Bolex B8 - can anyone tell me what is causing this issue?

[Johnny Liu]

Please see the below video I uploaded to YouTube.  My Bolex B8 has an issue where sometimes, every 10 or so seconds a horizontal blip of bright light appears in the frame.  I don't think it has to do with the video transfer, because I use the same company to video transfer movies filmed using my other camera (Bolex B8LA) and don't get that problem with the transfers for that other camera.  I have had the film for my Bolex B8 developed by two different companies and the results are both the same - still these blips of bright light.  Thus, I don't think it is the film developer that is the issue.  I have tried other lenses in the past with my Bolex B8 and I also still get the issue with the other lenses, so don't think the issue is the lens.

The blips of bright light happen at these time marks in the video:

0:01
0:12
0:15
0:24

Does anyone have any ideas what is causing this?
 

 

[Dom Jaeger]

Well, the leak is across the film width. So look for any gaps in the film chamber going in that direction, perhaps the footage counter cover at the back? The frequency is probably related to how long your shots are, since the light must be leaking between shots. 

My guess would be the footage counter, so as an experiment try taping over the edges of the cover inside and see if the leak continues.

If it is in-camera, you should be getting brighter flashes when shooting outside in bright sunlight, and depending on how long you pause between shots.

[Johnny Liu]

3 minutes ago, Dom Jaeger said:

Well, the leak is across the film width. So look for any gaps in the film chamber going in that direction, perhaps the footage counter cover at the back? The frequency is probably related to how long your shots are, since the light must be leaking between shots. 

My guess would be the footage counter, so as an experiment try taping over the edges of the cover inside and see if the leak continues.

If it is in-camera, you should be getting brighter flashes when shooting outside in bright sunlight, and depending on how long you pause between shots.

Thanks Dom for the idea.  I will tape over the edges of the body on the inside where it meets the film door (is that what you are saying?).  Maybe also just tape the outside edge of the film door with like painters tape as well.

I noticed something strange today.  I was thinking it might be related to the shutter so, I tried to unscrew the four screws on the front outside plate of the camera and the screws just kept turning, but didn't back themselves out.  I then thought I should stop so I screwed the screws back in and they never seemed to stop turning (all four of the screws).  Do you think these screws are stripped - and if so - wouldn't it be strange that all four screws happen to be stripped?

I took my other camera - a B8LA that doesn't have the light blip issue and I turned one of the four screws on the front outside plate of the camera a few turns out and it didn't look like it backed out.  I then screwed it back in several turns and it didn't seem to feel like it was getting tighter at all.  I was hesitant to screw too much on this camera since it doesn't have any issues, so am a bit careful with it.

[Johnny Liu]

Oh wait, I think I misread what you had written.  I didn't realize that on the inside of the camera, against the back wall of the camera, there is a little cover that (I think) is the footage counter cover.  I will tape that up instead.  Thanks

 

[Dom Jaeger]

30 minutes ago, Johnny Liu said:

I noticed something strange today.  I was thinking it might be related to the shutter so, I tried to unscrew the four screws on the front outside plate of the camera and the screws just kept turning, but didn't back themselves out.  I then thought I should stop so I screwed the screws back in and they never seemed to stop turning (all four of the screws).  Do you think these screws are stripped - and if so - wouldn't it be strange that all four screws happen to be stripped?

I took my other camera - a B8LA that doesn't have the light blip issue and I turned one of the four screws on the front outside plate of the camera a few turns out and it didn't look like it backed out.  I then screwed it back in several turns and it didn't seem to feel like it was getting tighter at all.  I was hesitant to screw too much on this camera since it doesn't have any issues, so am a bit careful with it.

That doesn’t sound right, the 4 front plate screws should all screw down tight. It is weird if all are stripped, yes. Unless someone put in the wrong screws? Imperial instead of metric or something.

I wrote this a while back, all pocket camera are basically similar, if you ever want to go inside:

http://cinetinker.blogspot.com/2013/01/servicing-bolex-d8l.html

[Johnny Liu]

3 minutes ago, Dom Jaeger said:

That doesn’t sound right, the 4 front plate screws should all screw down tight. It is weird if all are stripped, yes. Unless someone put in the wrong screws? Imperial instead of metric or something.

I wrote this a while back, all pocket camera are basically similar, if you ever want to go inside:

http://cinetinker.blogspot.com/2013/01/servicing-bolex-d8l.html

I also have another Bolex handheld (C8SL) that I have never used - I might take one of the front plate screws from that and see if it screws correctly/tightly with my B8.

Thanks for the link to your webpage - it's great and I have looked at it many times in the past.  I need to make the time one of these days to do my own servicing of my cameras!  Thanks for being a great resource on this!
 

[Johnny Liu]

OK, big mistake on my part.  It turns out the screws were not screwing out or screwing back not because there was anything wrong with them, but rather, the screwdriver I have has this rubber sleeve/grip on the screwdriver handle shaft.  I kept thinking I was turning the screwdriver, but the screws were on so tight, that all I was doing was turning the screwdriver handle within the rubber sleeve/grip. Thus, yes, the screws are on - and they are screwed down tight.