Bolex Ebm

james donovan · September 11, 2006

Hi, I have recently seen a nice bolex ebm going on ebay in America. However before I do anything rash, I dont suppose anyone out there knows whether the electronics of the camera would be suitable for UK voltages/power supply?

I was thinking of getting a convertor, but havent looked into it that much, or buying a new battery and charger altogether. Would that work on a bolex from America? Thanks for your time,

Damo

By the way I live in England! D

Bernhard Zitz · September 11, 2006

There are chargers that run on 120V(US) and others that run on 240V(UK, EU). Usualy you run the camera off it's batteries so the question is just wether your charger is US or UK. With an 240V to 120V transformer you'll be able to use the US-charger in UK.

The camera runs on 12V Nicads, with a little DIY you should be able to use any 12V-DC source. Anyway if the batteries are as old as the camera, chances are high that you need new ones...

cheers, bernhard

james donovan · September 11, 2006

There are chargers that run on 120V(US) and others that run on 240V(UK, EU). Usualy you run the camera off it's batteries so the question is just wether your charger is US or UK. With an 240V to 120V transformer you'll be able to use the US-charger in UK.

The camera runs on 12V Nicads, with a little DIY you should be able to use any 12V-DC source. Anyway if the batteries are as old as the camera, chances are high that you need new ones...

cheers, bernhard

Hi, thanks, do you think that a clockwork bolex with a sync motor would offer more versatility over the ebm? Thanks for your time, damien

Sir Alvin Ekarma · September 11, 2006

Du-all sells a universal charger/conditioner that will let you plug in anywhere but you should double check with them. Also, theysell new batteries as well. However, you may just want to get Bolex-to-XLR power cable from and run the camera off one of those 12V lead acid batteries that can be had for cheep. http://www.duallcamera.com/store/Batteries_Chargers.shtml

Regarding flexibility, I would probably advise getting a late model Bolex (Rex 5 or SBM) and using one of those NCS intervolemeter moters that will not only let you do time lapse, but crystal and all the speeds between 1-48fps plus backwards http://www.intervalometers.com/rev/bolex/index.stm

However, AZ Spectrum does sell a motor upgrade for multple speeds, sync and backwards running for an EBM and I've been planning on having that done once I have some more money. http://members.aol.com/azspectrum/bolex_cr.html

james donovan · September 11, 2006

Du-all sells a universal charger/conditioner that will let you plug in anywhere but you should double check with them. Also, theysell new batteries as well. However, you may just want to get Bolex-to-XLR power cable from and run the camera off one of those 12V lead acid batteries that can be had for cheep. http://www.duallcamera.com/store/Batteries_Chargers.shtml

Regarding flexibility, I would probably advise getting a late model Bolex (Rex 5 or SBM) and using one of those NCS intervolemeter moters that will not only let you do time lapse, but crystal and all the speeds between 1-48fps plus backwards http://www.intervalometers.com/rev/bolex/index.stm

However, AZ Spectrum does sell a motor upgrade for multple speeds, sync and backwards running for an EBM and I've been planning on having that done once I have some more money. http://members.aol.com/azspectrum/bolex_cr.html

Thanks for the info! I shall check into it, do you have an ebm? If so, do you think it's a good camera to invest in, damien

Sir Alvin Ekarma · September 12, 2006

Thanks for the info! I shall check into it, do you have an ebm? If so, do you think it's a good camera to invest in, damien

It's quirky. I went from a Scoopic MS to a Super 16 EBM and there's just a billion little things to get used to; I don't know if that's characteristic of the EBM or bolexes in general, but at this point, I know it inside out so we're pretty much married now.

If I were going to do it again, I would have probably gone with an Rex 5-- it has a variable shutter that can let you do in-camera effects like dissolves, etc. among other things and an option for a 400ft magazine-- along with an NCS revolution motor. The only mild hiccup would be that if you wanted to upgrade to Super 16, it costs more than an EBM or SBM and the viewfinder's not so hot (an upgrade to a 13x viewfinder may be needed if it isn't to your liking and that's what you get). My second choice would be the SBM with a Revolution motor or an AZ spectrum modifiecd MST motor (provided you could get an MST motor for cheep.)

Edited September 12, 2006 by Sir Alvin Ecarma

Sir Alvin Ekarma · September 12, 2006

The only mild hiccup would be that if you wanted to upgrade to Super 16, it costs more than an EBM or SBM and the viewfinder's not so hot (an upgrade to a 13x viewfinder may be needed if it isn't to your liking and that's what you get).

Clarification: The Rex-5 comes with a 10x viewfinder. JK camera can do an upgrade to a 13x viewfinder. http://www.jkcamera.com/Super16.htm

Also...

-My third choice would be an EBM

-Remember that you'll need to rig up a barney if you ever inted to record sound. Remember to set aside some R&D time for that.

In the end, I think the EBM is a good camera once you get used to it. Plus, a Super-16 upgrade for it or an SBM is reasonably priced and probably the best value route to shooting in S16, what with the selection of cheep, quality lenses that are available. However, if just wanted to stick to R16, you could go with a Kinor and it may end up costing the same as an R16 EMB and may even be cheeper. You'll need to some number crunching to figure out what works best for your plans and budget.

Sir Alvin Ekarma · September 12, 2006

Final Addendum: apparently, the SBM does come w/ a variable shutter (you may want to double check) so that w/ a revolution motor would be my first choice.

james donovan · September 12, 2006

Final Addendum: apparently, the SBM does come w/ a variable shutter (you may want to double check) so that w/ a revolution motor would be my first choice.

Thanks for sharing the knowledge, I've put a bid down now on the ebm so we shall see how it goes, I might even pick up a cheap bolex to do time lapse work. But for the moment I work to get into long shots like Haneke (so I guess that an electric camera would be good)..