General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

2

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

Heavy silver metal camera body has black/ dark green imitation leather trim; selected areas [ie. face plates, setting charts, etc.] have flat black finish; black leather handle; glass optics in lens, viewfinder, etc.; grey and black text and other markings.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

31.0 cm

Width

8.5 cm

Height

16.1 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Photography

Category

Cine cameras

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Kodak

Country

United States of America

State/Province

New York

City

Rochester

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Quebec

Period

Unknown

Canada

Owned and used by Canadian film maker Bill Mason, who achieved international recognition for his wilderness and canoeing documentaries in the 1960s and 1970s.

Function

To record cine images on photographic film.

Technical

The Bill Mason collection consists of typical cameras and other equipment in the 16 mm format widely used by documentary film makers in Canada in this period. Introduced in 1933, the Ciné-Kodak Special was initially intended for advanced amateurs but it quickly became popular among professionals who made films for non-cinematic audiences. Among its advanced features were a reflex viewfinder for framing and focusing (not operable when filming), an adjustable rotary shutter to execute fades, an eight-frame film crank to facilitate multiple exposures and dissolves, and a single-frame film advance for animation and time-lapse photography. The camera also came with a set of masks that could be inserted between the lens and the film plane to produce simple special effects like split screen and vignetting. The Ciné Special was equipped with 100-foot film magazines that could be changed at any time, and its two-lens turret allowed easy changes in focal length for different shots. The main criticisms of the Ciné Special were potential shifting in the frame line after switching from one magazine to another and inconsistency in the film plane when operating at high speeds. For all its versatility, the Ciné Special was also rugged and reliable. Although its spring motor could run barely one minute on a single winding, it was not dependent on batteries, and the absence of electrical parts was an asset when working around and on the water. The Ciné Special was used extensively during World War II for training films and combat cinematography. In 1948 Eastman Kodak discontinued production of the Ciné Special and introduced the similarly designed Ciné-Kodak Special II (1948-1961). As is evident from the career of Bill Mason, however, second-hand Ciné Specials remained in widespread use for decades. Kodak’s Ektar cine lenses were excellent, and Mason used them extensively, even on his non-Kodak cameras where a special C-mount adaptor was required. [Ref. 1]

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

All controls, settings, etc. labelled. "CINÉ- KODAK - SPECIAL -" and extensive patent list are among markings on side of camera body. "MADE IN U.S.A. BY/ EASTMAN KODAK CO./ ROCHESTER, N.Y." and extensive patent list printed on plate fixed to camera body back. "Kodak Cine Ektar Lens 25mm f:1,4 RE297" and "Made in U.S.A. by/ Eastman Kodak Co." "LOADED" printed by hand on off-white adhesive tape label applied to camera body top.

Missing

Some imitation leather trim missing; possibly also missing other parts.

Finish

Heavy silver metal camera body has black/ dark green imitation leather trim; selected areas [ie. face plates, setting charts, etc.] have flat black finish; black leather handle; glass optics in lens, viewfinder, etc.; grey and black text and other markings.

Decoration

N/A