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NPR
The NPR was really the first of the so-called cinema verite motion picture cameras. The first to offer factory-installed wireless crystal sync sound shooting and the first camera to ever be modified for Super-16. Today, the Eclair NPR 16mm camera has taken a back seat to cameras like the Arriflex SR’s and the Aaton’s. Though it is capable of capturing incredible images, the NPR is not often used today for high-end motion picture productions, documentaries, TV news magazines or 35mm blowup. NPRs are more often seen on the set of student and independent productions. Not like the way it used to be. In fact, you cannot open an American Cinematographer magazine from the late 1960′s through all of the 1970′s and not find it packed with articles about films being made using the Eclair NPR camera. Rugged, dependable, adaptable, reliable… all words used to describe this most prolific filmmaking tool.
This site is a community for NPR owners and enthusiasts. If you have any information you would like to share about your own experiences with the NPR please sign up or leave a comment. If you’ve made a film with an NPR or have a custom modification you’ve designed, whatever… please feel free to sign up and share your knowledge.
13 responses to “NPR”
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Hello,
Just thought I’d pass on my thanks and appreciation for setting up this website; being a proud owner of an Eclair NPR, converted to Super 16mm by Les Bosher here in the UK.
It is truly fantastic to have a website like this servicing information about these great cameras!
All the best,
Steve Wyatt -
Thanks for stopping by Steven, feel free to send in any tips, info, etc. for the NPR. The site has a lot more ACL info at the moment.
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Steven Wyatt June 11th, 2010 at 08:38
Hi,
Yeah thanks for getting back, I’ll try and get some pictures to you of my NPR rig and potentially if I can a link to a short film whuch has Arri SR2 and Eclair npr cameras mixed together, I used the NPR for some ‘action’ scenes, where I coudl make use of the NPR’s variable shutter whcih the Arri didn’t have, the results between the cameras is seamless.
Regards,
Steve -
Just stumbled into an NPR. I used to have one years ago but it got stolen….happy to have one in my possession again. Still rampin’ up to test it.
It came with a TCS TXM-7 crystal sync motor. Have been trying to track down documentation somewhere online but cannot locate it…not even on Tobin’s site which only goes as far back as the TXM-8.
There is a knob on the side, like a rheostat dial, trying to ascertain what it does. Next to it is a hard switch for 24 or 30 FPS….
Anyone on this site have an inkling as to what this dial does? There are no markings by it, nor does it look like any markings have faded.
Cheers,
Bradley
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Alex Funke, ASC October 28th, 2010 at 07:17
Bravo for creating a site where NPR lovers can come together. I’ve loved the NPR forever, having used one all through UCLA film school in the 60′s (we had, I think, the first one in the US, brought to us by J.P. Carson who was Mr. Eclair-America). I own one now.
I wonder if anybody else feels that the CA-1 mount, though positive in seating, is not very secure; has anyone tried putting a locking screw or pin into a CA-1 female mount?
Keep up the good work!
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mandy chang February 17th, 2011 at 01:00
I’ve been told that the Eclair NPR was one of the biggest exports of France in its heyday during the 60s. Does anyone know if this is true?
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John Bradley March 26th, 2011 at 23:02
Just acquired two NPR cameras. Looking for any information on this model. Is there a service manual for this camera? I plan on having super16inc convert one of the cameras to Ultra format. Has this been done before? Any information on an NPR being converted to Ultra format? Can you still get parts for these cameras.
Thanks,
John
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This goes for Bradley:
For batteries to run an Eclair, do like I did, I bought a sony 12 volt battery,the one that is used for some emergency lights. They run for about 35-45 dls. Maybe less! Make an adapter w/the right cable in the connection and Presto!, you are in business! For re-charging, you can buy the emergency light unit and use the charger that comes w/it. Easy and cheap!(Make sure the polarity is right,Positive pole and negative pole. Also if you want ,you may install a regulator in the current output for more safety. (bat. for Eclairs cost in the past betw. 300.00 – 500.00 dls..I don’t know if they still selling them today. I never bought those batteries in my life.
By the way; anybody knows where I can get the schematic for the Eclair NPR Perfectone Compact type MCS-U 24/25 motor. I found one that I need to fix, but I need the schematic. Thanks a lot!
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Just got an Eclair NPR from ebay. Waiting for it to be shipped to London from Chicago. Very exciting. Will be sending it you Les Bousher to get it converted to S16mm.
I intend to use it for my debut feature film I’ve been writing for over a year now: http://www.ivan-gonzalez.net/motivateme.htm -
Any idea where I can get a rubber eyecup for the Eclair NPR?
Also, what´s the cheapest way to get a video tap? -
Hi guys,
I just bought an Eclair NPR with a new motor from ´Optical Electro House´. The camera has just been serviced by the previous owner.
When I turn the motor on the red light comes on but nothing else happens. Any idea what could be the problem?
Could it be the battery I´m using? http://www.google.co…ved=0CGoQ8wIwAA
It says that this battery is normally used for standby things such as security alarm etc.Read more: http://www.cinematography.com/index.php?showtopic=53490#ixzz1ZoyydVLc
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John Pike October 25th, 2011 at 03:03
Hi
I did’nt realise there was such interest in Eclair cameras. I came upon this site quite by chance. I was camera repair technician in Eclair Debrie’s UK site at Orion Works in Northfields, in the early 70′s! I used to work on Cameflexes, NPR and ACL cameras in the After Sales Camera Dept.
This is when Harry Saltzman owened the company and Commander Rogers (a fantastic man) was the MD. Also the person in charge of Sales was John Winbolt. He had been the cameraman on both Dr No and Thunderball. Shame they closed, they were great to work for.
You’ve all got great taste, The NPR was a proper camera unlike the ARRI BL. No roller bearing rubbish in Eclairs, just hand reamed phospha bronze bearings and hand lapped gears.
We never used the factory supplied TDI guages to set the mechs, short pitch 16mm steel film was used to set the claw pull down and the steady pin position, proper craftsmen eh! But you should have seen us adjust the doors on the 400ft Mags. We used a rubber hammer on the door which was held at an angle on the work bench, but don’t try that at home.
Happy days!!!!!
Hope this info is of interest?
John
2 Trackbacks / Pingbacks
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Warm and Smooth: Capturing the Sound of Analog Audio | James River Film Journal January 17th, 2011 at 22:03
[...] Together with the small and quiet 16mm cameras, one could work in a more observational way. The Eclair NPR camera/Nagra 4.2 recorder was a great duo for years. Later, the Sony WM-D6C would team up with [...]
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Steven Wyatt January 17th, 2010 at 06:03