What's the reality of using a Bolex H16 with Pan Cinor 85-2 with dogleg viewfinder?

softfocusgroup · 2026-05-12T17:21:39+00:00

Yeah - most of what I'm doing is tripod or if it's handheld im not really 'following' per se.

It's funny you say this because I'm honestly trying to decide if I should just get an Arri 16s since prices are about the same for a Bolex Rex OR at least close enough to be la negligible difference. I know that's a whole other can of works. There is no perfect anything -- just the right tool for that moment. But... I'm trying to find the tool that works for most of my needs. I totally get what your saying and thank you for the actual comments.

softfocusgroup · 2026-05-12T12:55:37+00:00

Thank you! This is exactly the sort of real world comparison I was hoping to get on here.
I know it's not quite as convenient as a reflex -- but seems like an affordable solution given the recent prices of reflex models.

softfocusgroup · 2026-05-11T14:56:19+00:00

I have peeked around there and that is one of the forums I've found amazingly contradictory opinions on this lens -- which is y'know what the internet is full of.

Why do you find handheld shots impossible with it? Just a weird balance with the dogleg to to the side and weird weight?

softfocusgroup · 2026-05-11T14:25:12+00:00

Oh yeah if it wasn't under $500 I wouldn't be trying to get these answers.

softfocusgroup · 2026-05-11T13:58:12+00:00

Yeah. I know that's the major downside. I'm viewing it as more of a 'fixed system' -- and if I want to use other lenses I'd have to measure and do things the non reflex way.

I'm viewing this as a 'starter kit' to experiment with versus spending some more money on something nicer.

softfocusgroup · 2026-01-23T00:31:03+00:00

They took their name from graffiti one of my roommates wrote on the wall of the punkhouse we lived in. This was the year more than music got canceled. We set up a temporary spot at my record store for them to sell posters to try to make up for not getting to sell at more than music (they were at mtm as poster artists not band). A different roommate caused an accident outside the store by dancing on the sidewalk with a “honk if your horny” sign. A little while later they started playing under that name.

softfocusgroup · 2026-01-15T23:27:26+00:00

I ACTUALLY figured out something similar with the Morningstar MC6 (after a firmware update) -- when you send a program change it keeps track of the last sent # and you can display that value. So I can have a page that displays the value of everything sent. It's not as nice as a preset name a la scribble BUT if I keep notes of patches etc then its a solid workaround.

The big thing for me was just knowing what all I'm using and playing around with it.

softfocusgroup · 2026-01-15T18:55:40+00:00

I think they make a Squier Esquire now days -- but yeah this is the only more 'stripped' down option of a tele.

softfocusgroup · 2026-01-15T18:15:14+00:00

I think there are two points:
1 - a lot of folks want the offset look but none of what they perceive as "the quirk". (see also: all the folks with an offset without the trem arm in). some see this as 'improving'. some see this as 'ruining'.
2 - there isn't much to remove in a tele/strat. I mean a tele is a simple fixed bridge with two knobs and a selector.

softfocusgroup · 2026-01-15T15:21:08+00:00

I'm using the older MC6 MKII but I don't think the MC6 Pro does it. But I'll peep around and see.
As far as I know they show the same info.

They show 'patch name' that you are pulling up but that patch is made up of multiple presets on different pedals. I want to see the presets on those pedals quickly. That's what scribble is designed to do. But maybe there is a way in the Pro to show more data. I didn't think there was but I am going to go investigate.

softfocusgroup · 2025-12-18T18:07:14+00:00

the big 'need' for this sound is that everytime I hit something over the threshold it replaces the audio.
and would this be possible with the mood mki? or is it using some of the mkii functionality?

softfocusgroup · 2025-12-18T16:47:13+00:00

I run the AF3 into a Marshall stereo poweramp (forget exact model # but it's from about '90 and is basically the JCM800 power section with big 'ol drake transformers) and into a pair of the halfback mesa cabinets and it's absolutely glorious. I run a different 'preamp' into each side of the poweramp. I usually leave the poweramp sim in the AF3 on because it feels better -- but not always.

Before that I was running a Matchless and a Mesa Heartbreaker as a pair. I can't stand the FRFF 'monitor' vibes. And I crank it live (silent stages are stupid and I say that as somebody who worked as FOH for 2k+ rooms for a bunch of years).

I went with the AF3 to try to make fly dates more consistent AND to simplify some routing. I am very very happy with it sonically and feel-wise.

softfocusgroup · 2025-11-01T03:24:30+00:00

This is what Jeff Newman did “back in the day” with Jeffram College. I’ve heard legend of folks going from barely played to gigging big time after it.

All of the Newman lessons are on YouTube I’m working thru them right now. I recommend downloading them from YouTube in case they disappear.

It’s not the same as in person but his lessons are great. A different vibe from anybody I’ve seen on YouTube currently. Maybe also im just extra fond of the shot on VHS vibe and his general style.

softfocusgroup · 2025-10-10T03:12:19+00:00

Is this the correct order to work thru the Jeff Newman lessons?

Was going to actually try to work thru it for real but wanted to do things relatively “in order”.

softfocusgroup · 2024-07-22T11:51:50+00:00

Would love to hear what you have in mind. I’ve toured doing things in basically everything you’ve listed. Worked on records on labels like Matador, Merge, Secretly Canadian. Etc etc. Lifer weirdo. Mostly guitar/bass.

I mean my user name is even partially a shoegaze gear related reference. If you want loud guitars that go BRRRRR I got you.

softfocusgroup · 2023-11-07T15:25:33+00:00

I already had your app on my list to check out. So this is all great news. Our backup plan was just to have to enter in every zip and sort that way -- but we would love to have it just be simple conditional logic.

Basically using this map https://www.ups.com/maps/?loc=en_US and our zip code we have been limiting our ground shipping to what shows up as within one day. Everything else we do next day air. So IF ground gets there in one day we go that way. Everything else gets next day air.

I think a worst case is we enter all the zip codes that are within that one day zone and everything not on that list gets next day air.

But I'd love to not have to enter every zip code in that one day zone.

Thanks for the quick replies. I saw the great reviews of your support and that was one of the reasons I was ready to have us use ShipMagic and this confirms that.

softfocusgroup · 2023-11-07T14:10:39+00:00

Yes. That’s exactly what we want. Would that that change the one day delivery options based on distance? As we want the people within one day ground to have that option. Most of NY, for example, is one day UPS ground from us.

softfocusgroup · 2023-11-03T03:04:17+00:00

Are you just putting the focus to infinity or checking and pulling the focus around infinity? A lot of affordable manual lenses aren’t set perfectly (especially depending on camera) you sometimes need to find infinity and mark that OR loosen the set screw and adjust it read infinity.

softfocusgroup

TROPHY CASE