Questions about the Bolex Paillard

[BenjaminA]

Hello out there in 8mm land...

Just got a Bolex Paillard Zoom Reflex P2!!
Very excited!!
But totally confused and ignorant of what I've got in my hands...

Where do I get a battery (for the light meter, I think)?
What kind of 8mm film does it take?
Where should I get it? Processing places?
What about transfers -- ultimately onto a G4/Final Cut environment?
Is the lens interchangeable?
Where do I get a eyepiece hood thing?
Are there manuals/user groups around?
What's this thing worth?

I'm in the San Francisco Bay Area. Anyone I should talk to/deal with locally?

Many thanks!!

[Split8mm]

Hello out there in 8mm land...

Just got a Bolex Paillard Zoom Reflex P2!!
Very excited!!
But totally confused and ignorant of what I've got in my hands...

Congrats Benjamin! In it's day, Bolex was considered one of the best around. Though it's day is long, long past. I like the Bolex because I like the spring hand wind motor type of camera.

Where do I get a battery (for the light meter, I think)?

They don't actually make the exact battery any more that these cameras use. The battery contained mercury and due to environmental concerns they are not sold in the US anymore. Some guys substitute a slightly different battery. I myslef don't use a battery at all with my Bolex P1 (almost the same camera). I just use a light meter and set the aperture accordingnly

What kind of 8mm film does it take?

The Bolex P2 takes "regular" 8mm film. This is also sometimes called "split 8mm" or "double run 8mm". This film, as used in your camera, is actually 16mm wide. It has perferations (holes) on both sides. It typically comes in 25 foot lenghts. You put it in the camera and run it to the end. This exposes one half of the film. Then you reverse the film and expose the other half. The processor then splits it down the middle and splices the two halves together and you get 50 feet of 8mm film! Pretty cool, huh?

Where should I get it? Processing places?

There are still a number of places you can buy the film and a few places that will process it (including Kodak themselves). Here's a good metadirectory that lists most of the places that sell and process film:

http://lavender.fortunecity.com/lavender/569/

What about transfers -- ultimately onto a G4/Final Cut environment?

Sorry, can't help you there. I watch all my film the old fashioned way. On a projector.

Is the lens interchangeable?

Nope. It's a fixed lens, though it is a zoom.

Where do I get a eyepiece hood thing?

There was one place I saw advertised on the net that was selling the eyepiece hood, but I was never able to get in touch with them. I actually prefer not using the hood though. I'm able to more quickly frame the shot.

Are there manuals/user groups around?

You can usually find a used manual on http://www.ebay.com. You might also just try a general web search.

What's this thing worth?

As they say, it's worth whatever you're willing to pay for it. But they generally go for between $50 and $100 on eBay.

I'm in the San Francisco Bay Area. Anyone I should talk to/deal with locally?

I live in the Land of Enchantment (New Mexico) so I can't help you out there either.

As you're going to find out, film cameras of any sort are becomming kind of old fashioned. And even with 8mm movie cameras, the Super8 format is much more popular than the Regular 8mm format (Kodak still sells Super8 film direct). But the old spring wind cameras still hold some interest to some people (like me!). Good luck with the camera and have fun.

[Guest]

Hi,

Like Split8mm I also have a Bolex P1 and love it. They were fantastic

cameras. A Bolex P model camera allows you to do so much with film and

can be found for about $50.00 - $100.00. Check out this page for more

info on regular 8mm film and be sure to check out the Bolex P1 profile.


http://home.pacbell.net/mnyberg/super8mm/8mm/index.htm


For the light meter get an Energizer 386 1.5volt Silver Oxide Cell Button

battery. It works as a substitute for the old mercury battery. You can

probably find one somewhere in town. If not http://www.batteries.com has them

for $3.99 as well as a list of other manufaturer's equivalant.

I buy film from either jmp61 at ebay or from John Schwind

@ International Film his website address is:

http://members.aol.com/Super8mm/JohnSchwind2.html/

Try some Cinechrome 25 Regular 8mm color film outdoors. It is being

discontinued soon and I think you would enjoy shooting some.

Either source is fair and reliable. For processing Kodachrome color film I

use Dwayne's in Parsons, Kansas aka K14 movies. Their address is:

http://www.k14movies.com

International Film also sells mailers if you want to send your film to Kodak

for processing. There used to be a seller @ yahoo auctions that sold eye

shades for Bolex cameras but I replaced mine with a smaller one that I

took off of a Kodak XL55 Super8 camera. I like it better than the original.

You probably need some type of eye piece shade because under bright

conditions stray light can enter the eye piece and fog the portion of film

you are shooting. Manuals are usually available on ebay.

I hope this helps out and Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[studiocarter]

Hi,

Congrats on your camera.
If the light meter works, a new battery needs some help to fit into the big space; the old battery was huge. Get a copper wire that's pretty thick and bend it into a spiral, a spring shape, to fill the space and make contact with the top inside of the battery compartment and the top of the battery way at the bottom of the hole. That's the way mine works.
Regular 8mm film transfers fit television a little better than S8 ones do using the WP2.
Good lighting and a tripod always help, too.

Michael

[reg8mm]

ftp://ftp.filmshooting.com/upload/manuals/
If you look at the full names you will see the P2 manual here.

Michael

[Guest]

ftp://ftp.filmshooting.com/upload/manua ... lex-p2.zip

there it is

[David M. Leugers]

As I recall from one I used to own, the battery is a deep one. My Canon Motor Zoom R-8mm beauty uses the same. I had purchased an adapter for my Russian K-3 16mm camera for the exposure battery, basically a round hunk of brass machined to the right shape. I just shot a test roll with the Canon using the brass adapter and hearing aid battery (1.4 volt) to test the auto exposure. The Fomopan film came back absolutely perfect. If you want to spend the money (I think around $20) for the K-3 adapter, it should work in the Bolex P-2. The copper wire trick sounds like a good tip too. The Bolex (provided there is no glue separation in the lense elements) can make incredible images which should be on par with some of the best S-8mm has to offer. Good filming!