell technology and upgraded it to the highest technological possibilities available. This PSR had photographed hundreds of motion pictures in its original configuration as a Mitchell BNC owned by Metro Goldwyn Mayer. After Panavision partnered with MGM in the development of large format technologies for Raintree County and Ben Hur, Robert Gottschalk (president of Panavision) convinced MGM that he could develop a smaller camera to house the heavy equipment. Gottschalk began purchasing as many Mitchell cameras as possible, gutting the bodies so that the desirable movement could become the benchmark for their new, much smaller, lighter, quieter camera. This is how Mitchell camera #251 came into Panavision's machine shop where it was redesigned into the beautiful new PSR-148. It was remarkable for many reasons; most importantly it was the first studio reflex camera (other than 20th Century Fox's Simplex camera which was not available to any other studio). Zoom lenses were becoming more prevalent, making it more difficult for cameramen to see what they were actually photographing. The time had come for reflex studio cameras. As image technology became more sophisticated, studios and cinematographers were looking for a system that was more reliable. Gottschalk's great promise was offering a lens system where all of the lenses matched for resolution and color with the future promise that, linked with their camera system, cameramen could be assured greater reliability. In the 1970s PSR-148 was shipped to New York City. Although records are difficult to track, interviews with cinematographers and camera assistants have discovered that PSR-148 was the "Master Camera" on Warner Brothers' The Exorcist (1973) as well as The French Connection (1971), The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight (1971), Play It Again Sam (1972) and The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974). Camera includes a rare, Panavision 55mm Super Speed lens T:1.1 - 16. Includes a Worrall geared camera head and original Elemack Italian-made hydraulic Spyder dolly with removable operator seat, steering arm, leveling head, gib arm camera crane attachment, counter weights, low extension arm, studio and track wheels and (2) 10-ft. sections of dolly track. One of only a handful of privately-owned Panavision cameras in the world, Profiles in History sold Panavision PSR-153 used to film Star Wars in Deb(ca. 1950s-1980s) The Panavision PSR-148 was one of the original Panavision cameras. The PSR (Panavision Silent Reflex) was a remarkable camera in that it took the Mitchell technology and upgraded it to the highest technological possibilities available. This PSR had photographed hundreds of motion pictures in its original configuration as a Mitchell BNC owned by Metro Goldwyn Mayer. After Panavision partnered with MGM in the development of large format technologies for Raintree County and Ben Hur, Robert Gottschalk (president of Panavision) convinced MGM that he could develop a smaller camera to house the heavy equipment. Gottschalk began purchasing as many Mitchell cameras as possible, gutting the bodies so that the desirable movement could become the benchmark for their new, much smaller, lighter, quieter camera. This is how Mitchell camera #251 came into Panavision's machine shop where it was redesigned into the beautiful new PSR-148. It was remarkable for many reasons; most importantly it was the first studio reflex camera (other than 20th Century Fox's Simplex camera which was not available to any other studio). Zoom lenses were becoming more prevalent, making it more difficult for cameramen to see what they were actually photographing. The time had come for reflex studio cameras. As image technology became more sophisticated, studios and cinematographers were looking for a system that was more reliable. Gottschalk's great promise was offering a lens system where all of the lenses matched for resolution and color with the future promise that, linked with their camera system, cameramen could be assured greater reliability. In the 1970s PSR-148 was shipped to New York City. Although records are difficult to track, interviews with cinematographers and camera assistants have discovered that PSR-148 was the "Master Camera" on Warner Bros.' The Exorcist (1973) as well as The French Connection (1971), The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight (1971), Play It Again Sam (1972) and The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974). Camera includes a rare, Panavision 55mm Super Speed lens T:1.1 - 16. Includes a Worrall geared camera head and original Elemack Italian-made hydraulic Spyder dolly with removable operator seat, steering arm and leveling head. One of only a handful of privately-owned Panavision cameras in the world, Profiles in History sold Panavision PSR-153 used to film Star Wars in Debbie Reynolds The Auction Part II for an astounding $624,000, which was in a similar configuration as the example here offered. In production-used, operational condition. Comes with letters of provenance from Roy H. Wagner, ASC and Gary Muller, Camera Assistant on The Exorcist. From the collection of Debbie Reynolds. bie Reynolds The Auction Part II for an astounding $624,000, which was in a similar configuration as the example here offered. In production-used, operational condition. Comes with letters of provenance from Roy H. Wagner, ASC and Gary Muller, Camera Assistant on The Exorcist. Special shipping arrangements will apply.

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