How many frames does your Bolex shoot on one wind?

Well, I was wondering if my Bolex has a weak/strong/normal spring in comparison to other round bottom H16s, so please state the number of frames that your camera shoots on a single wind. Also, does someone know the amount that they were supposed to shoot when they left the factory new?

Mine shoots;
741 at 8 fps
741 at 16 fps
742 at 24 fps
742.6 at 32 fps
somewhere between 744-747 at 64 fps

Maybe it just needs some more use after sitting idle after 30 years?

Also, does anyone know a good place to get parts for these cameras? Mine seems to be missing the thing that lets you focus a lens and swing it over (eye level focus?), as well as the handle for the camera, and the viewer attachment that goes on the film cover.

One more thing... What are the speeds for the single frame capture supposed to be? They all seem to be like 1/8 sec...

You may be able to get some parts right from Bolex. http://www.bolex.ch/NEW/?p=1

I think what you need to test is the speed. I have a round-bottom REX that is slow from a weak spring. The speed knob can be loosened and 're-calibrated' easily with a stopwatch when advancing a new roll up to the 'zero' mark on the counter.

The innards of the round bottom cameras are pretty different from the current flat bottom cameras, and the spring is different. From what I understand the older spring motor is not available.

I don't think the number of frames per wind changes if the spring is weak.

BTW I disassembled mine to clean the govoner (thinking it was gummed up) but it still ran a little slow.

Effective single frame should be 1/30th on a REX.

ic-racer said:

I think what you need to test is the speed. I have a round-bottom REX that is slow from a weak spring. The speed knob can be loosened and 're-calibrated' easily with a stopwatch when advancing a new roll up to the 'zero' mark on the counter.

The innards of the round bottom cameras are pretty different from the current flat bottom cameras, and the spring is different. From what I understand the older spring motor is not available.

I don't think the number of frames per wind changes if the spring is weak.

BTW I disassembled mine to clean the govoner (thinking it was gummed up) but it still ran a little slow.

Effective single frame should be 1/30th on a REX.

Click to expand...

I've been hesitant to take mine apart as I have a box of cameras I have tried to "fix" as well as someone told me that the spring can take your head off.

E. A., better don't try to disassemble your Bolex if you're not mechanically trained. The $$ invested in an overhaul are worth being spent: mechanism needs to be lubricated, governor needs oil, spring might need fresh graphite packed in.

Basically, Bolex H cameras can be fudged a bit. The two stops on the spring serve to excerpt the straight-line portion of its force curve. One never winds it completely up and it doesn't run out fully. By removing one or both stops (cog wheels, total disassembly job) you would be able to pull out 1000 or 1500 frames. But then you'd set more strain on the governor and speed will fall towards the very end.

The early H cameras offered to place the winding key on the spring core, so one had the chance to continually rewind while the mechanism was in action. Unfortunately, Paillard gave this up. I once had such a Bolex and exposed 100 foot in one shot, camera on tripod, of course.