film bolex

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The Bolex H-16 Rex 5 is a 16mm reex camera.The optical system permits through the lens

viewing at all times. It is an extremely versatile,portable, dependable, well-built camera. The self-threading allows easy loading of daylight spools.

This cameraʼs features include single frame, ex-tended exposure, slow motion, a 135° angle vari-able shutter, and backwind. Media Loan has H-16Bolex cameras, zoom lenses, many prime lenses,and a double system sync package with 400 footmagazines as well as other accessories.

INTRODUCTION

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

RELFEX VIEWFINDER

DIOPTER ADJUSTMENT

DOUSER

TURRET

FILTERS

CAMERA MOTOR

FILM SPEEDS

RELEASE SELECTOR (ON/OFF)

VARIABLE SHUTTER

LAP DISSOLVE

LOADING THE CAMERA

CAMERA DIAGRAM

FOOTAGE COUNTER

FRAME COUNTER

TROUBLESHOOTING

REFERENCE ILLUSTRATIONS

WRITTEN TEST

OPERATIONAL PROFICIENCY TEST

Written by: Michael Majoros and Marge Brown

Graphics and Compilation by: Marge Brown, Kieth Ogren and Curt Gullan

Additional Information by: Alley Hinkle, Kathleen Doherty and Curt Gullan

Media Loan

The Evergreen State College

The library Group (360) 867-5506

Olympia, WA 98505

http://www.evergreen.edu/media

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Reex Viewnder The optical system of the Bolex H16 reexpermits through the lens viewing at all times.This system utilizes a beam splitter so the

image seen in the viewnder is completelyfree from icker. The reex nder enablesaccurate focusing and framing, and allowsyou to estimate the depth of eld. The reexprism deects 20-25% of the light passingthrough the lens into the viewnding system.Only 75-80% reaches the lm plane. Theactual quality of light reaching the lm is

reduced by about 1/2 to 1/3 of an f-stop. Tocompensate for this, Bolex has determinedthat the effective shutter speed for the H16

camera is 1/80 second rather than thestandard 1/65 of a second. To further confusematters, Bolex (in conjunction with Kern/ Switar) has designed a series of lenses whichare calibrated to pass 1/2 to 1/3 stop morelight that the aperture markings on the barrel

indicate, compensating for the light lost to theviewnding system.

The letters “rx” designates these lenses afterthe name on the barrel. When using theselenses with the H16 camera, the effectiveexposure is back to 1/65 of a second.

Bolex H16 Other Camera

Read exposure

meter at

1/65 a second

Read exposure

meter at

1/65 a second

Under expose

flm by 1/3

to 1/2 stop

Read exposure

meter at

1/80 a second

RX

Non

RX

Diopter Adjustment This adjustment corrects the optical systemto the operatorʼs eyesight (whether or not ifs/he wears glasses) and remains the samefor all lenses on the camera.

To set the diopter:

1. Turn the turret to expose the reex

prism (no lens in taking position).2. View a well-lighted subject.3. Loosen the grooved ring around theviewnder and turn the lever until thegrain of the ground glass is perfectlysharp.4. Tighten the ring that acts as a lock nut.

Some viewnders have locking screws.

Douser The douser (located on the reex viewnder)closes the eyepiece to keep light fromreaching and fogging the lm plane throughthe viewnder.

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Warning: Light meters in Media Loan are calibrated for 180º

angle shutter not the 135º angle shutter in the Bolex H16



Diopter Adjust

Eyecup

Diopter Lock

It is necessary to use the douser whendoing pixilation with a strong light behind thecamera. The douser is open when the leveris in the horizontal position; closed in thevertical position.

Turret By turning the turret you can change fromone lens to another. To turn the turret, useits fold away lever rather than handling

the lenses. In this way, there is less risk ofaccidentally changing the aperture and/orfocus ring. When using heavy lenses, suchas telephotos or zooms, the turret should belocked with either a special locking clampor a turret plug. Turret plugs go into thelowest lens cavity (when turret is on normalposition); they are marked with a red ring.

For other lighter lenses, the turret lock onthe camera should be sufcient. This lock islocated above the lens in the taking positionand should be tighten before the lenses arein place. Keep the wide-angle lenses andtelephoto lens opposite of each other on the

turret so the telephoto lens doesnʼt interferewith the eld of view of the wide-angle lens.

Filters The H16 camera has a lter between thetaking lens position and the reex prism. Thelters therefore remain in place no matter

which lens is used. When lming without alter, an empty lter carrier should be left inthe lter slot to prevent light from entering

the slot and fogging the lm. Make sure thecarrier is located rmly within the slot andthe correct lter is in place before shooting.An incorrect lter will either alter the colorbalance or exposure.

Turret Lock

Filter Slot

Turret

Turret Lock Screw

Release Button

Lens Taking Position

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Camera Motor The Bolex H16 has its own internal springdrive motor. This allows an electric motor tobe used and also allows you to backwindthe lm for camera dissolves. Turn the motordisengaging lever to “MOT” and move theslide release to “stop”. If the side release willnot go to stop, slightly wind the spring. Lift the

winding crank, which automatically engagesthe spindle, and turn counterclockwise. Windthe spring fully without forcing it. Fold thecrank and secure it on the latch on the lowerbody. Fully wound, the motor will drive abouteighteen feet of lm through the camera(about 28 seconds at 24fps).IMPORTANT: Never leave the camera woundduring storage. This may ruin the spring.

When running down the spring with no lm inthe camera, set lm speed at 8fps.

Film Speeds The camera has seven lm speeds from 12to 64 frames per second (fps). To select thedesired speed, turn the control knob until thecorresponding gure is opposite the red dot.When changing lming speeds do not forget

to alter the exposure setting. (When changingfrom 24 to 48 by one stop and so forth.) Release Selector (on/off) The H16 can be used for normal, continuous,or single frame lming. The differentoperations are controlled by the side release.

Normal lming-- This method is suitable formost shooting situations. Then camera runsas long as the operator depresses the frontrelease or pushes the side release towards

“M.”

Continuous lming-- Push the side releasetowards “M” until it clicks into place. The

camera will continue running until the windruns out or the side lever is pushed to theSTOP position.

Turret Lock

Filter holer

MOT

Spring Disengage Lever

Disengage

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Backwind

Electric Motor Shaft

Extended Exposure Select

Instantaneous

Film Speed Selector

Time

Single frame lming-- Instantaneous: Turnthe knob until the guide mark is in the “I”position. The effective exposure time in thisposition is 1/30 of a second. Time: Place

guide mark in “T” position; shutter will remainopen as long as side release is in the “P”position.

Variable Shutter The H16 is equipped with a shutter whoseaperture can be varied when the camera isrunning and when it is stopped. This enables

you to reduce exposure time without alteringthe camera running speed or f-stop. In brightlight, the variable shutter can be used toreduce exposure, therefore eliminating theneed for a neutral density lter.

The shutter may be locked in each of its fourpositions by pulling it out and pushing inwhen at the desired setting.

Fully open -- normal exposure -- at the red

mark.1/4 closed -- exposure reduced by a half stop

1/2 closed -- exposure reduced by a full stopFully closed -- no light reaching the lm plane

In some cameras, a triangular warning signalwill appear in the viewnder if the variableshutter is not in the fully open position.

Variable Shutter

Continuous Run Single Frame

Slide Release

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Lap Dissolve Superimposing a fade-in on a fade-out makesa lap dissolve so that one picture graduallydisappears as the next gradually appears.

This allows for a smooth transition duringwhich the picture brightness scarcely varies.To produce lap dissolve, close the rst shotin a sequence with a fade-out. Lock theshutter in the “closed” position. Set the frame

control to zero. Disengage the motor. Setthe slide release to the ʻMʼ position. Dousethe Viewnder. Cap the lens. Rewind thelm, using the backwind key, until the framecounter indicates the duration of the fade-out.Move the slide release to the STOP position.

Frame the second sequence to be lmedand release the slide lever. At the same time

make a fade-in the same length as the fade-out.

Duration of thefade

in seconds

Number of frames/

Filming Speed

18 fps 24 fps

973964

955

973

964952

940

928

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22 1/2

Loading the Camera Before loading:1. Set side release to stop.

2. Set disengaging motor to MOT.3. Turn FPS selector knob until the numbercorresponding to the desired camera speedfaces the red dot.

4. Wind the camera. Check that the pressure plate pin is locked sothat the pressure plate cannot open.

The lm will jam at this point if the plate isnot closed. Remove the empty spool fromits spindle by pressing the ejector. Placethe loaded daylight spool on the upperspindle. (Film should come off in the direction

indicated by the engraved arrow).IMPORTANT: At the lm gate the emulsionshould always face towards the front of thecamera.Using the lm knife (located at the bottom ofthe camera), clip the lm end.Close the loopformers by moving the control lever parallelto the pressure plate. Insert lm end in the

top feed sprocket and start the camera motor.The lm is automatically threaded throughthe gate. If you need to adjust the lm, you

can spread the sprocket guides by sliding thelocking plate forward.Continue to run the camera until 12 to 15inches of lm have passed through the drivemechanism.Open the loop formers by pressing the button

located on the sprocket/gate assembly. Insertthe lm end into the take-up spool (in thedirection of the engraved arrow), place thespool on the lower spindle and take up any

Loop Formers

Pressure Plate Pin

Sprocket Guides

Release

Sprocket Guide Lock

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Camera Diagram

Feed Spindle

Sprocket Guides

Audible Signal Select

Spool Ejector

Pressure PlateRelease Pin

Pressure Plate

Filter Holder

Loop Former

Lock Release

Loop Formers

Film Knife

Retaining Arm

Sprocket GuideLock Release

Take Up Spindle

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slack by hand. Run the camera again forseveral seconds to make sure that everythingis okay (check that the lm is advancingnormally and the loops do not scrape thebody). Replace the lid and lock.

Footage Counter The footage counter indicates how much lmhas been exposed. Once the camera hasbeen loaded, the counter will read FEET.Run the camera until the gure “0” appearsopposite the white line in the indicator

window. This indicates the lm leader hasbeen taken up and the camera is ready to beused.

The counter will automatically return to “0”when the lid is removed.When shooting a 24 fps, there is the optionfor an audible CLICK every second indicatingthat 8 inches of lm has passed through thecamera. This can be useful when timing a

pan or zoom shot. For an audible CLICK,move the audible signal select lever downwhen loading lm; for no click place the leverin the “0” position.

TroubleshootingProblem and Probable Cause Film is black:

Variable lens shutter was closedLens cap left onExposure incorrect

Film underexposed, images reversed; withcolor lm, general orange tint: Film incorrectly loaded with the base facingforward instead of the emulsion Jumpy Images: Loops formed incorrectlyShrunken lm stock

Prevailing red-orange tint: Using tungsten lamps with a daylight lm oran underpowered tungsten lamp Obscured Images: Turret Incorrectly positionedTelephoto lens on turret obscuring view of

other lenses

Partly obscured pictures: Telephoto lens in the way of the taking lens orturret badly positioned Parallel scratches on the edge of the lm: Dust or particles of emulsion in the lm gateCamera poorly loaded

Frame Counter

100ʼs of Frames

Frame Reset

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Frame Counter The frame counter is helpful for lap dissolves,double exposures, and animation.The upper dial adds the frame in forward

run and subtracts them in reverse (0 to 50frames).The lower dial totals in unit of 50 frames.It will subtract when the camera runs inreverse.Indicators are from 0 to 1000 frames.



Fogged lm: Light entering through the viewnder or lterslotFilm was loaded in extremely bright lightCamera not seated well

Film fogged at edges: Camera loaded in strong lightWarped take up or feed reelFilter carrier not in slot during exposure Out of focus or “breathing” pictures: Pressure plate incorrectly locked

Exposure Meter Shoe

Filter Holder

Carrying Handle

Optical Viewnder Bracket

Lid Lock

Exposure Meter Shoe

Turret Lever

Magazine Cavity Cover

Turret Locking Screw

Starting Button

Exposure Meter Shoe

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Troubleshooting Continued

Referance Illustrations



Written Test

1. List the four steps necessary to set thediopter adjustment.2. How many frames per second is theBolex capable of shooting? How few?3. What kind of viewing system does the

Bolex H16 employ?4. What is the maximum shutter angle ofthe Bolex H16? What is the shutter speed?5. Explain the difference between BolexRx lenses and normal lenses. What is theeffect on the shutter speed, and how do youcompensate?6. What is the function of the turret plug?7. List the steps necessary to perform a

lap dissolve.8. List the steps necessary to thread thecamera.9. Describe any precautions you need to

take while cleaning and operating the Bolex.10. What is the extent of your nancialresponsibility in case of loss, or damage tothe camera?

Operational Prociency Test

1. Identify all of the parts and control ofthe Bolex H16.2. Set the diopter and place the 85b lterin the camera.3. Set the fps at 24, set the counter at 0.4. Load the lm in the camera.

5. Demonstrate how to create a lapdissolve.6. Demonstrate extended exposure andanimation features.7. Display proper lens mounting to insureappropriate “taking” balance.

Please complete the prociency test beforechecking out the Bolex H16 from media loan

Media Loan

The Evergreen State College

The library Group (360) 867-5506

Olympia, WA 98505

http://www.evergreen.edu/media

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