ARRI 535B

arri 535 arricam st arri 435 moviecam superamerica panavision

The expanded studio camera (1997) – the 535 with 3-perf support. Combined the legendary quietness of the 535 with 3-perf film savings for more economical productions.

What is the ARRI 535B?

The ARRI 535B (1997) is the enhanced version of the ARRI 535 with 3-perf support. It combines the legendary quietness and precision of the 535 with the ability to shoot in the film-saving 3-perf format – ideal for cost-effective productions without compromising quality.

Technical Specifications

Feature	Value
Format	35mm (3-perf / 4-perf)
Weight	7.6 kg (Body)
Frame Rate	3–60 fps
Shutter	11.2°–180°
Noise	<19 dBA
Mount	PL Mount
Magazines	120m / 300m / 600m

535 vs. 535B

Feature	535	535B
3-Perf	No	Yes
4-Perf	Yes	Yes
Noise	<19 dBA	<19 dBA
Weight	7.5 kg	7.6 kg
Price (at the time)	~$75,000	~$85,000

What is 3-Perf?

The Perforation Format

4-PERF (Standard): 3-PERF:
┌─┬─────────┬─┐ ┌─┬─────────┬─┐
│●│ │●│ │●│ │●│
│●│ IMAGE │●│ │●│ IMAGE │●│
│●│ │●│ │●│ │●│
│●│ │●│ └─┴─────────┴─┘
└─┴─────────┴─┘
 ↓ ↓
4 Perforations 3 Perforations
per frame per frame

Advantages of 3-Perf

Aspect	4-Perf	3-Perf	Savings
Film per frame	4 Perfs	3 Perfs	25%
Runtime 300m	10 Min	13.3 Min	33%
Material Costs	100%	75%	25%

Aspect Ratio Optimization

Format	Native Aspect Ratio
4-Perf	1.33:1 (Academy)
3-Perf	1.78:1 (HD Optimized)

Advantage: 3-Perf utilizes film more efficiently for widescreen formats.

Notable 3-Perf Productions

Film	Year	DP	Format
Titanic	1997	Russell Carpenter	3-perf partial
Mission: Impossible 2	2000	Jeffrey L. Kimball	3-perf
The Bourne Identity	2002	Oliver Wood	3-perf
Spider-Man	2002	Don Burgess	3-perf

Why 535B instead of 435?

Feature	535B	435
Noise	<19 dBA	<20 dBA
Max fps	60	150
3-Perf	Yes	Via conversion
Specialization	Studio	High-Speed
Price	~€700/day	~€600/day

Decision:

535B for quiet dialogue scenes with film savings
435 for action and slow motion

The 3-Perf Workflow

Shooting

Configure camera for 3-perf
Special 3-perf magazines
Normal shooting

Post-Production

Special scan (3-perf capable)
Native 1.78:1 aspect ratio
No vertical compression needed

Limitations

Not all labs supported 3-perf
Special scanners required
Compatibility check necessary

Typical Configurations

Studio Dialogue (3-Perf)

535B body (3-perf configuration)
300m magazine (13+ min)
Zeiss Master Prime
Follow Focus
Rental: ~€700/day
Film Savings: 25%

Studio Standard (4-Perf)

535B body (4-perf)
300m magazine
Cooke S4/i
Rental: ~€700/day

The Economics

Example Calculation (1997)

Factor	4-Perf	3-Perf
1,000,000 ft Raw Material	$150,000	$112,500
Developing	$120,000	$90,000
Total Savings	–	~$67,500

On Large Productions

"Titanic" (1997): ~1.5 million ft of film
Potential Savings: ~$100,000+
Plus longer runtimes per magazine

The Legacy

In Cinematography

Established 3-perf as a viable option
Cost-effectiveness without quality compromise
Transition to HD aspect ratios

Successor

The ARRICAM ST adopted the 535B philosophy:

Even quieter (<18 dBA)
LDS system
3-perf support

Today

Aspect	Details
Availability	Very limited
Rental/Day	€600–€800
Service	ARRI Network
Status	Discontinued (2004)
Replaced by	ARRICAM ST

From the crafts

Perspectives

Cinematographer

Die 535B war die logische Evolution – alle Vorteile der 535, plus die Option für 3-Perf. Bei 1.78:1-Produktionen konnte ich 25% Film sparen, ohne Qualitätseinbußen. Für lange Dialog-Szenen war das perfekt.

Director

Die 535B gab mir die Freiheit, zwischen 4-Perf und 3-Perf zu wählen. Für Produktionen mit begrenztem Filmbudget, aber hohen Qualitätsansprüchen war sie ideal.

Producer

Die 535B sparte Geld – 25% weniger Rohmaterial bei 3-Perf, ohne Kompromisse bei der Qualität. Bei großen Produktionen mit Millionen Fuß Film macht das einen echten Unterschied.