ARRI 435

arri 535 arricam st arri bl arri phantom

ARRI's legendary high-speed camera (1995) capable of up to 150 fps. The industry standard for slow-motion, commercials, and music videos — combining compact design with extreme performance.

What is the ARRI 435?

The ARRI 435 (1995) is a professional 35mm film camera designed as a compact high-speed camera. With frame rates up to 150 fps, an operating noise below 20 dBA, and weighing only 5.4 kg, it became the industry standard for commercials, music videos, and feature films requiring slow-motion sequences on film.

Technical Specifications

Feature	435	435 Advanced	435 ES	435 Xtreme
Frame Rate	1–150 fps	1–150 fps	1–150 fps	1–150 fps
Noise	<20 dBA	<20 dBA	<19 dBA	<19 dBA
Weight	5.4 kg	5.5 kg	5.4 kg	5.5 kg
Shutter	11°–180°	11°–180°	11°–180°	11°–180°
Special Feature	Base	Variable Speed	Spinning Mirror	3-Perf

Key Features

150 fps – Extreme slow-motion on 35mm film
<20 dBA – Quiet enough for sync sound up to 40 fps
5.4 kg – Lightest 35mm studio camera
Variable Shutter – 11° to 180°
Speed Ramping – Frame rate changes during recording
3-Perf/4-Perf – Switchable (Xtreme)

The 435 Family

435 Standard (1995)

Base model
1–150 fps
Fixed frame rate per take

435 Advanced (1997)

Variable Speed – Ramping during recording
Programmable frame rate curves
For dynamic slow-motion

435 ES (1999)

Electronic Shutter (Spinning Mirror)
Even quieter operation
Improved shutter precision

435 Xtreme (2004)

3-Perf/4-Perf switchable
Film saving with 3-Perf
Last evolution of the series

Notable Films

Film	Year	DP	Usage
The Matrix	1999	Bill Pope, ASC	Slow-Motion
Gladiator	2000	John Mathieson, BSC	Battle slow-motion
The Lord of the Rings	2001–03	Andrew Lesnie, ACS	Action sequences
Kill Bill	2003–04	Robert Richardson, ASC	Fight slow-motion
300	2006	Larry Fong, ASC	Speed Ramping
The Dark Knight	2008	Wally Pfister, ASC	High-speed B-camera
Inception	2010	Wally Pfister, ASC	Time dilation scenes

Speed Ramping

The 435 Advanced revolutionized frame rate changes:

How it Works

Example Speed Ramp:
0 sec: Start @ 24 fps (normal)
2 sec: Accelerate
3 sec: Reach 150 fps (slow-motion)
5 sec: Hold
7 sec: Return to 24 fps

Practical Application

Commercials – Product in slow-motion, then normal speed
Music Videos – Dynamic transitions
Feature Film – Emotional climaxes

435 vs. 535

Feature	ARRI 435	ARRI 535
Specialization	High-Speed	Studio/Versatile
Max fps	150	60
Weight	5.4 kg	7.7 kg
Noise	<20 dBA	<19 dBA
Strength	Slow-motion	Precision
Typical Use	Commercials, Action	Dialogue, Drama

Conclusion: The 435 for speed, the 535 for studio perfection.

High-Speed Workflow

Film Consumption

Frame Rate	Consumption	300m Magazine
24 fps	27.4 m/min	11 min
48 fps	54.9 m/min	5.5 min
96 fps	109.7 m/min	2.7 min
150 fps	171.5 m/min	1.75 min

Exposure Adjustment

Frame Rate	Shutter 180°	Exposure
24 fps	1/48s	Normal
48 fps	1/96s	+1 stop
96 fps	1/192s	+2 stops
150 fps	1/300s	+2.6 stops

Tip: At 150 fps, you need approximately 6× more light than at 24 fps.

Accessories

Magazines

Capacity	Run Time @ 24fps	Run Time @ 150fps
120m (400ft)	4 min	0.7 min
300m (1000ft)	11 min	1.75 min

Essential Accessories

Video Assist – HD tap for monitor
Wireless Follow Focus – Preston, ARRI
Matte Box – LMB-25
Speed Control Unit – For ramping
Battery System – For location work

3-Perf vs. 4-Perf (Xtreme)

The 435 Xtreme enabled both formats:

Feature	4-Perf	3-Perf
Image Size	Academy Full	Slightly smaller
Film Consumption	100%	75%
Aspect Ratio	1.37:1	1.78:1 native
Usage	Classic	Widescreen

3-Perf Advantage: 25% film saving with the same image format.

Comparison: Film vs. Digital High-Speed

Feature	ARRI 435	Phantom Flex
Max fps	150	1,000+
Look	Film grain	Digital
Dynamic Range	~13 stops	~12 stops
Workflow	Development	Instant
Cost/Min	High (film)	Low

Conclusion: The 435 for the unmistakable film look, Phantom for extreme speeds.

Today

The ARRI 435 is no longer produced (discontinued in 2012), but:

Rental – Available from premium rental houses worldwide
Commercials – Still a popular choice for high-end spots
Film Revival – Demand driven by the 35mm renaissance
Music Videos – Vintage look with true slow-motion film

Model	Used Price	Rental/Day
435 Standard	€15,000–€25,000	~€800
435 Advanced	€20,000–€35,000	~€1,000
435 Xtreme	€25,000–€40,000	~€1,200

From the crafts

Perspectives

Cinematographer

Die 435 ist meine Traumkamera für alles, was Tempo braucht. 150 fps aus der Hand, leiser als die BL, und der variabler Verschluss gibt mir totale Kontrolle. Für Werbung und Musikvideos gibt es nichts Besseres auf Film.

Director

Die 435 ermöglicht mir, zwischen normaler Geschwindigkeit und extremer Zeitlupe nahtlos zu wechseln. Kein Kamerawechsel, keine Unterbrechung. Für emotionale Höhepunkte mit Slow-Motion auf Film ist sie unübertroffen.

Producer

Eine 435 kostet etwa 800-1.200 Euro pro Drehtag – mehr als eine 535, aber die Flexibilität bei Zeitlupen-Arbeit rechtfertigt es. Für Werbefilme mit hohem Look-Anspruch ist sie die Standardwahl.