Bolex M8 Projector

[Freya]

I've just aquired a bolex M8 projector.

It definitely looks like a 50's space age work of art, and I have heard of people saying it is their favourite standard 8 projector, but I would just like to know a bit more about it! Can anyone tell me anything?

Also, I've seen people mention the projector as being 500 watts. I assume this is not the projector lamp, so I'm wondering what the actual lamp is rated at?

Lastly in relation to projectors generally, is there any standard in the way of projector lens mounts and to what extent are projector lenses interchangeable?

love

Freya

[Rollef]

Lastly in relation to projectors generally, is there any standard in the way of projector lens mounts and to what extent are projector lenses interchangeable?

I would say yes and no. I do not think there is a standard but you may find that some lenses are in fact interchangeable (to a certain degree).

Some of the older dual projectors I have played around with had a straight lens barrel with a groove somewhere in the middle for a focusing knob. Some of the later ones have this knob on the lens barrel and they will not be interchangeable. If the lens barrel is straight without any knobs then it comes down to diameter, and distance from the film plane to the elements. The diameter should not be an issue if the lens has a smaller diameter than the original one, so yes some are interchangeable to a certain degree (diy)

[Rob]

Also, I've seen people mention the projector as being 500 watts. I assume this is not the projector lamp, so I'm wondering what the actual lamp is rated at?

love

Freya

Yes, its a 500 watt 120 volt lamp. The voltage is no problem if you live in the USA, but on European mains the voltage has to be dropped down from 240v. This is done by a large wire wound resistor (like the heating element of an electric fire). The resistor is at the top of the lamp housing at the back and gets insanely hot. You can pretty much heat your room with the stream of hot air blown out by the fan.

Rob

[filmbuff]

I've just aquired a bolex M8 projector.

It definitely looks like a 50's space age work of art, and I have heard of people saying it is their favourite standard 8 projector, but I would just like to know a bit more about it! Can anyone tell me anything?

Also, I've seen people mention the projector as being 500 watts. I assume this is not the projector lamp, so I'm wondering what the actual lamp is rated at?

Lastly in relation to projectors generally, is there any standard in the way of projector lens mounts and to what extent are projector lenses interchangeable?

love

Freya

I picked up an M8 a bunch of years ago and fell in love with it. It was so smooth with a great steady image, the hand rewinding is too cool. Sadly my M8 broke and is now just a display piece

The bulb is indeed 500 watts, actually you can use either the CXK (300w) or CZX/DAB (500w)

The lens mount opening is the same size as the later Bolex 18-5 projectors. At least a prime lens from an 18-5 will fit but I'm not shure if it will focus properly as the lens barrel's are longer. Since my M8 is dead I can't really try to see how well they work.

[Freya]

Yes, its a 500 watt 120 volt lamp. The voltage is no problem if you live in the USA, but on European mains the voltage has to be dropped down from 240v. This is done by a large wire wound resistor (like the heating element of an electric fire). The resistor is at the top of the lamp housing at the back and gets insanely hot. You can pretty much heat your room with the stream of hot air blown out by the fan.

Rob

So isn't this a seriously bright projector??? Like brighter than some 16mm projectors??? I have a S8 projector that is only 100watts, and some s8 projectors are only 50watts wich would be a tenth of the light output right?

Or am I getting confused because of the lamp voltage?

love

Freya

[Rob]

So isn't this a seriously bright projector??? Like brighter than some 16mm projectors??? I have a S8 projector that is only 100watts, and some s8 projectors are only 50watts wich would be a tenth of the light output right?

Or am I getting confused because of the lamp voltage?

love

Freya

Well the M8 lamp is a crude old fashioned incandescent type, pretty much like a very powerful domestic lightbulb. By the time super 8 came along specialised low voltage halogen lamps had been invented to produce more light from a smaller bulb using less electricity. There are now a variety of different types of lamp used in projectors and I dont know enough to explain the differences between them, but its sufficient to say that a simple statement of the wattage consumed by the bulb tells you very little about the light output unless you know what type of bulb it is.

Rob

[Rob]

The lens mount opening is the same size as the later Bolex 18-5 projectors. At least a prime lens from an 18-5 will fit but I'm not shure if it will focus properly as the lens barrel's are longer. Since my M8 is dead I can't really try to see how well they work.

To be strictly accurate the 18-5 lenses will only fit straight into very late M8s. The spiral groove in the 18-5 lens has tapered sides while the earlier M8 lenses have a groove with square sides. That means the fixed pin in the M8 lens housing is too wide at its tip to fit in the groove of the 18-5 lens. The pin can be modified by taking the lens housing off the M8 and using the grinding attachment on one of those craft drills (a Dremmel for instance) to reduce the width of the tip. I modified my M8 in this way to take a 15mm lens from an 18-5. What I really need to do is get hold of the 12.5 - 25mm zoom lens from an 18-5. But there are so many other things to do before I get round to it......

Rob