Standard's Adjustable Iris and Mat Controls
Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 1:18 pm
Hope it's OK to share some thoughts and passions about the Mitchell Standard's principle features WITHOUT seeming like a know it all. I am just amazed at how forward thinking John E. Leonard's designs were in 1917. We know that he revolutionized the rack over system compared to the existing Bell and Howell 2709's design. And also that George Mitchell purchased those patents to build what would become the Mitchell Standard.
But two other features were incorporated into all Mitchell Standards which I feel have been over looked when compared to the rack over system. They are the 4 Way Adjustable Mats and the adjustable Iris. The former was a feature which Mitchell kept all the way until the Mitchell BNCR (I believe). They allowed in camera effects to be easily accomplished by the twist of a knob. See white arrows showing the location of knob and one set of mat leaves. I find it humorous that the actual Leonard patent (I found on this web site's "Mitchell Patents" page) is tiled as: Adjustable Curtain for Cameras.
The other feature went away after the Standard gave way to the NC and BNC. It was the adjustable Iris. What a powerful feature to have when you might not have had enough flexibility with the f stop range of the lens you had to use. A super close up appears below.
No wonder the Standard became the most sought after camera in Hollywood. All this in 1921 no less! Someday I hope to own a Standard but the prices are climbing every year, if you can even locate one. If someone can double check me on this following fact, but I have heard that they discontinued the adjustable iris before the actual end of the factory production of the Standard. Can't remember where I heard that tho.
Respectfully,
followthefocus1
But two other features were incorporated into all Mitchell Standards which I feel have been over looked when compared to the rack over system. They are the 4 Way Adjustable Mats and the adjustable Iris. The former was a feature which Mitchell kept all the way until the Mitchell BNCR (I believe). They allowed in camera effects to be easily accomplished by the twist of a knob. See white arrows showing the location of knob and one set of mat leaves. I find it humorous that the actual Leonard patent (I found on this web site's "Mitchell Patents" page) is tiled as: Adjustable Curtain for Cameras.
The other feature went away after the Standard gave way to the NC and BNC. It was the adjustable Iris. What a powerful feature to have when you might not have had enough flexibility with the f stop range of the lens you had to use. A super close up appears below.
No wonder the Standard became the most sought after camera in Hollywood. All this in 1921 no less! Someday I hope to own a Standard but the prices are climbing every year, if you can even locate one. If someone can double check me on this following fact, but I have heard that they discontinued the adjustable iris before the actual end of the factory production of the Standard. Can't remember where I heard that tho.
Respectfully,
followthefocus1