American Cinematographer - November 1990 - 45

Francis and Vacano
use VariCon

finished

VariCon 1 LC Effect
Eastman Kodak Test,

5248 Negative

(Continuedfrom Page 41)

Isadore Mankofsky,
Tests VariCon

eye

used

The results of Kodak's recent
VariCon lab test visually
describe where VariCon affects
film contrast: in the toe of the
film's response curve.

underexposed area of the gamma
without distorting or otherwise
affecting the linear portion of the
response curve. Again, if you'd like
copies of this chart, call Steve Cham¬
cun/e

Kodak, always interested in
that affect the latitude and
performance of their films, recently com¬
pleted a series of lab tests on the
Eastman

processes

berlain in New York

at (914) 3531400, or Bill Russell in Los Angeles at
(818) 841-7070.

VariCon "effect." The data collected is

The ARM 35 Book
Additions & Corrections
The ARRI 35 Book, publ ished in May
of this year, is our 300 page/300 illustra¬
tion "textbook" on two of the most popular
35mm cameras in use in the industry today:
the 35BL and 35-3. It's the companion to
The 16SR Book, also authored by direc¬
tor of photography Jon Fauer. We're pleased
that the book has been such a success, and
we've sold hundreds through camera dealers
and rental houses all over the country. As
with any publication of this magnitude,

though, mistakes and printing

Vacano Uses VariCon

again

First

breaking onto the American
scene in 1982 as director of
photogra¬
phy on Das Boat, Jost Vacano recently
*
-

Page 68, after item 7: important reminder

turn
*

off the darkroom

light.

Page 115: Cinematography Electronics

*

for both

contrast

control and

its

easy-to-use on-camera
more precise
scene-tascene contrast reduction than
an

allows simpler and

flashing, and does so without reducing
image sharpness as do low.contrast fil¬
ters. It also permits subtle coloring of the
film's underexposed areas without
changing the color temperature of the
normally exposed parts of the scene or
highlights.
Unlike voltage-controlled dimming
which alters a light source's color tem¬
perature, VariCon maintains constant
color temperature at all settings. When
a color effect is desired, VariCon allows
the addition of subtle color with stan¬
dard lighting gels to any shadow detail,
while maintaining constant skintone at

key level consistently from scene-toscene,

whether the unit is

on or

off.

(Continued on page 44)

the drawing. Test Point 1 should read 1.5
Amp Pico fuse; and Test Point 1 should

actually be

as

indicated

on

this drawing.

has made the classic 35-2C camera even
more useful with the manufacture of a
Crystal
Motor Base that provides crystal speeds of 1 to

Page 220 showing Ted Churchill:
the video tap illustrated is an LDH-26.

80

the 35-2C

fps, in

light, hand-holdable and tripodmountable shape. It operates on 1 2V for
speeds of 1-35 fps, and 2x 1 2V for 1-80 fps.
Page 183: 1988 Microforce Circuit
Board. We incorrectly identified two points in
a

*

1988 MICROFORCE CIRCUIT BOARD
Molex pin 6

1.5 AMP pico fuse

*

*

Page 223, Alternative Lens Mounts:

mounts

cameras can

be converted

to PL

by a number of companies, such

as

Axel Broda, 29340

Surrey Way,
Tehachopi, CA 93561, Tel: (805) 8216725; and J.A.R. Enterprises, 11100
Cumpston #22, North Hollywood, CA
91601, Tel: (818) 9800572.
Author's Note:

My apologies for mis¬
of Carl Schietinger, TCS,
and Mark Schweickart, Birns & Sawyer, and
for omitting Marvin Stern of Birns & Sawyer.
They all made substantial and valuable contri¬

spelling the

errors were

bound to creep in. Here are some
corrections:

Page 38, top drawing: shows the

35BL-3 and 35BL-4 Control

it

VariCon,

unit,

Kodak Also Tests VariCon

VariCon modifies the 5248 curve. It in¬
dicates that VariCon affects the toe or

VariCon systems

What VariCon Does

Cinematographer (pa. 81).
If you'd like a reprint of the article, call

graphically displayed on the chart
shown on the right. It shows the charac¬
teristic gamma curve (solid line) for
5248 (Tungsten El 100), with the addi¬
tional curve (dotted line) showing how

shooting in Europe,
two

ability to add color to shadow detail.

American

4028.

now

along with him. Vacano has also had
considerable experience with Lightflex,
most recently on Total Recall, where he

of Isadore Mankofsky, ASC. He pub¬
lished his contrast control test series,
which compared the results from
VariCon with Panavision's
Panaflasher®, in the July 1990 issue of

(914) 353-1400, fax (914) 4251 250; or Bill Russell in Los Angeles
(818) 841-7070, fax (818) 848-

Michael Lehmann, and executive pro¬
duced by and starring Bruce Willis. The
and Vacano took

VariCon also received another form of

Steve Chamberlain in New York at

shooting the New York se¬
of Hudson Hawke, directed by

production is

ASC,

rigorous testing recently, under the

quences

butions

Panel, NOT the

to

names

The ARRI 35 Book.

35BL-4s.
Pot VR2

ARRI

Pot VR3

VR3

VR1

43
American Cinematographer - November 1990

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of American Cinematographer - November 1990
