New Never Used Bolex SBM For Sale

Dennis Toeppen · March 24

Purchased new from Bolex dealer Jesse Chambless in about 2014. It's been out of box twice: once for unboxing video, another time to take some pictures of it.

This is a super 16 camera. Of course, you can always shoot for 4:3 if you want.

DM me if interested. Price is reflective of rarity of brand-new, unused Bolex cameras.

Dennis Toeppen · March 26

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Edited March 27 by Dennis Toeppen
edit

Gabriel Valencia · March 27

Price ? Pictures?

Dennis Toeppen · April 1

SBM has never had film in it.

Christophe Collette · April 1

Hey Denis, I am interested, could you send pricing and images?

Dennis Toeppen · April 24

I'm adding a Kern Vario Switar Compact 17-85mm f3.5 H16RX Zoom lens with Bolex Bayonet Mount lens to this deal. The lens is new old stock, unused, in box, purchased from Helix Camera in Chicago after they closed. THIS LENS COVERS SUPER 16 AT ALL FOCAL LENGTHS. Other Kern zooms do not.

DM me if interested.

Edited April 25 by Dennis Toeppen

Dom Jaeger · April 25

Nobody in their right mind is paying $12K for a wind-up Bolex, even with a $500 zoom thrown in.

Dennis Toeppen · April 25

Thanks for bumping my post up. I appreciate it.

Edited April 25 by Dennis Toeppen

Simon Wyss · April 26

It is and will remain an amateur camera. The mainspring is at least 44 years old. The use value of an H camera is 400 Swiss Francs maximum. The reflex finder system is awful.

You don’t mention any warranty for that converted camera, nor that its lubricants should be expected to have dried up over the years. Never had film in it is a non-argument because it’s a film camera. To run fresh stock and to observe the functioning, to listen to that, forms a technician’s first investigation.

Lenses are different. As long as the glass is intact a lens pertains its value which drops to half the original sale price second-hand. But then a good service gives you everything back.

Dennis Toeppen · April 26

So many inaccurate assumptions. You're an amusing guy, Simon.

Edited April 26 by Dennis Toeppen

Mark Dunn · April 26

15 minutes ago, Dennis Toeppen said:

Anyone else out there lonely and needing attention?

That's an unworthy slight on a valued member of this community.

Tsk, that pesky European consumer protection law getting in the way of making money!

Dennis Toeppen · April 26

Thanks for bumping my post up.

Questions from actual potential buyers will be addressed via direct message..

Edited April 26 by Dennis Toeppen

Aapo Lettinen · April 26

On 4/25/2025 at 9:16 AM, Dom Jaeger said:

Nobody in their right mind is paying $12K for a wind-up Bolex, even with a $500 zoom thrown in.

I could sell three professional sync sound cameras with new crystal sync motors and serviced and film tested for lower total price and they could be got s16 converted separately and still not break the 12k mark total costs.

If the bolex is bought as collectible then it might make sense but for actual use I would definitely take two Eclairs and the Kinor and got them all s16 and PL mount converted, or go with pl mount Aaton LTR or Arri SR instead and still have money left for lenses and video tap etc

Edited April 26 by Aapo Lettinen

Dennis Toeppen · April 26

Well that's certainly interesting, Aapo. Why don't you start a thread about camera value equivalencies? I'm sure people will find it interesting.

Dennis Toeppen · April 26

As for attributes that potential buyers of the camera being offered may be interested in:

* Bolex SBM is particularly useful for situations where batteries are impractical. I bought this camera for a 15 day Grand Canyon raft trip, which I ultimately decided not to film.

* Bolex SBM can be used with PL-mount lenses. I prefer Arri Ultra 16 lenses and Les Bosher adapter.

* Factory Bolex Super 16 cameras are arguably much less troublesome than converted Bolex cameras.

I'm sure we'll hear plenty more from forum regulars who like to offer unsolicited and often irrelevant advice. It's what they do,

Aapo Lettinen · April 26

50 minutes ago, Dennis Toeppen said:

Well that's certainly interesting, Aapo. Why don't you start a thread about camera value equivalencies? I'm sure people will find it interesting.

OK brilliant, I will try to sell my old Eclair ACL for the same value that it cost back then 50 years ago when it was made, I think it was about 40 000 or 50 000 in today's dollars?
😄

If your SBM is really good and serviced it could be worth something between 3.5k and 4.5k. I would try 4.5k with really good images and report of recent service and a small video showing the camera running flawlessly with good audio.

It absolutely won't be worth more than a used working Aaton LTR or Arri SR2 so anything over 6k would be ridiculous even if it is a collectible mint in box rarity. People are buying these cameras for actual use so they need to either work or be really attractively priced so that people want to take the risk

Dennis Toeppen · April 26

Aapo, the camera is worth what someone is willing to pay for it. Someone who is looking for an SBM is probably not looking for any of the cameras you mentioned. Thanks for your speculation and trivia, it was interesting to read.

For calibration purposes, I'll share that the highest offer I have at this point is nearly twice the high end of your appraisal.

Edited April 26 by Dennis Toeppen

Gautam Valluri · April 28

On 4/27/2025 at 12:34 AM, Dennis Toeppen said:

For calibration purposes, I'll share that the highest offer I have at this point is nearly twice the high end of your appraisal.

Then you should sell it to this person before they find out they're overpaying.

Dom Jaeger · April 28

I must apologise, I didn't realise the seller has an MBA.

The high price is therefore entirely justified.

Sean Slobodan · May 1

This is fun.

Martin Baumgarten · May 2

Well folks, to be fair, despite what anyone thinks or knows.....he's offered excellent equipment for sale, and is probably open to offers from seriously interested persons. I wouldn't pay that much, but then it's way out of my price range. BOLEX cameras are being made SLOWLY in LOW quantities from remaining parts left over at the factory where only two guys now work. Like anything else.....a items are only worth what someone is willing to pay for them. Lastly, everyone here has offered a heartfelt response and regardless how taken, is still interesting to read and ponder. I'd personally prefer the standard aspect ratio and shoot anamorphically, so there's room for either a magnetic or optical sound track. So my older BOLEX H-16 is fine for that.

Dennis Toeppen · May 4

Thanks for keeping my listing near the top by commenting! I appreciate the extra exposure that every comment generates - even the childish troll comments.

Edited May 4 by Dennis Toeppen

Dennis Toeppen · May 4

Hi Martin! I sure wish you were still processing Foma. The rolls I sent you turned out great -- better than any other lab I tried.

Tyler Purcell · May 5

Market value is based on what people are willing to pay.

First place to determine market value is by looking at what has sold prior.

The "market" today are auction sites like Ebay, tho there are plenty of other ones that exist. Unfortunately, the rarity of the camera, does give one pause to understanding its full value. One such camera did sell (NIB) for $6k recently but it was not S16. Is the 1mm of added width, worth double the money? I say, only if it sells and I guarantee you whomever bought that $6k one, is absolutely shelving it.

I do find it humorous how out of touch you are with pricing. This image below is one of your other auctions on eBay, a standard roll of 16mm Ektachrome 100D, basically the same E6 stock that's out today, but of course for twice the money because it was hermetically sealed in a bag and has an older looking sticker on the can. I love your comments in the discrpition as well "Forget about the new Ektachrome 100D, this is Classic Ektachrome 100D - with all the sugar and twice the caffeine. This was manufactured until 2013. It offers the look of classic reversal film - lots of contrast and great colors. It blows away the new sissy 100D." Even though it's basically the same stock.