User manual BOLEX H16 EL

[. . . ] Its robust construction ensures excellent performance under all conditions. With a world-wide network of agents, Bolex offers impeccable after-sales service in practically every part of the world. If service is required, return your camera to the Bolex distributor in the country concerned. He is authorized to carry out repairs, adjustments and maintenance work. In any correspondence, please remember to quote the serial number engraved on the base of your camera. Contents Get to know your camera 7 8 9 11 11 11 12 13 14 16 mm films The reflex viewfinder The auxiliary multifocal viewfinder Optical equipment The turret The lenses Distance setting Diaphragm adjustment The filters Camera loading 27 29 29 30 lnsertinq the film The footage counter The frame counter The ~udible signal Unloading 31 32 the camera When the film is fully exposed When the film is only partly exposed Practical advice 33 34 35 35 36 36 37 38 39 40 42 44 Camera stability Film composition Panning shots Lighting Editing and titling films Adding sound to films Animation technique Cartoons Macro- and microcinematography Faulty films and their causes How to look after your camera To complete your equipment Camera operation 16 16 17 18 19 20 21 23 Winding Filming speeds The release selector Electric motor drive Hand cranking The variable shutter Lap dissolves Double exposures Get to know your camera 1234567 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Reflex viewfinder (page 8) Footage counter (page 29) Lever for disengaging spring motor (page 16) Spring motor winding handle-spring run: 28 sec. [. . . ] Half close the variable shutter by locking the lever in position "1 ': Set the frame counter to zero. Film the first scene. Disengage the motor and wind the film back until the frame counter again reads zero. Free the variable shutter lever and lock it in position "1 ': 1O. Film the second sequence until the frame counter reaches the figure noted under point 5. 23 b) To double expose only part of the sequence: according to the lightmeter reading. 1. Film the beginning of the scene, stopping when you reach the point where you intend to introduce the double exposure. Start with a semi fade-out of about 1 Yz seconds, by lowering the lever to position "1". Continue the sequence with a semi fade-in of about 1Yz seconds and end it with the lever locked in the "open" position. Stop filming scene, beginning with a semi fade-in of about the lever to position "1" and locking it without when the frame counter reaches the number noted under point 7. 24 N. B. Use a tripod for such sequences and, if possible, have an assistant. Choosing a more favourable diaphragm opening. As a rule, very small diaphragm apertures should be avoided, as there is a risk of diffraction affecting picture quality. Press the release and run the camera for several seconds to ensure that the film advancing normally and the loops at either end of the film gate are forming correctly. Replace the lid and lock it by turning the ring in the direction indicated by the arrow F. The camera is now ready for use (see following pages). The footage counter The footage counter shows the length of film that has been exposed. Run the camera until the figure 0 arrives opposite the white line in the centre of the red mask. This indicates that the film leader has been taken up and you can start filming. For special effects that require absolute precision, the frame counter should be used. The frame counter By indicating the exact number of frames exposed, this counter is invaluable for scientific studies, as well as various effects, such as lap dissolves and double exposures. It is also very useful for single frame filming (animation technique, see page 37). The upper dial adds the frames in forward run and subtracts them in reverse run, from 0-50 frames. The lower dial totalizes, in units of 50, the frames in forward run and subtracts them in reverse run, up to 1000 frames. ________________________________________________________________________________________________ ~~~ 29 J , · Beyond this figure, the cycle starts again and the figures shown on both dials should be added to the 1000 frames already totalized. Take no notice of the relative positions of the dials but only of their readings. You can easily check if the figures shown on the frame counter refer to the first or second cycle, by looking at the footage counter. [. . . ] Automatically and smoothly opens and closes the variable shutter, thus permitting professiona I quality fades and lap dissolves. This accessory enables the operator to get into the picture himself by starting the camera running six seconds after the timing mechanism has been set and allowing for a predetermined shooting time of between 5 and 20 seconds. Recommended for normal or single frame filming when absolute steadiness is required. It is always advisable to use an exposure meter, particularly when filming in colour. [. . . ]