Arri PL
Encyclopedia
Arri PL is a lens mount
developed by Arri
for use with both 16 mm and 35 mm movie camera
s. The PL stands for "positive lock". It is the successor mount to the Arri bayonet
; however, unlike the bayonet mount, it is incompatible with older Arri-mount lenses, due to the larger diameter. (This can be rectified with an adapter relatively easily, as the flange focal distance
is identical.)
The mount contains four pronged flanges which each contain a notch towards the center. Any of these four notches can be used to align the mount to a locating pin located approximately 45 degrees clockwise from the top of the camera's lens mount. This means that the lens can be oriented in any of four different configurations, which may be decided by factors such as focus puller
position, camera position, and preference to working with meters or feet (if a lens has different line indicators on each side). The mount is locked into place using a friction locking ring which, in conjunction with the four prongs of the flange, creates a very strong lens seating. This has become a crucial factor in recent years, as bigger lenses with zoom capabilities, longer focal lengths, or larger lens elements have increased the need for mount stability due to the greater stress placed upon the mount by these devices.
Furthermore, the tendency is for flange focal distance
to become a more critical factor as sharper lenses, film stock
with higher resolving power, and post-production workflows which preserve more of the original camera negative's information continue to make technological progress and advancement. Flange focal distance is also more likely to be rigorously checked as tastes for wider angle lenses continue to push the envelope, as wider lenses have a much narrower tolerance for lens displacement.
Because of all of these reasons, the Arri PL mount has been extremely successful since it was first released at Photokina 1982, and has been adopted by virtually all professional movie camera manufacturers since that time, with the notable exception of Panavision
, whose PV mount
remains the only other lens mount still in major usage by a large number of professional productions.
Lens mount
A lens mount is an interface — mechanical and often also electrical — between a photographic camera body and a lens. It is confined to cameras where the body allows interchangeable lenses, most usually the single lens reflex type or any movie camera of 16 mm or higher gauge...
developed by Arri
Arri
-History:Arri was founded in Munich, Germany as Arnold & Richter Cine Technik in 1917, named after founders August Arnold and Robert Richter. They produce professional motion picture equipment, digital and film cameras and cinematic lighting equipment...
for use with both 16 mm and 35 mm movie camera
Movie camera
The movie camera is a type of photographic camera which takes a rapid sequence of photographs on strips of film which was very popular for private use in the last century until its successor, the video camera, replaced it...
s. The PL stands for "positive lock". It is the successor mount to the Arri bayonet
Arri bayonet
Arri bayonet is a lens mount developed by Arri for use with both 16 mm and 35 mm movie camera lenses. Lenses of this type are distinguished by "outer wings" which both control aperture and bayonet alignment, and are placed in the mount while two pressure tabs are simultaneously depressed at the...
; however, unlike the bayonet mount, it is incompatible with older Arri-mount lenses, due to the larger diameter. (This can be rectified with an adapter relatively easily, as the flange focal distance
Flange focal distance
For an interchangeable lens camera, the flange focal distance of a lens mount system is the distance from the mounting flange to the...
is identical.)
The mount contains four pronged flanges which each contain a notch towards the center. Any of these four notches can be used to align the mount to a locating pin located approximately 45 degrees clockwise from the top of the camera's lens mount. This means that the lens can be oriented in any of four different configurations, which may be decided by factors such as focus puller
Focus puller
A focus puller, or 1st assistant cameraman, is a member of a film crew’s camera department whose primary responsibility is to maintain image sharpness on whatever subject or action is being filmed....
position, camera position, and preference to working with meters or feet (if a lens has different line indicators on each side). The mount is locked into place using a friction locking ring which, in conjunction with the four prongs of the flange, creates a very strong lens seating. This has become a crucial factor in recent years, as bigger lenses with zoom capabilities, longer focal lengths, or larger lens elements have increased the need for mount stability due to the greater stress placed upon the mount by these devices.
Furthermore, the tendency is for flange focal distance
Flange focal distance
For an interchangeable lens camera, the flange focal distance of a lens mount system is the distance from the mounting flange to the...
to become a more critical factor as sharper lenses, film stock
Film stock
Film stock is photographic film on which filmmaking of motion pictures are shot and reproduced. The equivalent in television production is video tape.-1889–1899:...
with higher resolving power, and post-production workflows which preserve more of the original camera negative's information continue to make technological progress and advancement. Flange focal distance is also more likely to be rigorously checked as tastes for wider angle lenses continue to push the envelope, as wider lenses have a much narrower tolerance for lens displacement.
Because of all of these reasons, the Arri PL mount has been extremely successful since it was first released at Photokina 1982, and has been adopted by virtually all professional movie camera manufacturers since that time, with the notable exception of Panavision
Panavision
Panavision is an American motion picture equipment company specializing in cameras and lenses, based in Woodland Hills, California. Formed by Robert Gottschalk as a small partnership to create anamorphic projection lenses during the widescreen boom in the 1950s, Panavision expanded its product...
, whose PV mount
PV mount
A PV mount is a lens mount developed by Panavision for use with both 16 mm and 35 mm movie cameras. It is the only mount offered with Panavision cameras and Panavision-designed lenses, and since the company only rents its equipment, this is likely to remain an exclusive arrangement for the time being...
remains the only other lens mount still in major usage by a large number of professional productions.
Technical specifications
- Flange focal distance: 52.00 mm (51.97 mm for the Arri SR high speed models)
- Diameter: 54.00 mm (64.00 mm for Arriflex 765, that mount as known as "Maxi PL-mount" )
- Cameras:
- 35 mm: Arriflex 35III (later models), Arriflex 35BL3 (later models), Arriflex 35BL4, Arriflex 35BL4S, Arriflex 535Arriflex 535The Arriflex 535 is a movie camera product line created by Arri in 1990 to replace the Arriflex BL line. As such, its potential applications are widespread, and thus it is regularly used on music videos, commercials, second unit work on features, special effects work, and motion control, among...
, Arriflex 535BArriflex 535The Arriflex 535 is a movie camera product line created by Arri in 1990 to replace the Arriflex BL line. As such, its potential applications are widespread, and thus it is regularly used on music videos, commercials, second unit work on features, special effects work, and motion control, among...
, Arriflex 435Arriflex 435The Arriflex 435 is a movie camera product line created by Arri in 1995 to replace the Arriflex 35III line. The number reflects its position as a successor camera to the Arri III and the fact that it is designed for 35 mm film. The 435 cameras are specifically designed as MOS cameras, which means...
, Arriflex 435ESArriflex 435The Arriflex 435 is a movie camera product line created by Arri in 1995 to replace the Arriflex 35III line. The number reflects its position as a successor camera to the Arri III and the fact that it is designed for 35 mm film. The 435 cameras are specifically designed as MOS cameras, which means...
, Arriflex 435 AdvancedArriflex 435The Arriflex 435 is a movie camera product line created by Arri in 1995 to replace the Arriflex 35III line. The number reflects its position as a successor camera to the Arri III and the fact that it is designed for 35 mm film. The 435 cameras are specifically designed as MOS cameras, which means...
, Arriflex 435 XtremeArriflex 435The Arriflex 435 is a movie camera product line created by Arri in 1995 to replace the Arriflex 35III line. The number reflects its position as a successor camera to the Arri III and the fact that it is designed for 35 mm film. The 435 cameras are specifically designed as MOS cameras, which means...
, Arricam STArricamArricam is a 35 mm movie camera line manufactured by Arri. It is Arri's flagship sync-sound camera line, replacing the Arriflex 535 line. The design was developed by Fritz Gabriel Bauer and Walter Trauninger, and is heavily derivative of the cameras Bauer created for his Moviecam company, which was...
, Arricam LTArricamArricam is a 35 mm movie camera line manufactured by Arri. It is Arri's flagship sync-sound camera line, replacing the Arriflex 535 line. The design was developed by Fritz Gabriel Bauer and Walter Trauninger, and is heavily derivative of the cameras Bauer created for his Moviecam company, which was...
, Cinema Products FX35, Moviecam SuperAmerica, Moviecam Compact, Moviecam SL, Aaton 35 - 16 mm: Arriflex 16SR2Arriflex 16SRArriflex 16SR is a movie camera product line created by Arri, introduced in 1975. This 16SR camera series is designed for 16 mm filmmaking in Standard 16 format...
(later models), Arriflex 16SR3Arriflex 16SRArriflex 16SR is a movie camera product line created by Arri, introduced in 1975. This 16SR camera series is designed for 16 mm filmmaking in Standard 16 format...
, Arriflex 16SR3 AdvancedArriflex 16SRArriflex 16SR is a movie camera product line created by Arri, introduced in 1975. This 16SR camera series is designed for 16 mm filmmaking in Standard 16 format...
, Arriflex 416Arriflex 416Arriflex 416 is a movie camera product line created by Arri in 2006. This 416 camera series is designed for 16mm filmmaking in the Super16 format. The 416 series has some features that are derived from Arri's other 35mm cameras...
, Aaton XTRplus (standard), Aaton XTRprod (standard) - 65 mm: Arriflex 765
- Video: Arri Alexa, Arriflex D-20Arriflex D-20The Arriflex D-20 is a film-style digital motion picture camera made by Arri first introduced in November 2005. The camera's attributes are its optical viewfinder, modularity, and 35mm-width CMOS sensor. The camera was discontinued in 2008 and the Arriflex D-21 was introduced.- Overview :The D-20...
, Arriflex D-21, Dalsa OriginDalsa OriginThe Dalsa Origin was the first camera designed and built by Dalsa Corporation to be used specifically for digital cinematography.- Overview :...
, Dalsa Origin II, Red One],, Silicon Imaging SI-2K, Sony F35, Sony F3, Phantom, Canon C300Canon C300The EOS C300 is a camera announced by Canon on November 3, 2011. The camera is aimed at the professional cinematography. The C300 is intended to compete with cameras such as the RED Epic and the Arri Alexa. The camera is offered with the option of Canon EF or Arri PL mounts...
- 35 mm: Arriflex 35III (later models), Arriflex 35BL3 (later models), Arriflex 35BL4, Arriflex 35BL4S, Arriflex 535