How to make a DVX into an ARRI35

H

Haleyvision

Member
I got really board one night and decided to turn my DVX 100B into an ARRI35mm. I found some foamcore with a matte black finish, and constructed a 400' magazine using black tape to hold it together. Putting the finish white tape on the side ARRI 1/26/07 5247 Roll 1...It rocked! Fitted it to the top handle of the DVX...PURDY! Needed a matte box so I rifled through the recycles and found a Stoffer Lasagna tray... PERFECT... Sawed out a 4 by 3 and it fit perfect! I have to go...those guys in the white coats are coming again. Need to post these photos...Don't know how! Help. HaleyVision:violent5:
 
Did you shoot a roll yet?

Off topic, you can get a fairly decent 35mm camera from eBay - the Konvas - never tried one, but I've heard nothing but good reviews. Obviously it's not an Arri, but prices start at 500-800 dollar range and if you want synch sound, kits can be had for the 2-3 grand range.

They are rather loud and you do need a good blanket, but it's great bang for the buck and I've heard nothing but compliments in regards to the durability, image quality, and reliability (film goes through fine) of the camera and can't wait to buy one, once I get around to getting out of debt and buying the 100 other things I need LOL.

Great way it seems to get extra 35mm experience on your reel and resume without riding on some craigslisters coattails

And Andre Tarkovsky SHOT A FEATURE on this camera - Andrei Rubylev (ok I'm not sure on the spelling)
 
...I don't think he expected it to actually work, just aleviate boredom.
 
Psynema said:
Off topic, you can get a fairly decent 35mm camera from eBay - the Konvas - never tried one, but I've heard nothing but good reviews.
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I've got one, and it's ridiculously awesome for the price.

Let's re-emphasize something though: FOR THE PRICE! ;)

For under a thousand bucks you get a crystal-sync, motorized, through-the-lens viewing, interchangeable-mag 35mm movie camera. It's noisier than a fireworks exhibition, so you won't be shooting sync sound with it, but it spanks my old Eyemo all to pieces. I had mine converted to use still-camera lenses and XLR 12v battery.

I haven't used it in a few years, but it's built like a tank, it looks like something out of Mystery Science Theater 3000, and it's definitely the 35mm steal of the decade.

But you won't be shooting anything with dialogue! It's louder than Monica Seles in a tennis match. It's louder than a Ratt concert. It's louder than Herb Tarlek's suits. Seriously, it's quite a bit louder than my generator!
 
Hey, if you can design a film that needs no audio recording live, we could definitely shoot 35mm. I shot a series of spots on 35mm for the BBB that were all designed around being silent; the two lines of dialogue we had we just did Rodriguez-style. Those were on the Eyemo, but hey, they ended up generating an Emmy award and three nominations! On the Konvas I did a spot that ran for years for a Consumer Guide publication. It definitely has the "chops".

Get some short ends at a dime per foot, get some processing at a dime a foot, and transfer at a place that does $150/hour to DV, and we're shooting 35mm (for video finish) at a total cost of about $25/minute (so $500 for 20 minutes of source footage; at a 4:1 ratio that's enough for a 5-minute finished film.)
 
Barry_Green said:
Get some short ends at a dime per foot, get some processing at a dime a foot, and transfer at a place that does $150/hour to DV, and we're shooting 35mm (for video finish) at a total cost of about $25/minute (so $500 for 20 minutes of source footage; at a 4:1 ratio that's enough for a 5-minute finished film.)
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That sounds like a plan if I've ever heard one.
 
Barry_Green said:
I've got one, and it's ridiculously awesome for the price.

Let's re-emphasize something though: FOR THE PRICE! ;)

For under a thousand bucks you get a crystal-sync, motorized, through-the-lens viewing, interchangeable-mag 35mm movie camera. It's noisier than a fireworks exhibition, so you won't be shooting sync sound with it, but it spanks my old Eyemo all to pieces. I had mine converted to use still-camera lenses and XLR 12v battery.

I haven't used it in a few years, but it's built like a tank, it looks like something out of Mystery Science Theater 3000, and it's definitely the 35mm steal of the decade.

But you won't be shooting anything with dialogue! It's louder than Monica Seles in a tennis match. It's louder than a Ratt concert. It's louder than Herb Tarlek's suits. Seriously, it's quite a bit louder than my generator!
Click to expand...

Awesome - glad to hear another good review - can't wait to get one, but an HVX comes first.

There are people who have shot synch dialogue with it - they have to blanket it heavily though - and there was a major feature or two shot with it - although Tarkovsky dubbed his later in post I believe, but it is possible from what I hear.

You got a crystal synch one for under a grand? I've only seen the synch sound cams for about 3 grand.
 
Psynema said:
There are people who have shot synch dialogue with it - they have to blanket it heavily though
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Blanket? Encase it in concrete maybe, but I doubt that'd actually quiet it enough! :)

I looked into VocAlign as a way to be able to use it for sync sound. It actually wasn't that bad; I did some test shots and it could be used. But then it gets to the point of -- why? Why not use the right tool for the job?

although Tarkovsky dubbed his later in post I believe, but it is possible from what I hear.
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He would have to dub it in post. There is no way to work with this and record sound at the same time. Maybe for an outdoors shoot, using a telephoto lens, with a shotgun microphone right next to the actor... but indoors? Not without a full blimp. It is, I repeat, louder than my generator!

You got a crystal synch one for under a grand? I've only seen the synch sound cams for about 3 grand.
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Mine is a Konvas 1M, the black one. Most of the crystal sync kits you see are the 2M. The 1 comes in an older gray version, which isn't what you'd want, and also a later/newer black one. The black one normally comes with the 15EP non-sync motor; my kit came with the 17EP crystal motor. As far as the 1M and 2M body, near as I can tell the only substantial difference is the lens mount (1M = 3-lens turret, 2M = one lens) but I replaced the lens mount anyway so that becomes irrelevant. And with the motors you have to either use the weird Russian batteries, or get it re-wired for 12V XLR. That's what the guy who previously owned mine had done. So it's really a unique and rather ideal Konvas, at least for what I wanted.
 
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