After various prototypes and limited series of movie cameras and projectors, Paillard S.A. of Switzerland introduced the first bolex h-16 type camera in the early thirties. No one remembers today what the letter "h" stands for, but it has become synonymous with a versatile, compact, high-quality camera around the globe and in the years to come it outsold all other 16mm cameras ever made. All of the basic features of the original bolex h-16 were so well selected and designed that they withstood the test of time and all of these features are present without significant change on the most modern bolex spring driven cameras of today. Outstanding quality of selected materials and fine swiss craftsmenship speak for themselves, as many of the original bolex cameras, which are now almost 50 years old, are still in circulation and faithfully serve their owners all over the world. This list was prepared to assist you in identification of various models and to illustrate the development of bolex h-16 series cameras.
carrying handle/strap critical focuser with eye cup turret guide with positioning click stop parallax correcting viewfinder three-lens turret film plane indicator i and t lever for instantaneous or time exposures in single frame mode front release tripod fastening thread side release with lock for continuous or single frame exposures winding handle speed dial 8-64 fps rewind shaft automatic, geared footage indicator clutch for disengaging spring motor holders for eye level viewfinders. other features not visible in this illustration: automatic threading * removable pressure plate * built-in film trimming knife * audible length-of-scene signal * fully removable lid with lock

major modification	model	year	ser. no.
introduction of camera	h-16	1933	7,500
addition of external frame counter	h-16	1941	15,000
built-in frame counter	h-16 leader	1947	33,191
addition of trifocal viewfinder	h-16 leader	1948	35,000
addition of eye level focus v.f.	h-16 standard	1949	50,000
addition of octometer v.f.	h-16 de luxe	1950	55,000
built-in filter slot	h-16 supreme	1954	94,201
introduction of zoom lenses (first in u.s.a.)		1954
introduction of stereo system		1954
new registration claw, pressure pad	h-16 supreme	1955	100,401
introduction of bolex h-16 reflex	h-16 r	1956	116,001
new style turret with folding lever	h-16 supreme	1956	121,401
introduction of anamorphic lenses		1957
introduction of bolex t	h-16 t	1958	148,000
introduction of bolex m	h-16 m	1958	153,000
introduction of rex-1 (var. shutter 145°)	h-16 rex-1	1959	162,306
h-16 rex-2 new vf (var. shutter 130°)	h-16 rex-2	1963
h-16 rex-3 built-in flat base	h-16 rex-3	1963	202,501
introduction of automatic exposure zoom lens		1963
h-16 m-3 built-in flat base	h-16 m-3	1964	203,001
introduction of bolex s	h-16 s	1965	203,551
h-16 rex-4 1:1 ratio shaft	h-16 rex-4	1965	210, 601
h-16 m-4 1:1 ratio shaft	h-16 m-4	1965	212,501
h-16 rex-5 400' magazine saddle, clapper	h-16 rex-5	1967	226,001
h-16 m-5 400' magazine saddle	h-16 m-5	1967	234,401
h-16 rex-5 new vf, magnification 13x	h-16 rex-5	1971	253,020
h-16 sbm bayonet mount, 400' magazine saddle	h-16 sbm	1971	300,001
h-16 sb bayonet mount, 100' capacity	h-16 sb	1971	300,201
h-16 ebm built-in electric motor	h-16 ebm	1971	300,401
h-16 el built in elec. motor, exp. meter	h-16 el	1975	310,001
introduction of aspheron attachment		1976
h-16 rex-5/tv tv mask in vf	h-16 rex-5/tv	1978	??
h-16 el/tv (series ii) tv mask, x-sync	h-16 el/tv	1978	??
h-16 sbm/tv tv mask in vf, 13x magnification	h-16 sbm/tv	1978	??
h-16 el/tv (series iii) 1600 asa exp. meter	h-16 el/tv	1980	??

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