The Fries Engineering Ultra 70 is for sale on eBay. The sale, titled “15 Perf 65MM IMAX-Format Camera. One of a Kind. Most Unique Camera on eBay” offers to buy the camera for an insane price tag of $400,000 (including some Hasselblad lenses). The seller states that the camera is “Fully functional. Registration test passed in February 2024”. All details are below.

Here’s a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own your very own IMAX-format camera. Ordinarily a rental-only item, this camera goes for $16,000 per week and insures for $1 million. Known as the ‘UltraLF70’ camera, Fries Engineering made this camera to compete with IMAX’s new fleet of 15-perf 65mm cameras.

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Fries Engineering Ultra 70: Now on eBay

Around 1990, Fries Engineering introduced the Ultra 70 motion picture film camera that shot in the IMAX 15-perf pull-across format on 65mm film. That means, the camera pulls 15 perforations for each frame of film, which is huge, like a true IMAX film camera, yielding a giant 70mm X 48.5mm image on each frame. Here’s a YT video about  it: 

Now this camera is for sale on eBay, for a whopping price of $400,000. Here are the details below.

Important note! The seller states all technical details below on the eBay page. Do yourself a favor and verify all small and large details with the seller before even considering making a deal!

General info

• 15-Perf 65MM format
• 18K IMAX resolution
• 1-32 FPS crystal sync
• Enhanced Stability/Exposure with Vacuum plate system
• Hasselblad lenses with IMAX mount

As stated on eBay: “Here’s a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity to own your very own IMAX-format camera. Ordinarily a rental-only item, this camera goes for $16,000 per week and insures for $1 million. Known as the ‘UltraLF70’ camera, Fries Engineering made this camera to compete with IMAX’s new fleet of 15-perf 65mm cameras. The camera shoots massive 15-perf 65mm postal-card-sized images with an equivalent resolution of 18K, the highest resolution of any motion picture camera in the world. With a negative size three times the size of traditional 5-perf 65mm film and ten times the size of 4-perf 35mm film. The camera shoots crystal sync anywhere from 1-32 fps. It can also shoot in reverse. There’s no other privately owned IMAX-format camera is available for sale/rent anywhere in the world. Getting a chance to own such a piece is undoubtedly every filmmaker’s dream”.

Condition & testing (according to seller)

• Fully functional camera.
• Registration test passed in February 2024.
• Ground glass and flange depth calibrated to a tolerance level of 1/1000 of an inch.
• The oscillator is tuned to 24 fps ensuring crystal speed. Movement checked with a timing light.
• All four magazines scratch-tested up to 24 fps.
• Video assist tested and functional.

Furthermore, the seller says that since being purchased by Fries Engineering, the camera has undergone extensive modification and re-machining. The film feed and movements were extensively re-engineered and the magazines and torque motors were rebuilt to ensure reliability. It was later upgraded with a vacuum plate system to ensure optimum stability and sharpness.

Upgrades made in recent years

In 2023, a new stainless steel flywheel coupling was installed addressing a weak point in the design, making the camera far more reliable and robust. In 2024, a new brass bearing was installed replacing the original square-headed screw and locking tab concept, thereby eliminating a weak point in the pulldown claw.

• Magazines: The camera comes with four (4) 1000 ft magazines. The magazines use a special platter system. Film was run through the four magazines and scratch-tested up to 24 fps.
• Video Assist: The camera has a video assist with an SDI out. Video assist is functional. The video camera inside the tap can be upgraded to HD, 2K or 4K. The video assembly housing is readily accessible using four screws.

Registration and testing

The seller adds that after going through these modifications, the camera was extensively tested. The camera was then timed. The oscillator was tuned to 24 fps ensuring the camera would hold crystal speed. Finally, the camera was checked with a timing light. The ground glass and flange depth are calibrated to a tolerance level of 1/1000 of an inch. A registration test was shot and processed at Fotokem in LA. The camera successfully passed registration in February 2024.

Lenses

The camera uses a proprietary positive-lock IMAX lens mount. The package includes two IMAX-mount lenses: A Zeiss Hasselblad 40mm and 50mm. Both were converted for cine use with metal follow focus gears and repurposed for shooting on 15-perf 65mm film. The IMAX-lens mounts are stainless steel and anodized black. The 40mm and 50mm are the two most common focal lengths in the IMAX format. The 40mm Hasselblad lens is a fully rectilinear design with no distortion and gives a very wide angle of view while covering the 15-perf gate edge to edge without vignetting. More lenses can be added at Buyer’s request. The following focal lengths are currently available: 24mm, 30mm, 60mm, 80mm, 100mm, 110mm, 120mm, 150mm, 250mm, 350mm and 500mm. Two zoom lenses are available: 60-120mm and 140mm-280mm.

Where and how

The camera is located in Los Angeles and is available for both rental and sale. Inspection must occur in LA. More details here.

Closing thoughts

This is one of the most intriguing items we saw on eBay. In short: An IMAX camera for sale. This was not manufactured by IMAX (must be said before IMAX calls us!). However, the Fries Ultra 70 was supposed to give a fight to IMAX cameras. Nevertheless, you now know how much 15 perforations costs. But then you have to add the film stock into the calculation (about $1,500 per 3 minutes). So, would you get your IMAX camera for $400,000?