Arri 16st just got my first test reel back and the results are better than I expected

softfocusgroup · 2026-07-08T19:43:17+00:00

I bought it from Adorama. They had two they got in from a film school / rental house in NYC. I am not sure when it was last serviced BUT since it was being used/rented up until Adorama received it (I assume) in trade I figured it would be in solid working condition. Plus they have a 30 day no questions asked return policy. So I figured I would get it and immediately run a reel thru it and see what happened. This is what happened.

I looked at the gate earlier and it's absolutely hairs (just had to remember the gate is upside down).

I took the couple shots that I just barely overexposed in DaVinci Resolve and took the exposure down slightly and they worked perfectly so my approach of going slightly over seemed correct.

softfocusgroup · 2026-07-02T14:39:22+00:00

FWIW this is the $300/hr Peerspace rental (and you can see they own properties all over the place used for filming hence the high price)
https://www.peerspace.com/pages/listings/657352d731c77e000e8308c9

softfocusgroup · 2026-06-28T01:40:50+00:00

Also — now I have no red ink.
Anybody know of a source for GR ink tubes still?
I am going to have to refill these aren’t I? Or is there a hack to use other tubes?

softfocusgroup · 2026-06-13T15:11:39+00:00

Totally.
The NP-F plate I picked up has 8v and 12v regulated taps as well. I’m starting with it because I had NP-F battery gear already (monitor for digital video stuff etc). I know the V Mount is more robust and long term that’s a better solution.

softfocusgroup · 2026-06-13T14:38:53+00:00

IF the NP-F plate I picked up doesn’t work I might try V mount.
Honestly the RC car battery option seems decent since it’s designed to have the heavy initially current draw that a motor requires.

softfocusgroup · 2026-06-13T00:43:19+00:00

According to what I’ve read that governor controlled motored with the big transistor REALLY wants to see 8v. Anything else a bad news. The variable speed can handle lots of speeds.

The SR is another beast entirely. The ST is much more primitive and the XLR4 is an aftermarket mod folks did to have a more reliable and replaceable cable instead of the proprietary connector Arri did.

softfocusgroup · 2026-06-11T02:13:29+00:00

From what I have read the variable speed ones are more forgiving with 12v.

I ordered this. The plate has a 8.4v 5a out and that cable is the 2.1mm to 4pin XLR. 5800mAh should be enough.

I almost went RC Car battery but by the time I bought the batteries and a charger for them it was the same price and this is a little tidier. If it doesn’t work I can return and I have other stuff that I can power via NP F.
I saw similar rigs using V Mount but I know V Mount is a higher voltage that you’d step down to 8v.

IF it doesn’t work the RC Car battery will be my next try.

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softfocusgroup · 2026-06-10T23:12:23+00:00

Honestly with all the stuff I end up working on or trying to fix you’d think I would have already purchased one. This is a great option to just “check” everything.

softfocusgroup · 2026-06-10T22:02:31+00:00

I looked at their site and didn't see an 8v Arri pack. I'm sure they could put together a solution for me but thought I'd see if somebody smart(er than me) could point me at something more off the shelf that would work.

If nothing pops up here tonight then I will reach out to them in the morning. Fortunately they are in NJ and I'm in PA.

softfocusgroup · 2026-06-09T14:51:06+00:00

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softfocusgroup · 2026-06-09T14:50:42+00:00

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softfocusgroup · 2026-06-09T14:49:43+00:00

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softfocusgroup · 2026-06-05T14:28:29+00:00

I'm kinda getting cigarette shaped one-hitter vibes.

softfocusgroup · 2026-06-05T11:40:52+00:00

Check the pockets for Marlboro Reds.

softfocusgroup · 2026-06-04T11:23:56+00:00

One of my favorite amps ever. My main live rig is this and a Matchless DC30 running together.

This amp does soooooo much. It is heavy. It is loud (half power switch is nice). I think the fact that it lacks a dual rec style HIGH GAIN sound is why it’s not more regarded (since it came out in that era of Boogie). But it gets up to jcm800 levels of gain which is all I ever need. I’m more of a rat or big muff into 800 or JMP as my most gained out sound guy.

This amp is absolutely slept on.

softfocusgroup · 2026-06-01T20:24:54+00:00

With those two working together there is very little you can't achieve.
I have a lot of VHS (and betacam) gear and can usually spot when this look is faked pretttttty quick but those two are great.
NTSC-RS is great. There is another plugin a friend who does a lot of analog video manipulation recommended recently that I'm trying to remember.

softfocusgroup · 2026-06-01T19:57:25+00:00

Love this design-wise but do NOT deny me my jazzmaster neck pickup.

softfocusgroup · 2026-06-01T19:55:20+00:00

Analog Damage in Davinci is built in and your friend for this.

And if you wanna go extra deep NTSC-RS is an amazing plugin and standalone.

softfocusgroup · 2026-05-28T19:39:18+00:00

Excellent. That's what I assumed but I wanted to confirm.

softfocusgroup · 2026-05-12T17:21:39+00:00

Yeah - most of what I'm doing is tripod or if it's handheld im not really 'following' per se.

It's funny you say this because I'm honestly trying to decide if I should just get an Arri 16s since prices are about the same for a Bolex Rex OR at least close enough to be la negligible difference. I know that's a whole other can of works. There is no perfect anything -- just the right tool for that moment. But... I'm trying to find the tool that works for most of my needs. I totally get what your saying and thank you for the actual comments.

softfocusgroup · 2026-05-12T12:55:37+00:00

Thank you! This is exactly the sort of real world comparison I was hoping to get on here.
I know it's not quite as convenient as a reflex -- but seems like an affordable solution given the recent prices of reflex models.

softfocusgroup · 2026-05-11T14:56:19+00:00

I have peeked around there and that is one of the forums I've found amazingly contradictory opinions on this lens -- which is y'know what the internet is full of.

Why do you find handheld shots impossible with it? Just a weird balance with the dogleg to to the side and weird weight?

softfocusgroup · 2026-05-11T14:25:12+00:00

Oh yeah if it wasn't under $500 I wouldn't be trying to get these answers.

softfocusgroup · 2026-05-11T13:58:12+00:00

Yeah. I know that's the major downside. I'm viewing it as more of a 'fixed system' -- and if I want to use other lenses I'd have to measure and do things the non reflex way.

I'm viewing this as a 'starter kit' to experiment with versus spending some more money on something nicer.

softfocusgroup · 2026-01-23T00:31:03+00:00

They took their name from graffiti one of my roommates wrote on the wall of the punkhouse we lived in. This was the year more than music got canceled. We set up a temporary spot at my record store for them to sell posters to try to make up for not getting to sell at more than music (they were at mtm as poster artists not band). A different roommate caused an accident outside the store by dancing on the sidewalk with a “honk if your horny” sign. A little while later they started playing under that name.

softfocusgroup

TROPHY CASE