Forgot to close loop former

[Matthew Dunbar]

Hi there,

I'm new to the forum and to using the Bolex, but I have a question that I can't find an answer for anywhere. I've been playing around with my H16 trying to get familiar with it and I ran it (door open) with a dummy role and forgot to open the loop formers. I know you aren't supposed to do this, but I'm wondering if it does any damage to the camera or just the film.

Thanks,

Matt

[Dom Jaeger]

No it won’t damage the camera. You actually need to run it with the loop formers closed for a bit to set the loop and get the film through to the take up side.  

The door won’t seat down properly and latch if you don’t open the loop formers, so you can’t make the mistake of filming with the loop formers closed.

[Boris Kalaidjiev]

@Dom Jaeger Strangely on my Bolex H16 I can close the door with the loop formers closed. 

Do you know what would happen if:
1) I left the loop formers closed? 
2) I took out the pressure plate?

I am looking for effects that I can experiment with my Bolex. Just some gimmicky effects that could be used on music videos and what not. But just trying to get a list of things that I would test first before actually rolling any film. 

Thanks a lot!
 

[Don H Marks]

Some non-destructive things to try. Take the filter out, that will cause a light leak. Run the camera until it stops; it can stop with the shutter open giving a big light leak flash. 

Set it to "I" and click as fast as you can on moving subjects. 

Do the same on "T" with some heavy ND filtering or stop down to get motion blurring. 

Consider making an inexpensive time lapse unit. I made mine with an RC car servo and a 'servo tester.'

 

Edited October 22 by Don H Marks

[Don H Marks]

If you don't know Stan Brakhage, look up - Dog Star Man

[Boris Kalaidjiev]

Great ideas, thanks! I will definitely test them out.

1) Would you shine a light through the filter holder or would that be an overkill?

2) When you're saying click as fast as possible I assume you mean not click the normal shutter (front release) but actually pull the side release lever towards P, so you're doing single frame exposures?

3) Would opening the lid (door) for a split second in the middle of the roll with 50D be something interesting in terms of flashing the film a bit?

BTW very cool intervalometer!