If you are just starting to shoot film and you are considering buying a 16 mm camera for film-making, rather than for collecting, here is a short guide  to help you make a decision.   If you search the eBay listings for 16 mm cameras you will surely find one or more of the following : Arriflex, Aaton, ACL, Bell Howell, Bolex, Beaulieu, CP 16, Kodak, Pathe to name the most common.

The Arriflex, the Aaton, and the ACL are ‘ professional cameras ’ and although excellent cameras in their own right they bring quite high prices are not really suitable for someone who is just beginning.

The Bell Howell, the Kodak, the Pathe, and perhaps with the exception of the CP16 are long gone obsolete and spare parts, accessories and for that matter servicing are generally not available.
That leaves the Bolex and the Beaulieu.

The Beaulieu ( once made in France but sadly no more ) is an excellent camera.  It is compact and lightweight, it accepts as normal a 100 foot daylight load spool, it can be fitted with a 400 foot magazine. It is powered by a electronic controlled motor with accurate marked setting, continuously variable speed, reverse and single frame.  Shooting in reverse is possible. Should you need to do so it is possible to exposure full 100 foot roll without stopping.

The camera has a vertical reciprocating ( guillotine ) mirror reflex shutter which presents all the light from the lens to the viewfinder, the viewfinder therefore is bright. An exposure meter is built into the system.  The camera uses a special double battery, one section for the meter, one section for the camera motor. This battery requires a special double charger.  

There are basically two models, one with a three lens turret, one with a integral motorized zoom.

Unfortunately the body is not as strong as it might be and can be distorted  out of shape, especially the base section where there a re fittings to secure the camera to a tripod.  The turret is also rather fragile and can easily be bent.   

The Beaulieu is unusual because it is perhaps the only camera that comfortably allows the camera operator to use the left eye.

The Beaulieu cannot be converted to shoot Super 16.

Since its first conception the Bolex H16 was I am sure designed with the beginner in mind. I have reason to believe that over the years there were more BOLEX H16 cameras sold than any other 16 mm camera made, it is a testimony to their good design and engineering that they are still being made in Switzerland.

The Bolex company was formed during 1927.
It gained international attention with the introduction of the Bolex H-16 movie camera in 1935.

The first camera was a non reflex with the first reflex camera being introduced in 1959.   Many good films have been shot on non reflex cameras, don’t knock them.  ( I shot my first film on a non reflex Bolex with one lens, I sold the film to BBC Television in 1954 and I have never looked back. )

Bolex cameras are spring driven except for the electric models introduced in 1971. Thousands of BOLEX H16 cameras are in use around the world and they are producing stunning pictures.

A strong spring motor allows filming at speeds, 12, 16, 18, 24, 32, and 64 frames per second.

This motor allows filming in difficult locations without need to charge batteries.

The BOLEX spring driven camera is intrinsically safe for working in dangerous situations such as oil rigs, oil refineries, chemical laboratories, underground coal mines or anywhere that a spark from an electric camera or connection could cause an explosion.

The spring drive allows 18 feet on one winding, this is adequate for most shots in the making of a documentary or shooting news material.

The beam splitting prism is immediately behind the taking lens and a portion of the light is reflected to the viewfinder optics on the top of the camera. Although this arrangement is not as bright as the image in the Beaulieu it allows the flicker free parallax free viewing and critical focusing.   These features are particularly useful while filming close-ups and using zoom or long telephoto lenses.

The Bolex H16 is an excellent camera.  It is compact and strong , heavier than the Beaulieu.  It accepts as normal a 100 foot daylight load spool, it can be fitted with a 400 foot magazine. It is powered by a strong spring motor with accurate marked settings. It can shoot single frame.  Although it can be manual wound in reverse  shooting in reverse is not possible.

Refinements and features have been continuously added to the range.  Over many years the Bolex factory made as well as cameras, projectors and titling equipment.  They designed and made an excellent range of Kern lenses, both prime and zoom.

Of the two, the Beaulieu and Bolex I recommend the latter. Bolex H16 non-reflex or Bolex H16 reflex with a range of Kern lenses, they regularly come up for sale on eBay.

The Bolex H16 reflex can be converted to shoot Super 16.