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Is this camera worth fixing?


Kevin Masuda

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The ebay link doesn't seem to work in your other post in the Bolex forum..

 

It's always hard to say just from photos exactly how much work is needed. Given the amount of corrosion (never a good thing with precision equipment) I'd say the camera and mag would need a complete overhaul. It looks like the camera was dropped with a large lens and a motor attached, so there may be body distortion. Rusty electronics are rarely dependable, so don't count on any of the accessories working. The power supply pictured is for an MST motor, to run the camera at (non-crystal) sync speed. But that's missing. I don't know what the rusty motor in the photo is, maybe out of a powered zoom lens. The MM motor pictured is for the magazine.

 

The camera needs a new turret plate assembly, winding arm, mag port cover and eyecup at the very least. The turret spindle is probably damaged, and given the storage condition there may be fungus on the optics. The shutter sector adjustment lever is bent and the motor attachment threads are damaged or missing. If the prism (now exposed due to the missing turret plate) is scratched or otherwise damaged I'd definitely forget about it.

 

You're probably looking at more expense in repair and parts costs than another RX 5 in good shape. It would be a gamble.

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I'm with Dom on this one ...

 

Its just going to sit in a projects box until you find the parts missing cost as much as a new one - turrets are rare, I need one myself... The bolt that holds to the shaft on the front looks like its sheared off and still in there :lol:

 

Maybe its been swimming ?

 

It could be an awesome spare parts store - like I bet the gate being alloy will be fine, so you have a second chance at super16 ing your gate for instance. But if you've never been inside a Bolex (and you're going to have to with this one) this would be the worst place to start !

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Hands off!

 

That turret plate tells a sad story. Bent shutter lever, a motor thread socket missing in the housing, switches missing with the Perfectone gear, all the rust, this is a NO-GO. Not even for parts, you have rust everywhere.

 

If you don’t want to pay a lot purchase a simpler camera like a Revere. They run for 50 seconds by the way. Cinematography comes out of you, not the camera.

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The problem for parts is the rust. It sure looks like it's been under water, or at least very wet. So, assume that all springs are DOA. Likewise, all bearings. The turret shows severe impact damage. Sorta like a 95 year old organ donor, it has a lot of parts, but few if any would be better than the ones in the other camera you want to fix up.

 

 

 

 

 

-- J.S.

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