INTRODUCTION

The Bolex H-16 Rex 5 is a 16mm reflex camera.

The optical system permits through the lens
viewing at all times. It is an extremely versatile,
portable, dependable, well-built camera. The self-
threading allows easy loading of daylight spools.
This cameraʼs features include single frame, ex-
tended exposure, slow motion, a 135° angle vari-
able shutter, and backwind. Media Loan has H-16
Bolex cameras, zoom lenses, many prime lenses,
and a double system sync package with 400 foot
magazines as well as other accessories.

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION 1

RELFEX VIEWFINDER 3

DIOPTER ADJUSTMENT 3

DOUSER 3

TURRET 4

FILTERS 4

CAMERA MOTOR 5

FILM SPEEDS 5

RELEASE SELECTOR (ON/OFF) 5

VARIABLE SHUTTER 6

LAP DISSOLVE 7

LOADING THE CAMERA 7

CAMERA DIAGRAM 8

FOOTAGE COUNTER 9

FRAME COUNTER 9

TROUBLESHOOTING 10

REFERENCE ILLUSTRATIONS 9

WRITTEN TEST 11

OPERATIONAL PROFICIENCY TEST 11

Written by: Michael Majoros and Marge Brown

Graphics and Compilation by: Marge Brown, Kieth Ogren and Curt Gullan
Additional Information by: Alley Hinkle, Kathleen Doherty and Curt Gullan

Media Loan The library Group (360) 867-5506

The Evergreen State College Olympia, WA 98505
http://www.evergreen.edu/media
Reflex Viewfinder The letters “rx” designates these lenses after
the name on the barrel. When using these
The optical system of the Bolex H16 reflex lenses with the H16 camera, the effective
permits through the lens viewing at all times. exposure is back to 1/65 of a second.
This system utilizes a beam splitter so the
image seen in the viewfinder is completely Bolex H16 Other Camera
free from flicker. The reflex finder enables
accurate focusing and framing, and allows Under expose
Read exposure
you to estimate the depth of field. The reflex
prism deflects 20-25% of the light passing RX meter at
1/65 a second
film by 1/3
to 1/2 stop
through the lens into the viewfinding system.
Only 75-80% reaches the film plane. The
actual quality of light reaching the film is
reduced by about 1/2 to 1/3 of an f-stop. To Non Read exposure
meter at
Read exposure
meter at
compensate for this, Bolex has determined
that the effective shutter speed for the H16 RX 1/80 a second 1/65 a second

camera is 1/80 second rather than the

standard 1/65 of a second. To further confuse Warning: Light meters in Media Loan are calibrated for 180º
matters, Bolex (in conjunction with Kern/ angle shutter not the 135º angle shutter in the Bolex H16
Switar) has designed a series of lenses which
are calibrated to pass 1/2 to 1/3 stop more Diopter Adjustment
light that the aperture markings on the barrel
indicate, compensating for the light lost to the This adjustment corrects the optical system
viewfinding system. to the operatorʼs eyesight (whether or not if
s/he wears glasses) and remains the same
for all lenses on the camera.

To set the diopter:

1. Turn the turret to expose the reflex

prism (no lens in taking position).
2. View a well-lighted subject.
3. Loosen the grooved ring around the
viewfinder and turn the lever until the
grain of the ground glass is perfectly
sharp.
4. Tighten the ring that acts as a lock nut.
Some viewfinders have locking screws.

Douser

The douser (located on the reflex viewfinder)

closes the eyepiece to keep light from
reaching and fogging the film plane through
the viewfinder.
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It is necessary to use the douser when
doing pixilation with a strong light behind the
camera. The douser is open when the lever
is in the horizontal position; closed in the
vertical position.
Diopter Adjust
Eyecup

Turret Lock

Diopter Lock

Filter Slot
Turret

Turret

By turning the turret you can change from Lens Taking Position
one lens to another. To turn the turret, use
its fold away lever rather than handling Turret Lock Screw
the lenses. In this way, there is less risk of
accidentally changing the aperture and/or
focus ring. When using heavy lenses, such
as telephotos or zooms, the turret should be
locked with either a special locking clamp
or a turret plug. Turret plugs go into the
lowest lens cavity (when turret is on normal Release Button
position); they are marked with a red ring.
For other lighter lenses, the turret lock on
the camera should be sufficient. This lock is Filters
located above the lens in the taking position
and should be tighten before the lenses are The H16 camera has a filter between the
in place. Keep the wide-angle lenses and taking lens position and the reflex prism. The
telephoto lens opposite of each other on the filters therefore remain in place no matter
turret so the telephoto lens doesnʼt interfere which lens is used. When filming without a
with the field of view of the wide-angle lens. filter, an empty filter carrier should be left in
the filter slot to prevent light from entering
the slot and fogging the film. Make sure the
carrier is located firmly within the slot and
the correct filter is in place before shooting.
An incorrect filter will either alter the color
balance or exposure.
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 MOT

Turret Lock

Filter holer
Spring Disengage Lever

Disengage

Film Speeds

Camera Motor The camera has seven film speeds from 12

to 64 frames per second (fps). To select the
The Bolex H16 has its own internal spring desired speed, turn the control knob until the
drive motor. This allows an electric motor to corresponding figure is opposite the red dot.
be used and also allows you to backwind When changing filming speeds do not forget
the film for camera dissolves. Turn the motor to alter the exposure setting. (When changing
disengaging lever to “MOT” and move the from 24 to 48 by one stop and so forth.)
slide release to “stop”. If the side release will
not go to stop, slightly wind the spring. Lift the Release Selector (on/off)
winding crank, which automatically engages
the spindle, and turn counterclockwise. Wind The H16 can be used for normal, continuous,
the spring fully without forcing it. Fold the or single frame filming. The different
crank and secure it on the latch on the lower operations are controlled by the side release.
body. Fully wound, the motor will drive about
eighteen feet of film through the camera Normal filming-- This method is suitable for
(about 28 seconds at 24fps). most shooting situations. Then camera runs
IMPORTANT: Never leave the camera wound as long as the operator depresses the front
during storage. This may ruin the spring. release or pushes the side release towards
When running down the spring with no film in “M.”
the camera, set film speed at 8fps.
Continuous filming-- Push the side release
towards “M” until it clicks into place. The
camera will continue running until the wind
runs out or the side lever is pushed to the
STOP position.

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 Variable Shutter

Backwind The H16 is equipped with a shutter whose

aperture can be varied when the camera is
Electric Motor Shaft running and when it is stopped. This enables
you to reduce exposure time without altering
Extended Exposure Select the camera running speed or f-stop. In bright
Time
light, the variable shutter can be used to
reduce exposure, therefore eliminating the
need for a neutral density filter.

The shutter may be locked in each of its four

positions by pulling it out and pushing in
Instantaneous
when at the desired setting.

Fully open -- normal exposure -- at the red

mark.
1/4 closed -- exposure reduced by a half stop
1/2 closed -- exposure reduced by a full stop
Fully closed -- no light reaching the film plane
Film Speed Selector

In some cameras, a triangular warning signal

will appear in the viewfinder if the variable
shutter is not in the fully open position.

Continuous Run Single Frame

Slide Release

Single frame filming-- Instantaneous: Turn

the knob until the guide mark is in the “I”
position. The effective exposure time in this
position is 1/30 of a second. Time: Place
guide mark in “T” position; shutter will remain
open as long as side release is in the “P”
Variable Shutter
position.

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Lap Dissolve The film will jam at this point if the plate is
not closed. Remove the empty spool from
Superimposing a fade-in on a fade-out makes its spindle by pressing the ejector. Place
a lap dissolve so that one picture gradually the loaded daylight spool on the upper
disappears as the next gradually appears. spindle. (Film should come off in the direction
This allows for a smooth transition during indicated by the engraved arrow).
which the picture brightness scarcely varies. IMPORTANT: At the film gate the emulsion
To produce lap dissolve, close the first shot should always face towards the front of the
in a sequence with a fade-out. Lock the camera.
shutter in the “closed” position. Set the frame Using the film knife (located at the bottom of
control to zero. Disengage the motor. Set the camera), clip the film end.Close the loop
the slide release to the ʻMʼ position. Douse formers by moving the control lever parallel
the Viewfinder. Cap the lens. Rewind the to the pressure plate. Insert film end in the
film, using the backwind key, until the frame top feed sprocket and start the camera motor.
counter indicates the duration of the fade-out. The film is automatically threaded through
Move the slide release to the STOP position. the gate. If you need to adjust the film, you
Frame the second sequence to be filmed can spread the sprocket guides by sliding the
and release the slide lever. At the same time locking plate forward.
make a fade-in the same length as the fade- Continue to run the camera until 12 to 15
out. inches of film have passed through the drive
mechanism.
Duration of the Number of frames/ Open the loop formers by pressing the button
fade Filming Speed located on the sprocket/gate assembly. Insert
in seconds the film end into the take-up spool (in the
18 fps 24 fps direction of the engraved arrow), place the
spool on the lower spindle and take up any
1 1/2 973 964
2 964 952
Loop Formers
2 1/2 955 940
3 973 928

Pressure Plate Pin

Loading the Camera

Before loading:
1. Set side release to stop.
2. Set disengaging motor to MOT.
Sprocket Guides
3. Turn FPS selector knob until the number
corresponding to the desired camera speed Release
faces the red dot.
4. Wind the camera.

Check that the pressure plate pin is locked so

that the pressure plate cannot open. Sprocket Guide Lock

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 Camera Diagram

Feed Spindle

Pressure Plate
Release Pin

Audible Signal Select

Pressure Plate

Sprocket Guides

Spool Ejector

Filter Holder
Sprocket Guide
Lock Release
Loop Former
Lock Release
Retaining Arm

Loop Formers

Take Up Spindle

Film Knife

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slack by hand. Run the camera again for Frame Counter
several seconds to make sure that everything
is okay (check that the film is advancing The frame counter is helpful for lap dissolves,
normally and the loops do not scrape the double exposures, and animation.
body). Replace the lid and lock. The upper dial adds the frame in forward
run and subtracts them in reverse (0 to 50
Footage Counter frames).
The lower dial totals in unit of 50 frames.
The footage counter indicates how much film It will subtract when the camera runs in
has been exposed. Once the camera has reverse.
been loaded, the counter will read FEET. Indicators are from 0 to 1000 frames.
Run the camera until the figure “0” appears
opposite the white line in the indicator Troubleshooting
window. This indicates the film leader has Problem and Probable Cause
been taken up and the camera is ready to be
used. Film is black:
The counter will automatically return to “0” Variable lens shutter was closed
when the lid is removed. Lens cap left on
When shooting a 24 fps, there is the option Exposure incorrect
for an audible CLICK every second indicating
that 8 inches of film has passed through the Film underexposed, images reversed; with
camera. This can be useful when timing a color film, general orange tint:
pan or zoom shot. For an audible CLICK, Film incorrectly loaded with the base facing
move the audible signal select lever down forward instead of the emulsion
when loading film; for no click place the lever
in the “0” position. Jumpy Images:
Loops formed incorrectly
Shrunken film stock

Prevailing red-orange tint:

Using tungsten lamps with a daylight film or
Frame Counter an underpowered tungsten lamp

Obscured Images:
Turret Incorrectly positioned
100ʼs of Frames
Telephoto lens on turret obscuring view of
other lenses

Partly obscured pictures:

Telephoto lens in the way of the taking lens or
Frame Reset
turret badly positioned

Parallel scratches on the edge of the film:

Dust or particles of emulsion in the film gate
Camera poorly loaded
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Troubleshooting Continued
Exposure Meter Shoe
Fogged film:
Light entering through the viewfinder or filter
slot
Film was loaded in extremely bright light
Camera not seated well

Film fogged at edges:

Camera loaded in strong light
Warped take up or feed reel
Filter carrier not in slot during exposure
Filter Holder
Out of focus or “breathing” pictures:
Pressure plate incorrectly locked

Referance Illustrations

Magazine Cavity Cover

Exposure Meter Shoe

Carrying Handle

Exposure Meter Shoe

Turret Lever

Optical Viewfinder Bracket

Turret Locking Screw

Starting Button

Lid Lock

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 Please complete the proficiency test before
checking out the Bolex H16 from media loan

Written Test Operational Proficiency Test

1. List the four steps necessary to set the 1. Identify all of the parts and control of
diopter adjustment. the Bolex H16.
2. How many frames per second is the 2. Set the diopter and place the 85b filter
Bolex capable of shooting? How few? in the camera.
3. What kind of viewing system does the 3. Set the fps at 24, set the counter at 0.
Bolex H16 employ? 4. Load the film in the camera.
4. What is the maximum shutter angle of 5. Demonstrate how to create a lap
the Bolex H16? What is the shutter speed? dissolve.
5. Explain the difference between Bolex 6. Demonstrate extended exposure and
Rx lenses and normal lenses. What is the animation features.
effect on the shutter speed, and how do you 7. Display proper lens mounting to insure
compensate? appropriate “taking” balance.
6. What is the function of the turret plug?
7. List the steps necessary to perform a
lap dissolve.
8. List the steps necessary to thread the
camera.
9. Describe any precautions you need to
take while cleaning and operating the Bolex.
10. What is the extent of your financial
responsibility in case of loss, or damage to
the camera?

Media Loan The library Group (360) 867-5506

The Evergreen State College Olympia, WA 98505
http://www.evergreen.edu/media
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