Bell & Howell Electric Eye (1957)

Bell & Howell Electric Eye 

The Bell & Howell Electric Eye 8mm movie camera, introduced in late 1957, completely changed home filmmaking by offering the world's very first fully automatic exposure system for regular families. This "point-and-shoot" breakthrough used a light sensor called the "Electric Eye" to automatically adjust the camera's lens based on how bright it was outside—all without needing a single battery. Built with a tough aluminum body, the camera ran on a classic wind-up clockwork motor that gave families about 30 seconds of filming on a single turn, allowing anyone to capture perfectly lit home movies just by pulling the trigger.

Donation: Justin Tuttle