Bolex, Kern D8L Movie camera

Bolex Paillard D8L (1959) – 8mm Camera Switar/Yvar – Customized "Art & Design" (Working)

Item Description
Overview and Artistic Concept
We propose an icon of Swiss vintage cinema, the Bolex Paillard D8L, reinterpreted in a contemporary artistic key. The original leatherette coating has been replaced with a new high-strength technical material, featuring an abstract Mid-Century / Bauhaus / Pop Art-inspired graphic. The old coating is included in the lot.

This aesthetic restoration transforms an antique cine camera into a unique collectible and interior design piece, perfect for collectors, directors, or lovers of refined home decor, while keeping the renowned Swiss precision mechanics intact.

Technical Specifications & Mechanical Features
Manufacturer: Paillard-Bolex (Sainte-Croix, Switzerland)

Model: D8L (version with a three-lens turret and integrated exposure meter, but not tested)

Format: 8mm film (Double 8 / Standard 8)

Year of production: circa 1959

Winding mechanism: Manual mechanical mainspring (smooth and efficient winding)

Optical Turret: 3-position rotating turret

Included lenses:
- Kern-Paillard Yvar 1:1.9 f=13mm (Standard fast lens, f/1.9)
- Kern-Paillard Yvar 1:2.8 f=36mm (Medium telephoto)
- Kern-Paillard Switar / Yvar mounted in turret with dedicated hood

Shutter hood / Lens caps: Original Kern-Paillard accessories included (rigid hood and metal caps bearing signatures)

Film counter and Speed: Variable frame-rate selector (12, 16, 18, 24, 32, 48, 64 fps) for manual slow-motion and time-lapse effects; mechanical integrated counter.

Exposure Meter: Built-in celluloid exposure meter on the front with visual indicator.

Condition and Functionality
Mechanical: Fully functional. The mainspring winds smoothly, the engine runs at all expected speeds, and the shutter mechanism responds precisely.

Optics: Cleaned, lenses in good condition with no mold or obvious scratches; focus and diaphragm rings move smoothly.

Aesthetics: The die-cast aluminum body shows a patina appropriate to its age. The custom coating in the handmade technical material fits the original profiles perfectly, giving a unique look and unique editions of its kind.