WHY RECONDITION?

The typical Bolex 8 mm camera is anywhere from about 35 to 60+ years old. Spring wound with gears and other parts that rotate in bearings, these cameras require lubrication approximately every two to three years. Most Bolex's, however, typically end up in a closet or attic where they sit stored for the majority of their many years. Then, having been discovered or handed down to a relative, the camera is in an unknown state.

It could be functional, it may be internally rusted from salt water, its lubrication could be and usually is, dried up. This affect performance drastically. Usually the camera won't wind or winds rough or most likely has been left, wound.

Although Bolex states that the spring motor cannot be overwound, it IS possible if you turn the winding key hard enough. Sometimes the camera and its lenses are totally dried out to the point where the lenses' are stuck and will not focus or even turn. The "new" owner may not even know that the lenses are lubricated (usually for life) or that the camera requires routine maintenance. So he just "puts it up" for sale on eBay. It looks great so he says its in great condition. Is it? Maybe - maybe not.

Along comes a trusting/ignorant buyer/collector who likes the camera but doesn't "have a clue" what the camera requires or what he should be looking for. I have personally purchased cameras off of eBay where the seller said the "camera is great condition". Now, if you don't consider the stuck lens', the fact that the spring motor is damaged and the camera won't run smoothly - maybe it is in great condition! Buyers just know it "looks good" to them, and they want to collect one.

The value of a Bolex depend upon many things. The most important is how it operates. And not who owned it 40 years ago. Ask the seller this: "Has it been lubricated recently?" If they say no, and you plan on filming with this camera, consider NOT buying. Look for another camera. Ask about rust, too. If the seller says yes. Ask where? If it's everywhere and not just a small spot or two, pass on this one also.

Ask if the spring is currently "wound down". Was it stored wound down? If not, the spring may be damaged and need to be replaced. This is a well documented fact "known to every person" who has ever operated a spring wound camera. The non-obvious fact is that all spring motors MUST BE left "wound down" when stored. Failure to do so and then storing the camera for many years will cause the spring to loose its tension. The camera may look great. But now its only worth purchasing for parts or as a display model.

What about the lenses? Most Bolex 8mm cameras use Kern-Paillard Lens'. The PIZAR 5.5 mm or wide angle has no focus adjustment. Just an f-stop adjustment. The 12.5 mm or 13 mm "normal" lenses' have both an f-stop adjustment as well as a focus ring. Both should work as normal. They should be smooth. Some camera operators will want a lens' that has a slightly stiff movement so the focus won't shift if inadvertently brushed. Some prefer a looser action. The F-stop adjustment ring should operate smoothly, also.

How about the light meter? There are no batteries required for the operation of the light meter. However, there are some "gotchas". The first is that after 30-50+ years, sometimes the glue used to attach the light cell becomes "loose" the light cell then just "hangs" free. Sometime it works, sometimes not. Sometime the wires going to the meter break. Sometimes they don't. The loss of the meter is NOT a big deal. You should use an external meter anyway for accurate light measurements. Film can handle a much wider latitude of F-stops than video, so one can even guess the F-stop and most of the footage will be okay. External light meter are cheap, too.

Who worked on the camera last? Nobody seems to know. Sometime the last repairman will mark the camera with his initials and date, much like watchmakers do. Typically, there are no records to indicate if the camera was taken care. Usually they are not taken care of, so expect to spend some money restoring the camera to operating condition. Bolexrepair.com can restore and refurbish Bolex 8 mm double run cameras to fully operational condition - ready to film.

CAN I DO IT MYSELF?

Can you do all this yourself? Maybe. You'll need the expertise to disassemble and reassemble the camera. Some lubricants. A diagram or two. Couple hundred dollars worth of tools. Some luck and a magnifying glass for finding those small parts and screws you'll be dropping on the floor. Time? Parts? And there is a learning curve on the work you'll be doing. Will you break something? Probably. And you may have to fix somebody else's mistake(s).

WARRANTY