Animation camera

An animation camera, a type of rostrum camera, is a movie camera specially adapted for frame-by-frame shooting animation or stop motion. It consists of a camera body with lens and film magazines, a stand that allows the camera to be raised and lowered, and a table, often with both top and underneath lighting. The artwork to be photographed is placed on this table.

Since most animation is now produced digitally, new animation cameras are not widely manufactured. Video cameras and scanners have taken their place.

Examples of professional animation cameras (35 and 16 mm)

A partial list of manufacturers of animation cameras includes:
* Acme Tool and Manufacturing (USA)
* Crass (Germany)
* Neilson-Hordell (UK)
* Oxberry (USA)
* Double M Industries (USA)
* A.I.A. Productions (USA)

The Bell & Howell 2709 (Design 27, first made in 1909) is the prototype of the Acme, and the Acme is the prototype of the Oxberry. Each employs a fixed pin and "shuttle" movement mechanism for film registration and film advancement, respectively. Other names associated with Acme were Producer's Service Corporation and Photo-Sonics.

Super 8

In addition, many consumer-grade Super 8 home movie cameras made in the 1960s and 1970s had single-frame, and therefore, animation, capability. Their wide availability on the used market (along with the continued manufacture of Super 8 film) make them a viable low-cost alternative to specialized animation cameras when paired with a suitable animation stand (copy stands are often adapted to this purpose).

16 mm

The 16 mm Bolex camera is often used for amateur and semi-professional single frame filming, either using its built-in spring drive, or an attached electric single-frame motor [ [http://www.saunalahti.fi/~animato/bolex/bolex.html Stop Motion Motor for Bolex ] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.saunalahti.fi/animato/movements/movements.html Animation camera movement mechanisms] , from the personal website of a Finnish animator