Pentax 67 used as director's viewfinder for IMAX productions

A bit of trivia I came across recently:

 

"We modified a Pentax 6x7 still camera with an IMAX mount and that was our director's viewfinder. ... you could shoot a nice still image with it at the same time." - James Neihouse ASC.

 

Quote is from 16:36:

 

The Wandering DP Podcast: Episode #249 – James Neihouse A.S.C. - Cinematography Podcast & Tutorials

A Pentax 67 shutter sounds like a loose rail at a crossing. How is that consistent with "quiet on the set?" A blimp for the Pentax would be the size of a basketball, and custom made.

A Pentax 67 shutter sounds like a loose rail at a crossing. How is that consistent with "quiet on the set?" A blimp for the Pentax would be the size of a basketball, and custom made.

I imagine that the DP would be taking photos in between takes, and would not be using it with a blimp.

I imagine that the DP would be taking photos in between takes, and would not be using it with a blimp.

What's the point of that? Photos of celebrities off guard is the job of the paparazzi, not a set photographer.

What's the point of that? Photos of celebrities off guard is the job of the paparazzi, not a set photographer.

If it was used as an IMAX viewfinder, taking pictures during filming would only reproduce what was already captured by filming. What's the point of that?

 

(note, I'm being rhetorical, you can use different emulsion and points of view, but, what's the...)

Not the first time the Pentax 6x7 or 67 has been used like this, and not specifically for IMAX. Apocalypse Now and Platoon (filmed in the Phillipines in 1986) had a similar accessory arrangement.

What's the point of that? Photos of celebrities off guard is the job of the paparazzi, not a set photographer.

I imagine that the DP would be taking reference photos of what he was about to shoot with the IMAX camera. Or, just souvenirs.

The 6x7 / 67 is not really the best camera for the task, rather the camera that was widely available in studios for a long time for stills. For the DoP, reasonable magnification is one factor, but the 90% field of view is another (unless a chimney or waist-level finder is used, which I suspect would have been the case), requiring some mental examination of the scene to 'trim' out anything not relevant to the cut. I'm reminded latterly that a Pentax 6x7 was also used in the first Mad Max movies, filmed outside Silverton in outback New South Wales here in Australia. Just look at the Feral Kid (Emil Minty) nowadays — the long tresses of wild hair are gone — nowhere near as feral as way back then!! :p