8mm Forum: Chinon Made Bolex

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Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on May 01, 2008, 11:41 AM:

Looking at the reprints available from Oldtimer Cameras I was surprised that our old favourite magazine "Movie Maker" did not review one Super 8 camera or projector made by Chinon. However "Amateur Photographer" did review a few.

Was there a stigma attached to this brand, or was it because they were sold by Dixons?

In "Movie Cameras" by Jurgen Lossau I read that in 1974 Bolex introduced two Super 8 cameras, models 525XL and 625XL which were made for them by Chinon. In addition all Bolex sound cameras were then made by Chinon.

We have always respected the Swiss products from Bolex. No doubt they were quite satisfied in selling cameras made for them by a Japanese company.

Posted by David Kilderry (Member # 549) on May 03, 2008, 04:10 AM:

Maurice,

Chinon were a strong middle ground player in my opinion, not up with Elmo or Eumig, but certainly they made solid products. They claimed to be the largest manufacturer of Super 8 products at one time as they manufactured under license for many others, Bolex included.

I had a 9500 projector years ago and it was very nice in all respects except it marked film. I gradully improved the path and offending rollers, but sold it soon after.

They were certainly well known here, perhaps they did not market their Chinon products as widely in the UK?

David

Posted by Steve Klare (Member # 12) on May 06, 2008, 04:30 PM:

Actually the only in-house Bolex Super-8 cameras were the 150, 155 and 160. After these (late 1960s) everything was outsourced.

I never knew about the Chinon connection, but many of the later Bolex Super-8 cameras and projectors were Eumigs.

I started out in Super-8 in 1979 with a brand new GAF ST-602, which was also a Chinon and actually a really great camera. It has a nice, solid metal body, a great lens and has some neat features. If somebody found ten of these brand new in a crate somewhere, I'd grab the lot(...and maybe sell about six to appease my wife)!

Posted by Paul Adsett (Member # 25) on May 06, 2008, 05:41 PM:

I have always thought that the legendary Bolex quality and design ended when super 8 appeared on the scene. Look at the superb quality and construction of the Bolex C8, B8, standard 8mm cameras, and then compare them with the plasticky later Bolex super 8 cameras. NO comparison. Same thing with the projectors. The Bolex super 8 sound projectors were mostly re-badged Eumig's which, while solid performers, did not quite measure up to the quality of the earlier Standard 8mm M8 and 18-5 machines, which are truly beautiful engineering.

Posted by Kevin Faulkner (Member # 6) on May 06, 2008, 06:10 PM:

I'm actually trying to find a service manual for a Chinon SS1200 or one of it's clones and it's proving extremely difficult to find one. Oldtimer Cameras dont seem to have service manuals for any of those projectors. [Frown]

Kev.

Posted by Barry Attwood (Member # 100) on May 07, 2008, 02:42 AM:

Kevin,

Have you thought of asking Ian at Perry's if he has any ideas, as he brought a load of those machines into the country, and apparantly at one time he could also order spares, may be worth an email or a phone call.

Posted by Maurice Leakey (Member # 916) on May 07, 2008, 05:56 AM:

Steve

Eumig made Bolex before the latter went to Chinon for supply.

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