H16 2x anamorphic build

Bill Hunt · January 2

IMG_1484.jpeg.0baa819066c7c68e7f6bf76f06127450.jpeg

A couple of adapters and a diopter away from testing. It’s not pretty but it should work.

Not a flat base model, but the rails are as sturdy as I could wish for. You can literally swing the camera off them—I only did it once…

Dom Jaeger · January 3

Look forward to hearing how it goes!

Bill Hunt · January 13

There’s a few minor modifications I’d still like to make, but this build works really quite effectively in purely mechanical terms.

Although the lens(s) are quite adequately supported I’d still like to acquire a plug.

Running a roll of film will tell the definitive story.

Happy to respond to any questions.

Jon O'Brien · January 14

Looks great! Hope you will post a link to the footage when it's ready.

Bill Hunt · January 14

24 minutes ago, Jon O'Brien said:

Looks great! Hope you will post a link to the footage when it's ready.

I will Jon,

I’ve just about got the film processing side sorted—only thing is, I’ve only got a handful of rolls of Tri-X reversal in the fridge… and a projector I’ve been restoring.

Note: the projector isn’t in the fridge.

However, I think I’d probably be letting the team down if I didn’t shoot a roll of colour negative and have it processed and upload somewhere.

Something worth looking at hopefully.

Dom Jaeger · January 14

Hi Bill, I would absolutely recommend getting a turret plug and maybe even a top lock assembly for the turret if you are going to fit a long, heavy lens like this. Otherwise, you need to make absolutely sure that the support is set exactly to the right height and centre, because it doesn’t take much to pull the turret away from the camera front and throw your focus out, or worst case begin to permanently deform the turret plate.

Bill Hunt · January 14

7 hours ago, Dom Jaeger said:

Hi Bill, I would absolutely recommend getting a turret plug and maybe even a top lock assembly for the turret if you are going to fit a long, heavy lens like this. Otherwise, you need to make absolutely sure that the support is set exactly to the right height and centre, because it doesn’t take much to pull the turret away from the camera front and throw your focus out, or worst case begin to permanently deform the turret plate.

Thanks Dom,

I’ve put a lot of effort into getting the alignment right, but yes, I’m with you on making absolutely sure.

I’m still on the lookout for both items.

Jeff Bernstein · January 14

19 hours ago, Bill Hunt said:

These pics are gorgeous; "you shoot lenses the way Sternberg shot Dietrich."

Edited January 14 by Jeff Bernstein

Bill Hunt · January 14

59 minutes ago, Jeff Bernstein said:

These pics are gorgeous; "you shoot lenses the way Sternberg shot Dietrich."

Thanks Jeff,

I hadn’t thought of it that way way before (and I certainly have nothing of the vision or skill involved), but I do like to fall in love with whatever I’m shooting—even if its moss on a gatepost.

Bill Hunt · January 15

There’s a complete upper locking assembly on the way from Du-All which should assuage Dom’s and my own concerns about the turret.

I’ve also added another support which is now located under the first adapter (taking lens to Kowa).

The second support means the whole lens assembly is independent of the c-mount, but for the fact that it remains attached to the turret.

What I would like to do at some point is make/modify an adapter that’s made of two pieces which slide into each other rather than being threaded.

This would mean I could simply slide the whole assembly forward to allow for lens swaps.

Don H Marks · January 15

Could you tell what lens you are using. I recognize the Yvar 75mm , but can't find on the "SLR Magic" website the lens combination.

Joerg Polzfusz · January 15

Looks like the only way to get rid of the support rods being attached to other support rods would be a base like this:

https://www.testedsuper8cameras.com/product/black-base-for-bolex-h8-h16/

Bill Hunt · January 16

4 hours ago, Joerg Polzfusz said:

Looks like the only way to get rid of the support rods being attached to other support rods would be a base like this:

https://www.testedsuper8cameras.com/product/black-base-for-bolex-h8-h16/

There goes my budget—does look great though Joerg, one day maybe. 🙂

Bill Hunt · January 16

My new baseplate arrived yesterday—so I rebuilt the whole contraption.

Now with two supports the weight of the lenses is completely off the c-mount. I’ve taken a lot of time to get the alignment right.

The bands you can see holding the lenses to the supports are made from pneumatic inner tubes. They were initially a work-around, but they work so well in keeping them—and the rest of the tube, for spares.

One thing I’ve come to rely on in terms of getting the alignment right is a very simple test; when the anamorphic/diopter lenses are aligned correctly with the taking lens the focus ring on the taking lens rotates quite freely. Any slight misalignment and the focus ring grabs and is more difficult by degrees to turn.

Simple in practice, but it took me a while to figure it out.

Turret lock on the way from Do-All as well—just for safety.

Bill Hunt · January 16

45 minutes ago, Bill Hunt said:

P.S. Although it looks kind of weird, the two tiered rails incorporate a sliding clamp that initially allowed me to align the top rails with the (offset) lens.

It started out as a work-around due to me not having a proper Bolex baseplate, but it worked so well I’ve kept it.

Bill Hunt · January 16

7 hours ago, Don H Marks said:

Could you tell what lens you are using. I recognize the Yvar 75mm , but can't find on the "SLR Magic" website the lens combination.

Hi Don,

Dead-on with the Yvar, then there’s a couple of (Rafcamera) adapters, Kowa 16s, more adapters, SLRMagic “Rangefinder”—which I believe you can only find second-hand now.

Dom Jaeger · January 16

On 1/15/2025 at 4:24 AM, Bill Hunt said:

Thanks Dom,

I’ve put a lot of effort into getting the alignment right, but yes, I’m with you on making absolutely sure.

I’m still on the lookout for both items.

I have them for sale.

Please reach out if you need Bolex parts, I have a large inventory.

Bill Hunt · January 16

1 hour ago, Dom Jaeger said:

I have them for sale.

Please reach out if you need Bolex parts, I have a large inventory.

Thanks Dom.

Bill Hunt · January 21

I bought another Kowa 16s anamorphic lens last week with the thought that if I had two, I wouldn’t have to swap my single lens between the camera and projector—yes, I’m lazy.

When the 16s arrived in the post it was beautifully packaged, but the lens itself was in very poor condition indeed. We’ll leave the lens for now…

What came with the lens however was a clamp. Quite well made, alloy, and in reasonable condition.

To cut a long story short, I dismantled another rig I had set up so I could have the height adjustable baseplate clamp, removed the clamp, drilled a hole in the base of the lens clamp… and Bob’s your Aunty’s husband, as they say.

As I’ve mentioned, the previous setup was solid and worked well, but there was one problem; when the Kowa (the other “good” one) was attached to my 25mm Kern there was a slight vignette which may not have been noticeable to the casual observer—but would have driven me nuts.

With this clamp attached to the rear of the Kowa I don’t need the previous screw-on adapter. This will allow me to set the Kowa somewhat closer to the taking lens and (hopefully) solve the vignetting issue.

I plan on making a collar to stop light leaks.

The other advantage of this set up is changing the taking lens with be much easier; slide the whole assembly forward, swap taking lens, slide back into place.

Let’s see if it works…

Bill Hunt · January 31

Here’s the latest, loaded with Kern 25mm which seems vignette-free thanks to the new clamp—see previous post.

The motor runs off a lithium 24v battery. I used old style two-pin microphone plugs for looks mainly, but they are very sturdy and reliable as well. They’re not unlike the Tuchels used on Nagra decks, although nowhere near the same quality.

As you can see, the turret lock arrived—in very good condition too.

Just after I took this photo the rain started bucketing down…