An 8-perf horizontal-transport camera built on 1950s Mitchell movements — compact enough for Steadicam, which is what VistaVision never used to be.
The Beaumont is a camera for precisely one format: 35mm wide, eight perforations, 1.5:1. It is not a new construction, but is based on modified Mitchell movements from the 1950s – the generation for which the format was originally built.
Why Size Matters
VistaVision cameras were traditionally heavy and immobile; the format was considered a studio and effects format. The Beaumont exists in a compact miniature version that fits Steadicam and remote systems. This shifts the applications for which the format is suitable: no longer just for static shots and effects, but for moving camera work.
What's in the Package
Magazines for 400 and 1000 feet – at 8-perf, that's about two and five minutes respectively. The mount is PV, which ties lens choice to the corresponding manufacturer; typical rental packages include a set of PV-mounted prime lenses from 19 to 135 mm, plus longer individual pieces and some zooms. An HD tap is included, as is an optical viewfinder.
What You Have to Accept
The movement is old, even if it has been overhauled. Loading times are long, the number of operational units worldwide is small, and maintenance depends on a few specialists. Anyone planning to use this camera is not just planning a piece of equipment, but a supply situation – including the question of what happens if a unit breaks down.
The Pan Limit Applies Here Too
The film transport runs horizontally. Everything that applies to VistaVision beyond whip pans and inertia applies to every camera of this format – the Beaumont included. This is not a defect of a design, but a characteristic of the running direction.
Related terms
Quiz
1. Was beschreibt „BEAUMONT VistaVision" am besten?
2. Zu welchem Department gehört „BEAUMONT VistaVision"?