Jean-Louis Seguin

I picked up an old H16 REX-1 body and serviced it back to working order. As it came with no lenses I resolved to use with my SLR lenses and a C-mount adapter, despite the focal length gain.

 

Reading up on the classic REX prism issue I was toying with the idea of replacing the front viewfinder optics and variable shutter with a mirrored shutter and omitting the glass between the lens and the gate.

 

I know this is probably some sort of travesty to be modifying a REX when I might as well be starting with a non-REX, but granted I am successful in constructing the new optics, would the removal of the prism be a significant quality gain?

 

Should I try to reinvent the wheel, or just be content stopping down?

JK Camera used to sell a rack-over reflex front for the Bolex that did just what you're talking about. Of course, you could only see through the viewfinder when the camera was stopped and the mirror racked-over.

Jean-Louis

I recently purchased a C mount 17-85 som berthiot dog leg zoom to use on a non-reflex bolex rex16.

 

The problem is that when the lens is screwed in all the way,

it does not mount in a manner so that the dog leg viewfinder can be attached to the lens.

 

I've seen pictures of how this lens is supposed to fit onto the camera,

but this one sets the viewfinder mount so that the dog leg

would be running through the bottom of the camera body.

 

Does this mean that the lens mount is way out of whack and needs to be collimated?

 

Where does one get the calipers...

(or whatever they are actually called)

the two point wrenches,

that enable one to turn the c-mount threads and other parts

of a lens. It seems like if I could just screw/unscrew the cmount further/less into the lens

that all would be well.

Any Ideas?

Thanks!

You have to rotate the thread C-mount ring until the alignment is just right. Berthiot made a special tool that fits into the two little notches in the ring but if you don't have the tool, I'd suggest using a block of hard rubber to turn the ring. I've seen people use pliers but it's too easy to slip and scratch up the rear of the lens. When adjusted right, the zoom stick should be pointed straight down.

Jean-Louis