The ARRIFLEX 35 (1937)

The development of the first industrially manufactured film camera with a reflex mirror shutter was revolutionary and groundbreaking. The reflex mirror shutter, as introduced in 1937 with the ARRIFLEX 35, is a design principle that is now incorporated in the design of every modern motion picture film camera. For the first time in history of moving pictures a camera operator could view the exact framing without any parallax errors. In addition, focus could now be judged through the viewfinder. This had not been possible with other cameras which used a range finder or rack-over mechanism. "This development was not simple at all," remembered Erich Kästner, then chief engineer, who created the ARRIFLEX 35 in cooperation with August Arnold. "There had been many patent applicatons for a camera with a reflex mirror, here (Germany) and in Ameria. But they never were actually executed. The main problem was that it was not possible to simply flip a shutter up 24 times a second, like in a still camera, and that a rotating shutter had to be used for a film camera. We angled the shutter and the mirror and combined them into one unit. The film industry was at first very skeptical if this would work." Well, it worked: In 1938 actor and director Harry Piel shot a few scenes of MENSCHEN, TIERE, SENSATIONEN with the brand new ARRIFLEX 35. The ARRIFLEX 35 was also exceptionally small and compact, allowing the camera operator a degree of creative freedom previously thought impossible; now they were able to shoot hand-held, while still controlling the exact framing. Because of its small weight, this camera was not only a favorite with feature film productions, but also with news photographers. In 1982, Dr. August Arnold and chief engineer Erich Kästner received the Academy Award Class I Oscar® for the design and development of the ARRIFLEX 35. Kästner was honored with the Gordon E. Sawyer Award for his lifetime achievement.  Academy Award of Merit (Statuette) 1982 - For the concept and engineering of the first operational 35mm, hand-held, spinning-mirror reflex, motion picture camera (reflex camera). (w. August Arnold - both of Arnold & Richter GmbH)  Gordon E. Sawyer Award 1992. 1 Scientific/Technical Award, 1 Honorary Award