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ishkabibble
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Joined: Wed Aug 13, 2014 8:06 am
Real name: Matthew Lauretta
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Newcomer to Small Gauge Film

Post by ishkabibble »

Hello!

I've recently come by a Bolex D8LA via my grandfather, who has recently given it to me. It was sold to him during the twilight years of Double 8, after Super 8 came out, and was used for a fair number of years until it was put away in a very dry storage and only recently taken out. Far as I can tell, it's basically mint aside from a bit of lint build up on certain places. It runs just about perfectly, and I'd really like to try using this. There are a few questions I have about it, though,

1) Where to source film? Far as I can tell in my searches, the only still produced film is either the Wittner film (prohibitively expensive to ship to the US and still very expensive via Dwayen's Photo), or the Fomapan film (currently sold out on both B&H and Freestyle). Am I missing anything?

2) One of the lenses, a Yvar 36mm f/2.8, is completely seized on the diaphragm adjustment ring, and another, a Pizar 5.5mm f/2, is incredibly stiff to adjust. Is there anything I can do to fix this, short of sending it off to a professional? I've heard about the naphtha trick to break down old grease in camera lenses from Photo in high school, but I'm... very wary of trying that on this, if only for the sentimental value of the camera (and that D-mount lenses are ridiculously expensive now because of the Pentax cameras that take them).

3) The special screw heads used to attach the turret and knobs. Is there an actual tool used to take them off? The turret is really scratchy to turn, and I figure it may be from either dried up lubricant or accumulation of lint, and I would like to get behind it to clean it out.

4) For basic lubrication, what would be recommended? I know this has old plastic gears, so I was wondering what grease/oil/lube/whatever would be recommended for that.

Thanks for your time!
Ish
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