Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

The first finished body is out:

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

Sorry, but its absolutely ridiculous looking. Let's hope the footage is better.

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

It does looks kinda weird haha. Wonder how it'll compare to BMCC

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

Looks like a Bolex. Not sure what people were expecting there.
The BMCC looks like two iPhone's glued together with a lens mount on the back. *shrug*

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

Retro Star Trek phaser-like. IMHO that's a pretty cool looking camera. Set to stun and shoot.

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

Crazy design. I think most people (other than hipsters) will feel a bit self conscious walking around with one. They should have stuck to their original idea to have textured black plastic surface sections (to look like the old Bolex).

XLR jacks on the left side - perfect for getting tangled up with.

Hopefully that is just a mock up - the joints don't look very sealed.

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

I've been unsure of this project since it was first announced. I think their idea is cool, but they've just gone about it in a strange way. The design is based on early super 8 cameras, which were designed to be used up against the eye, where this seems to require the onboard screen or external VF/LCD? The pistol grip therefore is just a decoration as far as i can see. I'd love to see it in use and some footage to get more of an idea where they're going with it.

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

So say nothing of how long your camera will be down as it transfers raw CinemaDNG files from the internal SSD to CompactFlash cards.

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

Here's a link to the changes they've made: 100 Changes | digitalbolex.com

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

It takes a lot of effort and guts to make and market a new camera, so I congratulate them on this.

However, I must say the video doesn't inspire confidence in its construction. The image quality will be the ultimate judge. Kudos!

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

That's an interesting list. Stuff lower end pro-sumer cams rarely care about, it seems. Nice to see but also somewhat necessary I suppose, since the BMC really upstaged them on the essential 'Raw for the people' feature.
I wonder what it'll retail for.

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

From what I read it would be around 3200 dollar, I wonder how long it will take before the established brands, like Sony, Canon or Panasonic will produce their own cheap raw version camera, my guess is that they will produce raw capable camera's as well to compete with bmc and digital bolex alike camera's but I bet it won't be for 3K. The main difference between BMC, digital bolex manufacturers is that they don't have to protect any higher end models. So they don't have to deliberately cripple their camera's like Sony and Canon does to protect sales.

Even tough the design on the bolex looks very silly I"m sure it's capable of producing high end content.

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

I hope the handle is removable. Sometimes I want a low shot - or to use a tripod.

The crank cracks me up. I have a Bronica medium format film camera with a crank for 120 film. It makes sense on that camera as its operation is spring based - no batteries needed. I don't see the need for a crank on a digital camera - unless it can charge the batteries!

The design seems to be all about branding. That's fine by me, but I think features, quality, price, reliability, and time to market will determine its success.

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

Aside from the aesthetics I think these guys really missed the boat with what might have been a great market opportunity.

Sure they can sell a handful of "raw cinema" cameras to an over-saturated market of "filmmakers" who for the most part are already presented with a plethera of video camera options (some of which don't even want raw) - OR - they could have sold 100 times more of them by first releasing a more consumer version of the bolex reinvigorating an old past that so many new and young people could enjoy. You know, something you'd pickup retail that would allow you to shoot in a PC friendly codec but still decent quality.

Later with a good revenue stream behind the company it woudl be quite easy to come out with a higher model version with more bells and whistles for those looking for more "professional" use.

Well, just my two cents of course.

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

They'd have be going head to head with Canon and Sony in the handycam market, as a start up. I'm sure they'd get chewed up and spat out.

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

I just think its almost trendy enough that it could catch on by consumers, or even prosumers, not everyone wants raw or even knows what it is.

Boy do I miss that black textured plastic and really wish they had gone with that look.

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

You just watch it will take sony and canon six months to get some retro looking video camera's on the market, they will work, be around £500 and sell like hot cakes!

Loads of my photog friends are loving the fuji finepix retro stills cameras and leaving their heavy DSLR's at home, they also love the fixed lens idea as it makes them think about framing more!

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

I'm not sure about the location of those connectors, they'll be sticking out in front of most operator's faces.

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

That lens just makes it look rather silly and out of proportion!

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

There's an interesting quote on the blog post

"I have heard some people say “just give me a brick with a sensor in it”. And I understand that mentality, but as someone working every day to bring a product into this world, I’ll tell you, it’s not just about making a pretty object. It’s about the pride in your work, it’s about imagining someone caring for this object for years to come."

It's an attitude I like, in general. It's funny to think, though, that I know plenty who want the brick with the sensor too (BM already made one it seems), because if the picture is nice you'll make it work. But around here you'd get a pile of complaints about the ergonomics, it's lack of resemblance to some 20yr old shoulder mount camera that was just great back in the day or some such. Which is all jobbing pro considerations and entirely reasonable.
They're kind of straddling two worlds with this one, I suppose, and unlikely to make anyone entirely happy.
I'm all for things looking cool at the same time though.

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

But sadly I bet it does nothing to make any content it shoots any better! ;0)

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

Music, photography and cinema are often inspired by the technology used to produce them. Would 80s music exist as a genre without the exciting snappy sounds of synthesizers and drum machines ? Much of that vintage gear is treasured and holds its value on the used musical instrument market. At least, that's the case for the instruments that were based on analog circuits. Even a broken TR808 drum machine for parts is selling for $1000 while a functional box fetches upwards of $2500.

A limiting factor with past 16mm and 8mm film cameras was the cost of the film. Would all of the "snap movies" of the 1970s and 1980s before video be better if there was more footage and some sort of audio to accompany the film?

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

Yep, I thoroughly agree -- and this actually goes as far back as when J.S. Bach helped develop the very first "synthesizer" -- the church pipe organ. With its stops, immense power and range, this breakthrough contraption simulated not just other instruments (flutes, etc.) but it also scared the poop out of the congregation (it was truly "God's music"). No doubt this amazing instrument inspired Bach to write all those kick-ass pieces. With that in mind, it's also easy to agree with a statement by another revolutionary composer, Iannis Xenakis, that, "music, by its very abstract nature is the first of the arts to have attempted the conciliation of artistic creation with scientific thought."

-- peer

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

They also getting into the glassware for the camera, with some lenses and a turret:

The first set of Digital Bolex Lenses | digitalbolex.com

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

Huh? The pipe organ existed for well over 100 years throughout Europe prior to J. S. Bach's birth.

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

Correct, but the pipe organ that J.S. Bach helped develop (with "non-binary" stops, etc.) was a huge leap forward from the original pipe organ -- something that also his music reflects: "We shape our tools and thereafter our tools shape us."

-- peer

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

Love the turret idea. True, ND filters and follow focus pretty well impossible (well, at least pain in the butt), but with a sensor that small, it's all going to be in focus any way.

Hope they pull it off.

And I agree totally with the notion that the gear affects the artist. I started in film - I literally used a hundred and twenty pound blimp to try and keep an Arri 16 quiet. Plenty of shots simply impossible with that gear on a tight budget. Now, with something that weighs a pound, I can shoot far better looking footage then any 16mm film camera was capable of in a quarter of the light. Of course that affects my shot selection and how I light it.

3D, then holograms the next "Bachian" leap forward in cinema. Hopefully I'm around to have my mind blown by those cameras too.

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

D16 with an M43 mount!

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

The D16 on rails:

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

Here a video giving the background to this camera.

Digital Bolex: Behind the Scenes at Ienso on Vimeo

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

Hi John,
I know I'm digging up an old thread, but as the D16 is finally a reality, the subject is of interest.
This is not a 1/3 inch sensor (aka MiniDV), a S16 sensor is quite a bit larger and with lenses that open at 1.3 or 1.4 you can get quite a shollow depth of field!

I've worked with miniDV and HDV for many years, I jumped on the Red band wagon, and love S35 sized sensors and raw, but dor documentary or run and gun style fiction, a S16 sized sensor is a nice option to have and there is onyl one option today, the Ikonoscope. I'm happy to see someone else on that market and looking forwarding to shooting with a D16. I think the appearance of the camera, which includes not only the body but xyou chosse to accessorize it, plays an important role in how and what you shoot, and how people react to the camera!

Thank you to the Digital Bolex team for offering us a new, and different tool, which allow us to think and shoot differently!

Cheers,
Damien

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

One is tracked to arrive in Austin tomorrow, Monday Dec 23. I want to get my hands on it to shoot some Christmas lights. Will need to reach out to my buddies for some music to put with the video:

The Invincible Czars | Nutcracker

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

I look forward to seeing what the early recipients of the camera shoot and hear about how they like working with it.

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

Here's a video I took of 3 different Digital Bolex unit with different mounts and support systems. I had to go to 3 different booths to do this. They didn't actually have a booth of their own.

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

My one thought about the Digital Bolex is why did they put the audio inputs on the operator's side? A well known cinematographer, who was very skeptical about the camera, came away from NAB very positive about it being a useful tool.

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

Who was that?

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

It was in one of Geoff Boyle's CML NAB reports. I suspect he'll be running his usual exposure tests on some of the new cameras.

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

Just think almost all of the new camera rigs these days look more like something designed with the aesthetic of the Borg from Star Trek.

Re: Meet the Digital Bolex 16!
 

Me.


ok.... not me

Actually, NAB was the first time I saw one in person and I have to say this...

I want it in the same way I want a 1977 black and gold Trans-Am. Beautiful in an awesome in your face nostalgic kind of way... the camera that I'd want to take on a long road trip through rocky canyons... but not something I'd every want to use on a day to day basis.