Lee Rust

I have an H-16 Supreme and mostly shoot with a 12.5mm wide angle lens. This camera has an eye-level focuser, so as an alternative to the side-mounted viewfinder, I mount a second 12.5mm lens in the upper turret position, set it to the same distance as the taking lens, and use the focus screen as a viewfinder. This gives a much larger wide angle image than the Trifocal finder and a much more comfortable viewing position. The spinning shutter blade is visible in the upper righthand corner of the ground glass, but that's no problem. A 25 or 75mm lens is mounted in the third turret position and I use the side mount viewfinder for that one. Parallax has not been a big issue with the 12.5mm lens and this arrangement works great for me.

Jesse was very responsive to my needs and seemed to know everything there was to know about Bolex cameras and accessories. At the time I contacted him about two years ago he was already in the process of winding down his business because of health issues, so I am saddened but not surprised by this news. Thank you Mr. Chambless and God bless.

We all have our rude moments. Let it go, talk to him and work it out.

I've purchased several items from Calkovsky with no problem, but mistakes do happen. Let him know what the problem is.

Here's the quote from Super 16 Inc: We are no longer taking in any new jobs or answering technical questions via phone or email but hope that: the folks at Visual Products can help you with most 16mm equipment and adapters, etc., on this side of the pond and Les Bosher across it. For Russian equipment, you could try Olex Kalynychenko at olex.camera@gmail.com or http://slowmotioninc.com. Andrew (Andrzej) Zorawski at AZ Spectrum repairs motors and provides video taps; Dave Kutz (717) 587-9039) in Lancaster, PA, does focus gears for lenses; Shurco Tool in Covina, CA, does photoengraving for ground glasses. Jesse at Chambless Cine Equipment has parts for Bolexes, Beaulieus, and Super 8 cameras.

It's true. In a reply email they provide a short list of alternates for the many services they were providing. Retirement is a natural thing and in this case it is particularly well earned. I really enjoyed dealing with both Bernie and Julie and they will be sorely missed. Most cine film machinery is receding into history and so are those who know how to work on it. Who is in the next generation of mechanical repair and service technicians?