Mitchell "Elephant Ears" Studio VistaVision 35mm Film Camera MVV-21
Record status
Individual type · partial
Period
1950s
In the 1950s, Paramount Pictures introduced a groundbreaking camera system dubbed "Lazy 8" which required rotating film horizontally to change its aspect ratio from the standard 1.37:1 to 1.5:1 The camera features a 35mm Leica lens with serial no.
C-6390 accessible via a matte box with a "swing away" feature The camera's top, sides, matte box, magazines, and motor are affixed with Metal Mitchell "acorn" plaques This style of VistaVision camera - nicknamed "Elephant Ears" for the dual film magazines stationed on either side - originates from the 1950s. It comes mounted to a wooden friction head tripod with a metal wheeled base and opens from compartments on top and on one side.
Evidence at a glance
- Linked sources
- 1
- Photograph views
- 1
- Catalogue references
- 0
Counts describe this entry’s documentation, not authenticity, rarity or completeness. Photographs may show one specimen; check each caption and licence.
Physical characteristics
- Material (listing wording)
- wooden friction head tripod with a metal wheeled base
- Dimensions or weight (listing wording)
- 60" x 30" x 16" (152.5 cm x 76.25 cm x 40.75 cm)
Identification
- Source note
- Auction-house description published on Invaluable. Attribution and measurements are the auction house’s statements about the photographed example; independent type authentication remains research required.
- Listing object ID
- 195532962
Catalogue references
No catalogue numbers recorded. Numbers are only published once transcribed from a verified edition of a standard catalogue — they are never inferred.
Research required
- Independent confirmation of type attribution and auction-house statements remains research required.