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The Octameter viewfinder has a range from 16mm to
150mm in 8 steps. Turning the large knurled wheel selects
the focal length required as shown in the top window.
Moving from the wide angle position to longer-focal
lengths, the image is optically enlarged and not masked
down as in many viewfinders. Horizontal parallax adjust-
ment is set by turning the small knob near the eyepiece.
The viewfinder is quickly released from the camera door by
pulling a small lever under the eyepiece.
This quick detachment is a boon to Cameramen and Direc-
tors who can check out new shots and angles without the need to lug camera and tripod. A later version of
the viewfinder has a sliding clip-on lens attachment giving a 10 mm wide angle field of view.

Alas, it was not to be - the Bolex hardly had a the picture. Every detail of the sparkling new
chance to get warm, let alone hot. However the ship could be seen as it passed majestically
still cameras did a little better and kept the through the frame filling the picture - just
business going for some time, but the grand magic. Then the realisation, would the spring
vision foundered on a combination of wind last long enough to get the entire ship
bureaucratic interference and “a great idea” through and out of picture to complete a
from my Accountant. Of course, most of the fabulous shot?
world's TV Networks did not reply until two
years later. A few weeks before the Games The deep throb of the ship's engines
requests and offers came flooding in, but by completely drowned out the sound of the
that time I had rejoined the Commonwealth camera, then as the stern passed through the
Film Unit on a small but steady income and viewfinder I realised that the camera had
my first beautiful Bolex (and all the other stopped. “ - bugger the Bolex!" I frantically
cameras) had gone to pay off the Accountant’s wound the spring and grabbed a shot of the
“great idea". ship’s stern moving away up the river with a
tug following. The processed film revealed
So, we live and learn, but soon other versatile that I ran out of spring about 10 seconds short
Bolex H16s and the new RX reflex would save of the finale. The complete shot would have
the day and produce yet another “Masterpiece been great, but that was the only time the
of Industrial Cinema” in my hands - well that spring-wound Bolex let me down.
was the reaction from most of our clients,
honest. I even got a 50 Quid bonus - once. All photos and cameras from Kev Franzi’s
The light weight of the Bolex was great when Australian Cinema Heritage Collection.
climbing up very tall chimneys or out along
high gantries. I climbed all over ships at sea,
including up the mast for that down shot of the Heading to Queensland once the
bow ploughing through heavy seas. Being emergency is over?
spring wound, there was no battery to go flat
or lug around. The full spring wind would run Why not take in Kev’s brilliant two hour
20 to 25 seconds and only once did I wish I had show “Capturing the Australian Image
an electric motor. - Past, Present and Future”?
It was a beautiful shot of new container ship Admission is $15.00 pp. Bookings
passing up the Brisbane River. I framed up essential 07 5446 0341 or
ahead of the ship and pressed the button,
allowing the huge bow to come gracefully into More info: www.cinemaworks.net.au

8 REEL DEALS June 2020