Eclair NPR

Name: Eclair Eclair NPR
Brand: Eclair

The Eclair NPR (Noiseless Portable Reflex) is a 16mm film camera introduced in 1963 by the French manufacturer Eclair. Its quiet operation and ergonomic design made it the camera of the French New Wave and of documentary filmmakers working with synchronized sound in the 1960s and 1970s.

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Artists who use this(5)

Jean-Luc Godard

Community note

“Godard used the Eclair NPR for his French New Wave films and subsequent political works; its lightweight, quiet design enabled the handheld shooting style that characterized "Breathless" (1960) and his 1960s output. Documented in accounts of New Wave production methods.”

François Truffaut

Community note

“Truffaut used the Eclair NPR for his French New Wave films, including "The 400 Blows" (1959) and the Antoine Doinel series. The camera's portability enabled the location shooting essential to the New Wave aesthetic.”

Agnès Varda

Community note

“Varda used Eclair cameras for her documentary and fiction work from the 1960s onward. Her use of lightweight 16mm equipment suited her personal, intimate filmmaking approach.”

Last updated March 7, 2026

D.A. Pennebaker

Community note

“Pennebaker used the Eclair NPR for his Direct Cinema documentaries, including "Don't Look Back" (1967) and "Monterey Pop" (1968). The camera's quiet sync-sound capability was essential to the Direct Cinema method.”