When I retired in 2012 I was cleaning out my desk and came across a small, plastic camera with the name “Bell and Howell” on the front. I have no idea where it came from, but I suspect it’s the kind of thing that is given away with a magazine subscription. It’s such a famous camera that it doesn’t even seem to have a name – at least I couldn’t find one even after searching on the internet.
It has a fixed focus 28mm lens and fixed (and unknown – couldn’t find that on the internet either) aperture and shutter speed. So no need to worry about focusing and/or checking exposure. The ultimate point and shoot. I was just about to throw it out when I noticed that there was a film inside.
I just couldn’t resist trying it out one lunch time (in the area around where I worked in New York City) and went through a 24 exposure roll faster than I ever have before…point, shoot; point, shoot etc. Twenty four shots in twenty minutes. I can’t imagine how long the camera had been lying around and the ‘no-name’ film had, when processed, some “interesting” color shifts. I thought the pictures would look better converted to b&w. It was an interesting experience, and in some ways liberating to not have to worry about anything other than the picture.
My website – www.aheadworld.org
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Art Tafil on 5 Frames with Bell & Howell Fixed Focus Camera – By Howard Dale
Comment posted: 01/02/2018
One thing I found that as long as it was sunny they performed admirably.
The lenses were probably preset at f/8 or f/11 and using the latitude of the film packed inside the "sunny 16" formula worked out great.
Comment posted: 01/02/2018
Steve Novosel on 5 Frames with Bell & Howell Fixed Focus Camera – By Howard Dale
Comment posted: 02/02/2018
Comment posted: 02/02/2018
Thomas Brouns on 5 Frames with Bell & Howell Fixed Focus Camera – By Howard Dale
Comment posted: 02/02/2018
Comment posted: 02/02/2018
George Appletree on 5 Frames with Bell & Howell Fixed Focus Camera – By Howard Dale
Comment posted: 02/02/2018
Pretty pasty result, although you could process better contrast in the digital file.
Comment posted: 02/02/2018
Comment posted: 02/02/2018
Comment posted: 02/02/2018
Comment posted: 02/02/2018
Dave Wolanski on 5 Frames with Bell & Howell Fixed Focus Camera – By Howard Dale
Comment posted: 02/02/2018
Comment posted: 02/02/2018
DeeDee Yelverton on 5 Frames with Bell & Howell Fixed Focus Camera – By Howard Dale
Comment posted: 09/10/2022