The original Arriflex 35 Standard camera (1937), the world's first reflex film camera. Introduced real-time through-the-lens viewing, enabling precise framing and new shooting techniques on set.
What is the ARRI ST?
The Arriflex 35 ST ("Standard", 1937) was the world's first single-lens reflex film camera. Developed by August Arnold and Robert Richter in Munich, it revolutionized filmmaking with a 45° mirror shutter that, for the first time, allowed for real-time image control during recording. This innovation became the standard for all professional film cameras.
Technical Specifications
| Feature | Arriflex 35 (1937) | Arriflex II (1946) |
|---|---|---|
| Format | 35mm | 35mm |
| Weight | 3.5 kg | 4.0 kg |
| Frame Rate | 8–48 fps | 8–50 fps |
| Shutter | 180° Mirror | 180° Mirror |
| Viewfinder | Single-lens reflex (45°) | Single-lens reflex (45°) |
| Mount | ARRI Standard | ARRI Standard |
| Magazine | 60m / 120m | 60m / 120m |
The Revolution: The Single-Lens Reflex Viewfinder
Before 1937:
- Separate parallax viewfinders
- No view through the taking lens
- Focusing by tape measure
- Framing only estimated
From 1937 (Arriflex):
- 45° mirror reflects image to the viewfinder
- During exposure: mirror rotates away
- Real-time image control
- Precise focusing possible
The Genesis
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1917 | ARRI founded by Arnold & Richter |
| 1924 | First camera experiments |
| 1931 | Patent for single-lens reflex system |
| 1937 | Arriflex 35 market launch |
| 1939 | First war reporting |
| 1946 | Arriflex II after the war |
Significance for Cinema
Documentary Film
The compact, handheld Arriflex enabled:
- True front-line reporting in World War II
- Cinema Vérité and Direct Cinema
- New journalistic forms
Feature Film
The single-lens reflex viewfinder allowed for:
- More precise work
- Faster setups
- More complex camera movements
- Handheld camera aesthetic
Historical Films
| Context | Example | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| War Reporting | Wehrmacht Weekly Newsreel | First mobile 35mm reports |
| Post-War Cinema | Neorealism | Street shooting |
| Hollywood Adoption | 1950s | Exterior shots, B-cameras |
Arriflex vs. Mitchell
In the 1940s-50s, two systems competed:
| Feature | Arriflex 35 | Mitchell Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Viewfinder | Single-lens reflex | Parallax-corrected |
| Weight | 3.5 kg | 25 kg |
| Mobility | Handheld | Tripod-bound |
| Noise | ~40 dBA | ~20 dBA (blimped) |
| Strength | Mobile camera | Studio precision |
| Distribution | Europe, Documentary | Hollywood Studios |
Result: The Arriflex dominated mobile shooting, Mitchell studio work. Both influenced each other.
The Technical Innovation
The 45° Mirror Shutter
FUNCTIONAL OPERATION:
During exposure:
[Lens] → [Film]
↑
(Mirror up)
Between frames:
[Lens] → [Mirror 45°] → [Viewfinder/Eye]
↑
(Film advances)Advantage: The cinematographer sees exactly what is being recorded – at approximately 24 fps, the image appears continuous.
The ARRI Standard Mount
The Arriflex 35 established the first ARRI lens mount:
- Screw thread with three pins
- Faster than screw mounts
- Standard for all early ARRI cameras
- Later replaced by Bayonet and PL
Variants of the Early Arriflex
| Model | Year | Special Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Arriflex 35 | 1937 | Original |
| Arriflex 35 II | 1946 | Post-war improvements |
| Arriflex 35 IIA | 1953 | Improved viewfinder |
| Arriflex 35 IIB | 1960 | Variable shutter angles |
| Arriflex 35 IIC | 1964 | → ARRI 2C |
The Legacy of the ST
The Arriflex 35 ST established:
Technical Standards
- Single-lens reflex viewfinder as standard
- Compact, modular design
- ARRI mount systems
Film Aesthetic
- Handheld camera as an artistic tool
- Documentary elements in feature films
- Mobile camera work
Company History
- ARRI as a leading camera manufacturer
- Foundation for all subsequent ARRI cameras
- Up to the Alexa and today's systems
Today
The original Arriflex 35 is now a collector's item:
| Condition | Value |
|---|---|
| Museum quality | €5,000–€15,000 |
| Functional | €2,000–€5,000 |
| Decorative | €500–€1,500 |
- Museums – Deutsches Filmmuseum, Academy Museum
- Collectors – Camera enthusiasts and vintage equipment collectors worldwide