>i recently saw someone selling what they called a rex 4 double super camera. 
>from all outward appearances it looked to me like a bolex 16mm camera,
>but i just wanted to see if anyone knew if this rex 4 double super 8
>camera existed or if this person just doesn't know what kind of camera they have.

---> Yes, what you saw most likely is a Double Super 8mm (DS8) camera. 
Bolex didn't make these originally, as all are converted older cameras. 
Convertions to the DS8 format was most often made to late model 
non-reflex H-8's, H-8 Rex's, and to some H-16 Reflex cameras.   The 
conversions are still available, and used to be offered by:   Swiss 
Professional Camera Corp in NY, JK Camera Engineering (now called 
Meritex and still doing conversions), and Muster Film & Television in 
Selsach, Switzerland (Reudi Muster is a great supporter of DS8!).   
There were and possibly are some others, many of which either did the 
work themselves or had it outjobbed to either of these three main 
sources. Conversions to the H-8 cameras included replacement of the 
filmgate, and both forward and reverse film claws, footage counter, 
spindles(or with spindle adapters), sprockets, and enlargement of the 
viewfinder port to the Super 8mm format on the Reflex models (also to 
the focusing viewfinder on non-reflex models if desired).   Also 
possible was/is the inclusion of a 12 field reticle (thru Meritex) for 
exact precision viewing alignment (such as in optical printing and 
titling work) and LED TTL metering.  Conversion costs run anywhere from 
under $500 up to $1,000 or so depending on which camera and degree 
of extras one desired or required.

---> The converted BOLEX cameras make excellent professional grade DS8 
cameras in most every respect.  The only "true" DS8 cameras made 
purposeful as Double Super 8mm cameras from the factory are the 
following cameras: (1).   Elmo C-300 TriFilmatic (which allows use of 
interchangeable Super 8mm, Single-8, Double Regular 8mm, and Double 
Super 8mm magazines [DS8 mag for up to 100ft spools].
(2).  Canon DS8 Camera, similar in most respects to their 16mm Scoopic 
camera. (3).  Pathe Weboflex & Reporter DS8 cameras, similar to their 
16mm counterparts, with one being able to accept up to 400ft magazines 
{thus yielding 800ft of Super 8mm film after processing and slitting!}.
(4).   And a few various USSR (russian/ukrainian made) Quarz and Lomo 
cameras, which to the best of my knowledge were all made in 25ft spool 
loading versions only.
(5).   Also a Chezhoslovakian made 25ft spool loading camera...can't 
remember the name at the moment. (from Meopta maybe?)

---> I do wish to add that aside from the Elmo....all the other cameras,
including the Bolex conversions, do not use the ANSI Super 8mm frame 
pulldown standard which is 3 frames above the filmgate.   The old 
Regular 8mm format varied from manufacturer to manufacturer although 
Bolex kept their cameras pretty uniform, their H-8 cameras are based on 
a similar pulldown rate to their 16mm counterparts, and the same goes 
for the Canon DS8 and Pathe DS8 cameras. The russian/ukrainian and 
chezh cameras use the Regular 8mm pulldown rate of the respective 
camera models upon which their DS8 cameras are based on.   Aside from 
some cheaper 16mm cameras, most all 16mm movie cameras use the 
same standard of 2 frames below the filmgate pulldown (specialized 16mm 
and highspeed Fastax, Millikin and other cameras notwithstanding).  

---> Regular 8mm varied depending on the manufacturer, and some 
companies such as Revere used a pulldown claw in the gate position.  
Those films that are projected on similar equipment will exhibit a rock 
steady image (as steady as it can be owing to design etc).  However the 
variation of image float in the projection gate appears when projected 
to a different pulldown standard. Luckily in the case of the high end 
DS8 cameras, with their registration claw standard and exacting film 
pressure plates....the images are for intents and purposes, about as 
steady as you will see.  Technically speaking, there will be some 
variation....when projected in a Super 8 standard projection rate of 
3 frames above the filmgate.....and it's quite possible some slight 
deviation may show up if a given film is optically printed to a larger 
format.  In practice though.....it's very minimal and most may not ever 
notice a difference.

---> Anyhow...I thought I'd add this extra information in, since you 
never know who's reading this newsgroup and what other questions a 
fellow reader might contemplate over this format.

Best wishes,
Martin W. Baumgarten

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