Heikki Repo

All Bolex with reflex viewfinder. Non-reflex models such as M5 don't have this problem but then you'd have a new problem: no reflex viewfinder, only octameter... :rolleyes:

Just to add to the reply above: If you are thinking about buying a different 16mm camera you might be interested in Eclair ACL. While it certainly isn't the newest camera, you can use c-mount (NON-RX!) lenses with it and also quite easily use different lens adapters. You could also buy for it a specifically made Contax->Eclair adapter. The zeiss lenses you own are probably from the real high end of SLR lenses and unless you want to start buying PL-mount lenses (cheapest about $500 each) this route could get you quite good results. But all of this is depends on the following question: What kind of results are you getting at the moment? Something like this: or or or All of those look quite good to me and were shot with a Bolex. Many of them also used some longer focal length SLR lenses and for the shorter focal lengths RX Switars. If that quality isn't enough, then you'll probably need high end cine lenses and they won't be cheap to own. You'll also want to have a camera which doesn't have problems with non-RX lenses. You could also rent them and use your Bolex for more hobby projects -- just buy some cheap RX Switars for the shorter focal lengths.

As mentioned, the problem is the prism. The camera was built so that the lenses have to have a specific element to correct for the spherical aberration which is caused by the prism. Because of this reflex Bolex requires RX lenses. When using lenses without this correction images will be less sharp. This problem is worst with shorter focal lengths. The problem is less worse when using smaller apertures. Here some more information: http://www.c-mountlens.com/2011/bolex-reflex-rx-lenses-the-difference/ ARRI, Aaton and Eclair use mirror instead of prism to bring the image to the viewfinder. To sum it: camera is only a box with a lens running film. Thus imagewise there is little difference between Aaton, Arri or Eclair using PL-lenses (except possibly in the weave). It's just that Bolex is the box that isn't compatible with lenses that aren't made specifically for it.

But they certainly are no SLR/still photography lenses, eh? B)

High quality lenses made for 35mm still photography have hard time competing with dedicated high quality 16mm cine lenses in 16mm format. Now then, if I was looking for the best quality glass for a project to be shot with for example Arri SR3, I'd take a look at Ultraprimes or Zeiss superspeeds. For you the real problem is however the prism in your Bolex. All lenses are negatively affected unless you use lenses specifically made for reflex Bolex -- RX lenses. If you don't want to upgrade to an Arri SR/Aaton/modded Eclair, your best bet would be to buy Switar primes or Switar zoom. Bolex cameras are somewhat a dead end lens wise...

Wittner's latest volume discount: Buy 30 packages, pay only 299.00 EUR per package. Really, that's only about 50 EUR per 400 ft. of 16mm color reversal film (incl. German VAT 19%). It doesn't really get cheaper than this I think...

That's correct. However, Wittner seems to own some rolls of that material because they are selling it in S-8 cartridges.

Wittner sells both Velvia 100 and Astia 100.

And then there is this: http://motion.kodak.com/motion/About/The_Storyboard/4294971668/index.htm

The author of the book writes: Secondly, Kodak has announced that they will stop making acetate support (cellulose triacetate, CTA) that is primarily used for still roll and motion camera films. After their existing stocks are consumed they plan on purchasing acetate for these films from other manufacturers. I don't believe that this will cause any significant decrease in product quality or availability of Kodak photographic film. CTA is used for applications like flat screen TVs so other have learned how to make high quality CTA. http://www.apug.org/forums/forum390/119376-kodak-stops-making-acetate-film-base-making-kodak-film-author.html

That's 1R (1 RA-2994) so yes, perforated stock.

Just for the record: Wittner is now selling the unmodified AGFA Avichrome 200 in large amounts in 16mm and for quite a good price: 732 meters: 499,00 € and when buying more than one package of 732 meters: 3 packages à 469,00 € 5 packages à 419,00 € 10 packages à 379,00 € What are the differences between this and Wittnerchrome 200D? Some have proposed that Wittnerchrome is lubed for motion picture use and for this reason plain Avichrome might not run as well. Caution might be necessary.

With color film you can't use safe lights. IR night goggles would work, but it isn't really that complicated to do without sight. Usually you'll only need to load the giving side and unload the taking side blind. That's easy. The trickiest part is loading the taking side and it can usually be done in daylight even though you do lose some film.

Color negative Kodak Vision3 50D Kodak Vision3 200T Kodak Vision3 500T Pro8/01 (Vision2 50D, slit and perfed by Pro8mm) Pro8/07 (Vision3 250D, slit and perfed by Pro8mm) Pro8/46 (Fuji Eterna Vivid 250D, slit and perfed by Pro8mm) Pro8/47 (Fuji Eterna Vivid 500T, slit and perfed by Pro8mm) Pro8/22 (Fuji F-64D, slit and perfed by Pro8mm) Pro8/92 (Fuji Reala 500D, slit and perfed by Pro8mm) Color reversal Ektachrome 100D (production stopped, remaining stock available, esp. from Wittner) Velvia 50D (slit and perfed by Wittner) Velvia 100 (slit and perfed by Wittner) Astia 100F (slit and perfed by Wittner) Wittnerchrome 200D / Agfa Aviphot (slit and perfed by Wittner, on polyester base) BW negative AGFA APX 100 professional (slit and perfed by Wittner) ORWO Negativfilm N 74 plus (slit and perfed by Wittner) BW reversal Kodak Tri-X ORWO UN 54 (slit and perfed by Wittner) ADOX PAN-X 100 Reverso FOMA Fomapan R100 (slit and perfed by Wittner) AGFA SCALA 200X professional (slit and perfed by Wittner) WITTNER PXR 50 (slit and perfed by Wittner? Only available as bulk)

For the first time I'm feeling a bit sorry I don't own an iPhone! ;) Very nice setup.

You could get a dummy block here http://www.beaulieu.de/pages/s8_azub8.php?rubr=s8_azub8 and then either buy from the same place an external battery ("Externer akku") or build one yourself. My Beaulieu was modified by the former owner to only accept external battery, he supplied one with the camera and it has worked remarkably well.

Dom already answered this, but just to clarify: focal length is always the same. Your 100mm lens on 35mm still film camera or full frame digital camera is still 100mm, on a crop sensor camera it's 100mm and on 16mm film camera it's still 100mm. Only the field of view changes, because the area used of the lens is different. When using Octameter you just select 100mm and it'll show you the field of view in 16mm film. But it's true that it might be difficult to obtain wider lenses for 16mm, even 25mm lens corresponds in field of view to that of about 80mm in full frame 35mm.

Hi Austin, focusing through the top should be possible. However, when shooting you'll probably notice that it can be somewhat tedious to turn the lens to the top position. You could though test with the critical focusing if the marks for focusing on the lens are correct when used on the Bolex and then you could focus with tape measure. As for Octameter, it is quite nice. It has different focal lengths in the same viewfinder. It has the following focal lengths: 16mm, 25mm, 35mm, 50mm, 63mm, 75mm, 100mm and 150mm. You can use it with any lenses.

Whoops, meant of course to write "supplied with the Beaulieu", sorry!

Hi Jayne, what kind of batteries are they and for what kind of batteries is your charger for? It does sound like they weren't charged enough. However, on thing to consider is also that if these batteries are new, you might need to charge and drain them through some cycles before they get to their full potential. One more thing: You do have a separate charger for the batteries? If you are using a newer charger than the one supplied with the Bolex, you need to charge the batteries outside of the camera -- newer chargers might burn the Beaulieu battery charging electronics due to higher current (this happened to me -- it doesn't affect the camera operations, but you have to connect the battery directly to the charger).

Hello Dylan, at the moment there are following color reversal films available for super-8: Fuji Velvia 50 Fuji Velvia 100 Fuji Astia 100 Agfa Aviphot Chrome 200 The first one is available from these sellers: http://www.spectrafilmandvideo.com (US) http://www.cinevia.eu/ (DE) The whole list is available from http://www.wittner-kinotechnik.de/ (DE) The most affordable option is shooting on Agfa stock (Wittnerchrome 200D). One cartridge costs 22.90 EUR. For even more cost savings buy it as "meterware" and use refillable cartridges: http://www.wittner-kinotechnik.de/katalog/04_filmm/s8_meter.php One cartridge (not adding the price of a refillable cartridge) of Wittnerchrome 200D costs then only about 10.30 EUR.

Correct.

No problems there. Just make sure the camera isn't sitting in some hot place (car, for example). Depends on the lab. Usually, however, the lab splices the rolls together for easier telecine, if that's what you are asking.

At this point you might want to check on the details of your camera. There are different versions of Bolex H16 Reflex. Quite good source of information is http://www.bolexcollector.com/ which lists the different models and serial numbers. You'll find the serial number of your Bolex on the other side of the door. Oh, and by the way -- I was in high school when I registered on this forum 2005. Great place, really!

Hi Scott and welcome! :) Where are you located? If US, you can call Kodak and buy from them. B&H ( http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Movie-Film/ci/341/N/4289360509 ) sells movie film as well, and for black and white you could also buy ORWO stocks from http://www.orwona.com In Europe Wittner (http://www.wittner-kinotechnik.de) sells different stocks in 100ft loads which fit your camera. However, Wittner doesn't stock Kodak negative film for 16mm so for that you'd need to buy from some other place like Stanley's http://www.stanleysonline.co.uk/category-193.html or http://www.film1635.cz/en/e-shop.php or http://www.widescreen-centre.co.uk/Catalogue/Kodak_16_mm_Film.html For processing there is quite nice list of different labs in different countries: http://www.cinematography.com/index.php?showtopic=59512 Concerning the camera you have inherited: do you know when it was last used and serviced? Over time the machinery of the Bolex might become slowed if not cleaned and serviced.