Does anyone know anything about these cameras?
I would be interested to hear, especially if anyone has any direct experience!
love
Freya
Bell and Howell autoload focusmatic
Moderator: Andreas Wideroe
Here is a picture I found!
http://www.rwhirled.com/landlist/pics/c ... atic-1.jpg
I told you it was beautiful!
love
Freya
http://www.rwhirled.com/landlist/pics/c ... atic-1.jpg
I told you it was beautiful!
love
Freya
That must be one of the earliest focus-matic cameras.
I have not used that model, but basically the focus-matic system is a simple way of finding out approximate distance between you and your subject for the purpose of accurate focus.
You usually press a button, point the camera at the base of your subject (ie a person's feet on the ground if they are the subject), release the button and the indicator will give you roughly the distance between you and the subject. Works surprisingly well.
I have not used that model, but basically the focus-matic system is a simple way of finding out approximate distance between you and your subject for the purpose of accurate focus.
You usually press a button, point the camera at the base of your subject (ie a person's feet on the ground if they are the subject), release the button and the indicator will give you roughly the distance between you and the subject. Works surprisingly well.
I own a B&H focusmatic (model 442) that I haven't used since 30 years. It's not the same as you posted but it has the same focusmatic mechanism. I posted its pictures same time ago:
http://www.8mm.filmshooting.com/scripts ... ameras/afj
http://www.8mm.filmshooting.com/scripts ... ameras/afk
This kind of focusmatic works ~well (it's better than manual guess of distance but it's not the same as thru-the-lens focus) but this camera lacks all other features that a S8 camera could have. I would not invest on it.
http://www.8mm.filmshooting.com/scripts ... ameras/afj
http://www.8mm.filmshooting.com/scripts ... ameras/afk
This kind of focusmatic works ~well (it's better than manual guess of distance but it's not the same as thru-the-lens focus) but this camera lacks all other features that a S8 camera could have. I would not invest on it.
I had a couple of B&H focus-matic cameras from the mid 70's go through my hands in the last couple of years. Not the best cameras but perfectly usable. Yep, unless you're very good at guessing distances the system works quite well.
The only focus-matic I still retain is a sound camera, because at the moment it's the only one of 4 that I own which I know works with sound film....until the test roll shot on the Elmo 1012 s-xl comes back!
Some Boots branded cameras made by B&H also have the focus-matic system.
The only focus-matic I still retain is a sound camera, because at the moment it's the only one of 4 that I own which I know works with sound film....until the test roll shot on the Elmo 1012 s-xl comes back!
Some Boots branded cameras made by B&H also have the focus-matic system.
Well I like it because of the way it looks and also because it was the first super8 camera I ever had. I paid very little for it as I remember. I'm planning to experiment with widening the gate on it. I can't imagine that I will ever use it because I have the two better cameras but I can test out the gate widening thing on the Bell and Howell and shoot some K40 on it and see how it works!This kind of focusmatic works ~well (it's better than manual guess of distance but it's not the same as thru-the-lens focus) but this camera lacks all other features that a S8 camera could have. I would not invest on it.
I shot a little film on some tri-x with it. I can't imagine it will be in focus! *giggle* I had not idea about the focusing system. I was probably trying to use it as a light meter! *cough* I'm glad super8 is cartridge based as I can remove the cartridge and put it in a nicer camera and run the K40 through it instead.
love
Freya