Photo courtesy of Panavision…
How can you not love the Panavision Gold II…? I certainly do, and with great passion!
By an exceedingly large margin, it’s my all-time favorite camera. Having exposed several million feet of film through its movement over the years, I’m not ashamed to admit that I have such an emotional attachment to it. It made my career!
The specs are available on the web, but what they boil down to is this: simplicity, adaptability and durability. I don’t know how much more a cinematographer can ask of a camera, but for standard, day-to-day use, it’s all present in this package. Over twenty-five years’ experience with it as both an assistant and DP, I can’t think of one instance in which it didn’t provide everything I asked of it. During a particularly busy period, Panavision was kind enough to freeze the body with serial number 383 for me so that no one else could use it during the brief interval between jobs. To this day, whenever the Power Ball jackpot lurches toward a billion dollars and I’m moved to buy a ticket, I always start with those three digits. They were so good to me for so long, I’m certain that one day they’ll come out in my favor!
Despite having shot almost exclusively with digital cameras for the past twelve years, I haven’t developed any feelings for those devices. They’re like the medium itself – cold, clinical and somewhat detached. Now, if one of the manufacturers were to come up with something that captures my fancy in the same manner as the Gold II…I’d be impressed. But those are pretty big shoes to fill!
I used this camera twice, once as operator, once as AC and to this day is my favorite film camera ever! I’m going to DP a feature soon and I already asked to use one of these babies… maybe I’ll ask for the 383 one.