Super 8 Camera Technology Used To Record These Home Movies
A Bell & Howell Model 306 camera with zoom lens was used to film the races at Norwood Arena that are available on this site.

Bell & Howell made a couple of spring-wound Super 8 cameras back in the mid-'60's. The Model 306 came with either a single fixed focus lens or a zoom lens. They were the only Super 8 spring wound 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 per full wind. That's approximately 30 feet of film in the 50 foot Super 8 cassette.

The B&H Super 8 camera required a Mallory 2.7 volt PX-14 Battery source to power the light meter. The light meter in the camera is only automatic...no manual override. 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.

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 (instant 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.
The Bell & Howell Super 8 camera was sold as a kit with film projector and table top screen. The camera used to record these movies was purchased from the Sears & Roebuck Christmas Catalog......also known as the "Wish Book."