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Author Topic: Bolex P3 Zoom Reflex
Chris Smart
Junior
Posts: 30
From: Toronto, Canada
Registered: Jul 2019

- posted August 08, 2019 05:57 AM      Profile for Chris Smart   Email Chris Smart   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I just picked up a P3 off eBay and would like to get it serviced. Was wondering if anyone had experience with these. The power zoom only works in forward, not reverse, and the light meter seems to only function sometimes. I can live without both but would like it to at least be cleaned and lubricated, It sounds a bit sluggish when operating. Can anyone recommend a Bolex repair service they have used?

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csmart

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007

- posted August 08, 2019 11:41 AM      Profile for Maurice Leakey   Email Maurice Leakey   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Chris
Bolex in Switzerland are still in business, and can repair and service their cameras (and projectors).
Note that they are not cheap, but your lovely camera deserves some professional attention.
https://www.bolex.ch/NEW/index.php

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Maurice

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Chris Smart
Junior
Posts: 30
From: Toronto, Canada
Registered: Jul 2019

- posted August 09, 2019 12:55 PM      Profile for Chris Smart   Email Chris Smart   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Thanks for the reply!

I did reach out to Bolex but they don't service the P3 anymore, said they haven't in almost 50 years. They recommended contacting a couple places in the US but one has already said they don't service the P series, then referred me to super16inc.com which may or may not take it. So far I have 1 place saying it isn't worth fixing (bolexusa.com) and one saying yes it can be serviced (bolexrepair.com) I will keep searching but at least I have one yes so far, but even that depends on a $45 evaluation.

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csmart

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Phil Clarke
Junior
Posts: 26
From: London, United Kingdom
Registered: May 2014

- posted August 12, 2019 09:23 AM      Profile for Phil Clarke   Email Phil Clarke   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
I also have a P3 camera. It's a fine choice for Standard 8 filming and was near the top of the Bolex "pocket camera" range in its day (1962-3). It's super fun to use and will often get a response from folk just because it looks so snazzy.

I sent my P3 all the way to bolexrepair.com for a repair. Not cheap, for sure, but they did a splendid job. I'm not aware of any other repair shops.

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Chris Smart
Junior
Posts: 30
From: Toronto, Canada
Registered: Jul 2019

- posted August 12, 2019 09:37 AM      Profile for Chris Smart   Email Chris Smart   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Thanks for the feedback Phil!

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csmart

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007

- posted August 12, 2019 10:22 AM      Profile for Maurice Leakey   Email Maurice Leakey   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Chris
Have you tried Chambless of Ellijay,GA.?
http://www.chamblesscineequip.com/Default.htm

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Maurice

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Leon Norris
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 958
From: Elkins Park, PA, USA
Registered: Jun 2012

- posted August 12, 2019 12:09 PM      Profile for Leon Norris   Email Leon Norris   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Also you can contact optech in Massachusetts! I'm sure they can fix it!

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Luigi Castellitto
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 715
From: Campobasso, Italy
Registered: Jun 2013

- posted August 12, 2019 01:13 PM      Profile for Luigi Castellitto   Email Luigi Castellitto   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
One of the best standard 8 choices. Elegant, easy to use, phenomenal Bolex mechanics.
Even mine would need, even if cosemtically brand new, to be repaired to the electronic zoom (broken contacts, before it worked), and to the lightmeter, but even so it's very much ahead of more "basic" cameras. A great quality lens and very very bright viewfinder!
Maybe the H8 had a viewfinder so clear!
I think Bolexrepair or Chambless can do a good job.

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Maurice Leakey
Film God

Posts: 5895
From: Bristol. United Kingdom
Registered: Oct 2007

- posted August 12, 2019 02:25 PM      Profile for Maurice Leakey   Email Maurice Leakey   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Here is the link to Optech:-
http://www.optechlightbulbs.com/

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Maurice

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Leon Norris
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 958
From: Elkins Park, PA, USA
Registered: Jun 2012

- posted August 12, 2019 02:48 PM      Profile for Leon Norris   Email Leon Norris   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Either way there is someone out there to fix it! Good Luck!

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Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

- posted August 12, 2019 03:09 PM      Profile for Paul Adsett     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
This is a beautiful camera, built to the legendary quality of the metal Bolex equipment. I have the basic C8 which is the entry level model in the series, but it is fitted with the Pan- Cinor zoom lens which has a built in reflex viewfinder - large and bright compared to the default viewfinder on the camera. I had no idea that Bolex had a powered zoom version of this camera. Very nice indeed and it looks like its loaded up with extra features like backwind and variable shutter! [Smile]
Made in the days when people had to really know what they were doing to get good quality movies. Cell phone anyone? [Big Grin]

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The best of all worlds- 8mm, super 8mm, 9.5mm, and HD Digital Projection,
Elmo GS1200 f1.0 2-blade
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Panasonic PT-AE4000U digital pj

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Leon Norris
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 958
From: Elkins Park, PA, USA
Registered: Jun 2012

- posted August 12, 2019 03:17 PM      Profile for Leon Norris   Email Leon Norris   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Paul, A nice one! But is there any demand for it? I had some great movie cameras! I had a hard time getting rid of them! It took a while! I sold them cheap!

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Paul Adsett
Film God

Posts: 5003
From: USA
Registered: Jun 2003

- posted August 12, 2019 03:24 PM      Profile for Paul Adsett     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Well you certainly have a point there Leon, but I can see buying one of these just for display purposes, as a prime example of brilliant cine engineering design.
Anyone know if you can still buy double 8mm roll color film for this camera?

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The best of all worlds- 8mm, super 8mm, 9.5mm, and HD Digital Projection,
Elmo GS1200 f1.0 2-blade
Eumig S938 Stereo f1.0 Ektar
Panasonic PT-AE4000U digital pj

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Leon Norris
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 958
From: Elkins Park, PA, USA
Registered: Jun 2012

- posted August 12, 2019 03:40 PM      Profile for Leon Norris   Email Leon Norris   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Paul, you can't get that film stock no more? But someone somewhere might still have some in there freezer!

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Chris Smart
Junior
Posts: 30
From: Toronto, Canada
Registered: Jul 2019

- posted August 13, 2019 09:51 AM      Profile for Chris Smart   Email Chris Smart   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
It's definitely a beautiful camera. Very unique design. Built solid. Picked it up for $50 on ebay but the repairs are going to be $250+ I'm willing to pay because i love it so much. After picking up a Keystone 109D projector I started thinking about making my own movies. I came across the Bolex P3 and instantly loved it. I've only been able to find B&W Double 8 film, not color. There is still a lab in Toronto that develops double 8. Hope my first shoot goes well!

Thanks for all the suggestions everyone! Looks like they all charge roughly the same amount.

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csmart

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Simon Wyss
Film Handler

Posts: 78
From: Äsch, Switzerland
Registered: Apr 2009

- posted August 15, 2019 01:17 AM      Profile for Simon Wyss   Email Simon Wyss   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
As of today there are the following stocks on the market.

Fomapan R 100 by Foma Bohemia of Hradec Králové, Czech republic, 25 and 100 foot for Paillard-Bolex H
Orwo UN 54, panchromatic negative film, 100 ISO, from Kahl in Brühl, Germany*, 25-100-400 foot
Orwo N 74, panchro. neg., 400 ISO, Kahl, 25-100-400 foot
Orwo PF 2, positive or print film, not sensitized, about 10 ISO, Kahl, 25 and 400 foot
UT 18, reversal colour film, 50 ISO in daylight, Kahl, 25 and 100 foot
UT 21, reversal colour film, 100 ISO daylight, Kahl, 25 foot
NC 15, colour negative, 25 ISO daylight, Kahl, 25 foot
NC 17, colour negative, 40 ISO daylight, Kahl, 25 foot
NC 21, colour negative, 100 ISO daylight, Kahl, 25 foot
Kodak Plus-X reversal 7265 panchro., 50 ISO, from Dennis Toeppen, Urbana, Illinois, 25 foot
Kodak Tri-X reversal 7266 panchro., 200 ISO, 25 foot, Toeppen
Kodak Ektachrome 100 daylight, 25 foot, Toeppen
Kodak Vision 3 color negative 7203, ISO 50 daylight, 25 foot, Toeppen
Kodak Vision 3 color negative 7207, ISO 250 daylight, 25 foot

*and from John Schwind, Dixon, California (International Film Brokers)

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?Ntt=fomapan%20r&N=0&InitialSearch=yes&sts=ma&Top+Nav-Search=
https://www.kahlfilm.de/
http://toeppenfilm.com/
https://www.buy8mmfilm.com/

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Kevin Bourret
Junior
Posts: 11
From: Laval, QC, Canada
Registered: Oct 2018

- posted August 23, 2019 07:49 AM      Profile for Kevin Bourret     Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Chris, if you want to look for someone more local,

In Montreal we have somebody who repair Bolex camera.

You can contact him by email:
bolextech at gmail.com

But keep in mind that he is not available until September as i already contacted him and told me. Me too i am currently waiting to have my Bolex P3 repair.

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Chris Smart
Junior
Posts: 30
From: Toronto, Canada
Registered: Jul 2019

- posted August 27, 2019 10:40 PM      Profile for Chris Smart   Email Chris Smart   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Thanks Kevin!

I've sent it to someone in Toronto who has experience repairing Bolex cameras. Should have it back next week! Hope it comes back fully functional. But thank you very much for the contact!

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csmart

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Chris Smart
Junior
Posts: 30
From: Toronto, Canada
Registered: Jul 2019

- posted September 04, 2019 11:09 AM      Profile for Chris Smart   Email Chris Smart   Send New Private Message       Edit/Delete Post 
Hello again! Curious to hear from other Zoom Reflex users. I just had it serviced and its back to being fully functional but I'm still noticing an audible noise when I'm reaching the end of the motor wound at around 25 seconds in and lasts until its fully done at 30 seconds. It sounds almost like screeching. Is this normal?

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csmart

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