Bell and Howell 71

Bell and Howell 71 - aka Eyemo

Format: 35mm

Year: 1928-1970

Lens: Eyemo

Manual Focus

Manual Exposure

Frame rates: 12-64 variable non-sync

Spring wound, 35 seconds @ 24fps

No sound, no electronics. Entirely mechanical camera.

http://www.intervalometers.com/bh/index.stm

Comments

Models:

71-K: Single lens hard front. Some are 12-24fps
$330 eBay 8/2004

71-Q: 3-lens "spider" turret. 8-48fps
$480 eBay 8/2004
$600 eBay 8/2005

71-Z: like -K model, incorporates built-in winding lever. Built for Army Air Force bomber crews in WW2.
$300 eBay 8/2004

Eyemo and Filmo Manuals can be found at the NCS Products Site: http://www.intervalometer.com/bh/index.stm

Audadvnc: The 35mm B&H Eyemo model 71 is a compact, rugged camera based on the design of the B&H 70 Filmo. Eyemo cameras found wide use as newsreel cameras in the 30's and 40's and were distributed in large numbers to American armed forces during WW2. The only existing D-Day footage was shot on an Eyemo. Hollywood used them as B cameras in shots that were too cramped or too dangerous to place a standard studio camera, so a lot of Eyemos seen nowadays show evidence of prior damage from use as crash cameras. The original Eyemo lens mount is completely different in design from modern lens mounts, and several Eyemos have been modified to accept newer lenses. Eyemo mount lenses were manufactured by Cooke, Bausch & Lomb, Elgeet, General Scientific/Miltar, and others; some of the lenses are a bit soft but otherwise can intercut with footage from modern cameras, but the older ones are very primitive and exhibit vignetting, flare and corner distortion. Eyemos were originally all parallax viewfinder cameras; some have been modified over the years for reflex viewing. The mechanisms are very loud and sound like coffee grinders, so don't attempt dialog with an Eyemo. Any Eyemo you find will probably be at least 50 years old, so some overhaul (at least oiling the lube points) will probably be necessary to bring it up to speed. As noted in the Filmo page, these cameras are very simple, small and robust, but are (intentionally) not as precision work as a modern studio camera. But a working Eyemo in good shape and a decent lens makes fine, steady pictures that can be intercut into feature work.