CameraWorth.com

Paillard A.G. Bolex H-16

The Bolex H-16 is a 16mm spring-wound cine camera made in Switzerland by Paillard, first introduced in the 1930s and produced in numerous iterations across subsequent decades. It was positioned as a professional-grade hand-held motion picture camera, widely used by documentary, educational and independent filmmakers before video displaced 16mm in most working contexts.

At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Bolex H-16 have spanned roughly £190 to £980, with a median around £560 based on the sales recorded here. That spread reflects wholesale saleroom results rather than retail asking prices, and in today's market condition, completeness of the three-lens turret, and the state of the spring motor drive all materially affect what an individual H-16 is worth. Clean, working examples with matched C-mount lenses tend to sell for more than bodies offered without optics.

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Sales History

Prices shown are UK auction hammer results — the wholesale level achieved in the saleroom. Neither buyer’s nor seller’s commission is included. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher.

Date Price Source
Jun 2026 £262 Flints Auctions
Apr 2026 £250 Flints Auctions
Mar 2025 £31 Flints Auctions
Nov 2024 £1,625 Flints Auctions
Oct 2024 £800 Harper Field Auctions
Mar 2023 £562 Flints Auctions
Mar 2023 £188 Flints Auctions
Mar 2023 £975 Flints Auctions

Frequently asked questions

What is a Bolex H-16 worth today?

Recent UK auction hammer prices for the Bolex H-16 have ranged from about £190 to £980, with a median near £560, so a clean working example typically sells for a mid-three-figure sum.

How much does a Bolex H-16 sell for at auction?

Prices vary widely with condition and whether lenses are included; the data here shows individual hammer results of £188, £562 and £975.

What affects the price of a Bolex H-16?

Motor condition, shutter accuracy, the presence and state of C-mount lenses on the turret, and overall cosmetic condition are the main factors that move the value up or down.

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