Yes, Bell & Howell did make a couple of spring-wound Super 8 cameras back in the mid-'60's, the single fixed focus lens model and a zoom and another. They were the only Super 8 springwound camera made beside the Russian-made Quartz BC-2...which is still being made. The B&H has a very long, almost 2 minute running time. It is best to exercise the spring motor a few times before using it with film to get the mechanism running smoothly.

The B&H Model 306 Super 8 camera requires a Mallory 2.7 volt PX-14 Battery source to power the light meter. The light meter in your camera is only automatic...no manual override at all. If you remove the pistol grip, you'll see the access chamber for the meter battery. This battery hasn't been available for some years now...however you might be able to carefully make up your own using two 1.35 volt batteries...or even two 1.5volt batteries. The higher voltage will change the exposure reading slightly...but not enough to seriously impact autoexposure unless your light meter is damaged to begin with. There might still be some other battery options, as some suppliers now have non-mercury versions of batteries for older cameras. Check with Radio Shack, along with any battery information sources on the net.

Regarding minimum focusing distance on the camera with the 15mm lens, at wide open aperture settings it is approximately 6ft, and in bright sun you can get as close as 3ft. Recommended filming distances are 8ft to 15ft for most general subjects.

Camera Specifications:

• Film Type: Super 8mm 50ft cartridge (instand loading).
• Optronic Eye: Sets automatically to film cartridge type, with low light level indicator in viewfinder (red field).
• Film Speeds: ASA 40 to ASA 250 tungsten (without filter) and ASA 25 to ASA 200 Daylight (with filter).
• Lens: F/1.9 Bell & Howell fixed focus lens, minimum distance 6ft.
• Running Speed: 18frames-per-second, and single frame.
• Run Lock and Single Frame: via the top rocker mounted switch.
• Spring Motor: sufficient to run approximately 30ft of film at 18fps.
• Removable Pistol Grip with built-in thumb trigger.
• Built-in 85A Daylight Conversion Filter for Tungsten Color Films: Removeable via internal switch for cartridge setting (Tri-X B&W and Ektachrome Type G films) OR via Movie Light Socket on top of camera (NOTE: The socket is a dry one....it was designed to use the B&H movie light unit bracket which depressed the filter plunger adjacent to the threaded socket opening), OR using the special B&H Filter Pin (often easily lost on these cameras).
• Built-in Footage Counter in Viewfinder with Film End signal.
• Non-reflex viewfinder is semi-parallax corrected at up to 5ft.

Titles and Closeups: Since the camera is not a reflex camera, you will have to move the camera upward 1&1/4inches and 1 inch to the left when looking at the back of the camera......this will compensate for parallax, and you'll need the accessory B&H closeup lens (if you can locate one this many years later that is!).

Elmo C-200 (Dual Filmatic) & C-300 (Tri-Filmatic) Cameras
by Martin W. Baumgarten

July 20, 1999

Yes, ELMO made two similar cameras, the C-200 also known as the Dual Filmatic, and the C-300, known as the Tri-Filmatic.

The TRI-FILMATIC actually accepts 4 different magazines encompassing what is basically the 8mm and Super 8mm formats in their various versions (FUJI's Single-8 silent magazine, KODAK's Super 8mm silent Cartridge, Kodak & others' 25ft Double 8mm Film Spool, and sometime later they introduced the Double Super 8mm 100ft Magazine with its own built in drive motors for the camera. Along with the Double Super 8mm Magazine, you needed the optional longer viewfinder tube, and there also is a larger top body carrying handle, and also a custom pistol grip to hold this massive camera more comfortably. It actually isn't much larger than carrying around a Bolex H-8 camera in use. The viewfinder had markings for the Regular 8mm format, and the camera has the following features: electric remote release capability, F-Stop scale in the viewfinder for auto and manual exposure, 9mm - 36mm zoom lens F/1.8, mounting ports for the movie light bracket, the Elmo Deluxe Fader Device (which uses opposing Polarizing filters), and/or the Elmo 3-D Filmmaking Attachment, the running speeds are Single Frame, 18fps & 24fps, there is a small battery meter which shows the power level of both the motor batteries and the light meter batteries. The zoom is powered or manual, and the camera can run in reverse mode; for either double exposure or lap dissolves (using either an aperture fadeout or the Elmo Fader Device), or for filming in reverse. The reverse mode operates ONLY with the FUJI SIngle-8, Double 8mm, and the Double Super 8mm magazine backs. The motor drive and power zoom power pack of 4-Double AA 1.5 volt batteries, is rapidly interchangeable.....for warming the batteries and/or for exchanging it for a fresh one (if you bought an optional second or third extra battery packs!). The system is similar to that of the Agfa Movexoom Super 8mm and the Leicina Double 8mm and several others using a similar small two-piece battery container that has to be screwed apart by the retaining screw. The builtin #85 Daylight conversion filter is moveable via a small chromed removable knob on the operational side (Right) of the camera. The viewfinder tube has diopter correction for eyesight and it's also lockable. The trigger is under a flipup cover to prevent accidental exposure, and also has a cable release port there for remote use. both cameras can be powered by a remote power pack...but this is for the drive motor system only....the meter battery cell is still required to operate the light meter, for BOTH automatic and manual modes. Focusing is via a 45º split-image rangefinder in the reflex system, and minimum focus is approximately 3.75 feet(1.2m) The magazines change quite rapdily, with the exception of the Super 8mm one...in which you first have to open the back of it in order to grab the two release tabs....guess they figured if you're changing backs...you're probably done filming. The camera really is a marvel of engineering! Unfortunately the idea never caught on and these cameras nearly bankrupt Elmo.

The DUAL-FILMATIC is basically the same camera, but without the capability of accepting the Double 8mm (Regular 8mm) film magazine, nor the Double Super 8mm film magazine. This is mainly due to the fact that the Double 8mm magazine back and the Double Super 8mm magazine back share the same special double width film gate and film quide setup in the C-300, and the C-200 uses a single width gate plateform....as in most Super 8mm cartridge cameras and all Fujica Single-8 cameras. It also has reverse film run...but this works only with the Fuji Single-8 magazine back and their cartridge system. Also...this camera is missing the electric remote release terminal. Other than that...they are physically identical to each other in most respects.

Now as to whether I'd recommend using an older camera like this...why not? As long as it works, and they operate well and the optics are clean...they should still produce sharp steady movies. These cameras are lacking in many nice to have features that you find on BAUERs, NIZOs, BEAULIEUs and others of the same era...or later Super 8mm cameras...but they will shoot good images nonetheless. Keep in mind, these cameras are actually late 1960's technology. By 1971 they were becoming hard to find already. Unlike a pistol grip type Super 8mm camera, to which most of us are accustomed to...these cameras are held up to the eye and rest against the forhead and nose bridge...since the viewfinder tube is of center sidemounted design. As with any older Super 8mm movie cameras...if the camera runs, and seems to run okay...I recommend running it thru it's basic functions and then allowing the drive motor to run for a few minutes...before actually shooting any film in them.

Best wishes,
Martin
See Martin's WWW site at: Plattsburgh Photographic Services

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