About Erich Kästner
Lived 1911 – 2005 (aged 93). Erich Kästner was a German engineer.
Erich Kurt Kästner (5 April 1911 – 31 January 2005) was a German movie camera designer. He was born in Jena.
During his work for ARRI, he invented the spinning mirror reflex shutter for film cameras, which was first used in the Arriflex 35 in 1937. It allows the operator to have a viewfinder image equal to the recorded picture.
Kästner received a Gordon E. Sawyer Award in 1992 and an Oscar in 1973 (Class II technical award [plaque]) and 1982 (Academy Award of Merit [statuette]). In 1994 he won the Bavarian Film Awards Honorary Award.
He died in Penzberg.
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Important facts
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Frequently asked questions
Who was Erich Kästner?
German cinema pioneer (1911-2005)
When was Erich Kästner born?
Erich Kästner was born on 5 April 1911 in Jena.
When did Erich Kästner die?
Erich Kästner died on 31 January 2005 in Penzberg.
What was Erich Kästner's occupation?
Erich Kästner was an engineer.
What nationality was Erich Kästner?
Erich Kästner was German.
Sources & further reading
· DBpedia: Erich Kästner (camera designer)
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Erich Kästner. https://biography.guide/erich-kastner/
MLA: "Erich Kästner." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/erich-kastner/.
Chicago: "Erich Kästner." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/erich-kastner/.
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