Bolex B8 Movie camera
07
days
03
hours
52
minutes
29
seconds
Starting bid
€ 1
Reserve price not met
Expert
Selected by Edwin Molenaar
Over 30 years experience in photography and camera building.
Estimate € 150 - € 200
No bids placed
Catawiki Buyer Protection
Your payment’s safe with us until you receive your object.View details
Trustpilot 4.4 | 138800 reviews
Rated Excellent on Trustpilot.
Paillard Bolex B8 Standard 8mm / Double 8 cine camera, mechanically tested and working, with discrete physical condition.
AI-assisted summary
Description from the seller
Unique specimen of Bolex Paillard B8 cinema camera (Standard 8 / Double 8 format), produced in Switzerland in the 1950s, fully functional and reinterpretated in a contemporary artistic key.
This camera combines legendary Swiss precision engineering with an authorial aesthetic restyling. The classic black vulcanized leather has been replaced with a new covering (leatherette) in high-strength technical material, featuring an illustration inspired by Mid-Century Modern / Pop Art (evoking the summer atmospheres, geometric architectures and the iconic David Hockney style of 1960s California).
Technical Specifications & Mechanical Features
Brand/Model: Paillard Bolex B8 (Made in Switzerland).
Film Format: Standard 8mm (Double 8).
Loading System: Mechanical spring-powered (no batteries), smooth and long-lasting winding.
Bi-Objective Turret: Rotating turret for quick focal-length changes.
Lenses Included:
- Kern-Paillard Yvar 1:2.5 f=12.5mm AR (Standard lens of very high optical performance).
- Kern-Paillard Yvar 1:2.8 f=36mm AR (Portrait/detail telephoto).
Included Accessories: Original brushed aluminum cap with engraved Kern Paillard logo and Kern-Paillard Switzerland lens hood.
Frame Rate: Adjustable (8, 12, 16, 24, 32, 48, 64 frames per second + single frame for stop-motion).
Viewfinder: Integrated optical viewfinder with field-of-view adjustment.
Style, Restoration and "Custom Art"
Leatherette: Custom-made in high-definition plasticized/vinyl technical material, wear-resistant and pleasant to the touch.
Visual Concept: The graphic artwork depicts Brutalist/Constructivist architecture softened by pastel tones (pool blue, yellow, pink, orange). It gives the camera a strong scenographic impact, transforming it from a simple vintage object into a sculpture/design piece for a collectible.
Aesthetic Conditions: Die-cast aluminum body and chrome finishes in fair condition with very slight and charming signs of time that attest to its originality.
State of Preservation and Operation
Mechanical: Working. The spring motor spins smoothly at all speeds. The selectors and sliding rings function correctly.
Optics: Lenses clean, diaphragms smooth, with no haze or evident scratches.
Note: Mechanically tested in empty run (not tested with recently developed film). 8mm Double 8 film currently available online, including development and 2/4K digitalization pricing.
Unique specimen of Bolex Paillard B8 cinema camera (Standard 8 / Double 8 format), produced in Switzerland in the 1950s, fully functional and reinterpretated in a contemporary artistic key.
This camera combines legendary Swiss precision engineering with an authorial aesthetic restyling. The classic black vulcanized leather has been replaced with a new covering (leatherette) in high-strength technical material, featuring an illustration inspired by Mid-Century Modern / Pop Art (evoking the summer atmospheres, geometric architectures and the iconic David Hockney style of 1960s California).
Technical Specifications & Mechanical Features
Brand/Model: Paillard Bolex B8 (Made in Switzerland).
Film Format: Standard 8mm (Double 8).
Loading System: Mechanical spring-powered (no batteries), smooth and long-lasting winding.
Bi-Objective Turret: Rotating turret for quick focal-length changes.
Lenses Included:
- Kern-Paillard Yvar 1:2.5 f=12.5mm AR (Standard lens of very high optical performance).
- Kern-Paillard Yvar 1:2.8 f=36mm AR (Portrait/detail telephoto).
Included Accessories: Original brushed aluminum cap with engraved Kern Paillard logo and Kern-Paillard Switzerland lens hood.
Frame Rate: Adjustable (8, 12, 16, 24, 32, 48, 64 frames per second + single frame for stop-motion).
Viewfinder: Integrated optical viewfinder with field-of-view adjustment.
Style, Restoration and "Custom Art"
Leatherette: Custom-made in high-definition plasticized/vinyl technical material, wear-resistant and pleasant to the touch.
Visual Concept: The graphic artwork depicts Brutalist/Constructivist architecture softened by pastel tones (pool blue, yellow, pink, orange). It gives the camera a strong scenographic impact, transforming it from a simple vintage object into a sculpture/design piece for a collectible.
Aesthetic Conditions: Die-cast aluminum body and chrome finishes in fair condition with very slight and charming signs of time that attest to its originality.
State of Preservation and Operation
Mechanical: Working. The spring motor spins smoothly at all speeds. The selectors and sliding rings function correctly.
Optics: Lenses clean, diaphragms smooth, with no haze or evident scratches.
Note: Mechanically tested in empty run (not tested with recently developed film). 8mm Double 8 film currently available online, including development and 2/4K digitalization pricing.
Details
Era
1900-2000
Brand
Bolex
Model/type nr
B8
Physical condition
Fair
Functional condition
Tested and working
Film type
Double 8mm
Estimated period
1900-2000
Sold by
