Bell & Howell Electric Eye (1957)

Bell & Howell Electric Eye 

The Bell & Howell Electric Eye 8mm movie camera, introduced in late 1957 with the Model 390, revolutionized home filmmaking by featuring the world's first fully automatic exposure system for the amateur market. This "point-and-shoot" capability was powered by a distinctive selenium-cell light meter (the "Electric Eye") located just above or below the lens, which harnessed light energy to mechanically adjust the aperture without the need for a battery. Built with a rugged, die-cast aluminum body and a high-quality f/1.9 Super Comat lens, the camera utilized a classic spring-wound clockwork motor that provided about 30 seconds of filming on a single wind. While it offered a "Director Series" of more advanced models with zoom lenses—most notably the Model 414PD famously used by Abraham Zapruder—the original 390 series was celebrated for its extreme simplicity, allowing families to capture perfectly exposed Double 8mm footage simply by pulling the trigger. As the industry moved toward the more convenient Super 8 cartridge in the mid-1960s, the "Electric Eye" line was eventually phased out, leaving behind a legacy of durable, battery-free machines that remain functional for vintage film hobbyists decades later.

Donation: Justin Tuttle