Vintage camera buffs...Bell & Howell Camera 70 DA...any info? Went to a little Christmas gathering at a friend's house and her husband showed me one of his fathers cameras. I know...

ggttc Loc: TN

Went to a little Christmas gathering at a friend's house and her husband showed me one of his fathers cameras.

I know NOTHING about video so hoping you folks could help me out here.....amazingly I did find a manual for it online.

But I know nothing else about it...any tidbits of info you could pass on to me so I can pass them onto him?

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blacks2 Loc: SF. Bay area

The Bell & Howell DA70 was made around 1923, it is a 16mm movie camera with interchangeable lenses. Not too rare, todays collectors value $90-140. Hope that helps.

ggttc Loc: TN

blacks2 wrote:

The Bell & Howell DA70 was made around 1923, it is a 16mm movie camera with interchangeable lenses. Not too rare, todays collectors value $90-140. Hope that helps.

Thanks...

claytonsummers Loc: Orange County, CA

A while back I was looking for manuals and drawings for old movie cameras and came across this one. It truly was a different time.

ggttc Loc: TN

claytonsummers wrote:

A while back I was looking for manuals and drawings for old movie cameras and came across this one. It truly was a different time.

That's interesting...

PixelStan77 Loc: Vermont/Chicago

ggttc wrote:

Went to a little Christmas gathering at a friend's house and her husband showed me one of his fathers cameras.

I know NOTHING about video so hoping you folks could help me out here.....amazingly I did find a manual for it online.

But I know nothing else about it...any tidbits of info you could pass on to me so I can pass them onto him?

Bell and Howell and Bolex were the two key players with 16MM movie cameras. Your friends has the turret with a Normal, wide angle and telephoto lens. Great conversation piece.

ggttc Loc: TN

PixelStan77 wrote:

Bell and Howell and Bolex were the two key players with 16MM movie cameras. Your friends has the turret with a Normal, wide angle and telephoto lens. Great conversation piece.

Well, it certainly got me interested....

rehess Loc: South Bend, Indiana, USA

I believe those little lenses are C-mount. People sometimes unscrew the lenses, junk the remaining stuff, and sell the lenses to people like me who have small-sensor cameras. You'll find a lot of small lenses like that for sale on eBay.

Jerry G Loc: Waterford, Michigan and Florida

Used a camera very similar to that in Navy Photography A School in the 60s

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

ggttc wrote:

Went to a little Christmas gathering at a friend's house and her husband showed me one of his fathers cameras.

I know NOTHING about video so hoping you folks could help me out here.....amazingly I did find a manual for it online.

But I know nothing else about it...any tidbits of info you could pass on to me so I can pass them onto him?

I have a similar camera without the little lens on the side of the turret. My grandfather shot family and other films with it up through the early 60's. As others have stated it is a B&H Filmo DA70 and here is a link to a bit more on it. http://vintageretromidcentury.biz/antique-circa-1930-bell-howell-filmo-70da-16mm-motion-picture-movie-camera-nr.htm The DA70 is circa 1930.

(Download)

Frayud Loc: Bethesda,MD

The camera was heavy, reliable and built like an anvil. There was even a 35mm version. It found use even into the '60's in news and documentary work to film "cutaways" while the main camera (with sound) focused on the speaker or main subject.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Architect1776 wrote:

I have a similar camera without the little lens on the side of the turret. My grandfather shot family and other films with it up through the early 60's. As others have stated it is a B&H Filmo DA70 and here is a link to a bit more on it. http://vintageretromidcentury.biz/antique-circa-1930-bell-howell-filmo-70da-16mm-motion-picture-movie-camera-nr.htm The DA70 is circa 1930.

I also have the 16mm B&H sound projector. Works great.

ggttc Loc: TN

Frayud wrote:

The camera was heavy, reliable and built like an anvil. There was even a 35mm version. It found use even into the '60's in news and documentary work to film "cutaways" while the main camera (with sound) focused on the speaker or main subject.

That's the impression I got from just picking it up.

ggttc Loc: TN

Architect1776 wrote:

I have a similar camera without the little lens on the side of the turret. My grandfather shot family and other films with it up through the early 60's. As others have stated it is a B&H Filmo DA70 and here is a link to a bit more on it. http://vintageretromidcentury.biz/antique-circa-1930-bell-howell-filmo-70da-16mm-motion-picture-movie-camera-nr.htm The DA70 is circa 1930.

Thanks.

ggttc Loc: TN

Jerry G wrote:

Used a camera very similar to that in Navy Photography A School in the 60s

Got the impression that is was favored by the Armed Forces.