Bell & Howell Super 8 Model 306 Camera

B

bradywurtz

Active member
Ok, so i've been looking all over the internet and can't find anything, and i know everyone on here is very helpful, but there wasn't really a place to talk about this on the site.

But I have recently been handed down a Bell & Howell Autoload Optronic Eye model 306 Super 8 Film camera.

I've got the camera and the projector. I recently purchased some super 8 color kodak film on b&hphpoto.com so i'm still waiting for that to come in.

but does anyone have any information on how to properly use a super 8 camera? or how to develop the film yourself?

i've seen websites where you can send the film in and get it developed but it's always very pricey, and as most video-geeks like myself, i would much rather prefer to try and do it myself to ensure the best quality and to save some money and time.

so, does anyone have any information on this camera or developing/transferring super 8 film?
 
Dark Room supplies-- Somebody has to have them on the web.

Using a Super 8-- There were _a lot_ of books on film-making (using movie cameras; pre-video) that came out during the "home movie" boom of the 70's/80's; most would be out-of-print now, but along with general info of value to all film-makers, I'm sure there's some camera-specific info.

I've got a few of these titles from back-in-the-day; I'll have to see what I can dig up.

I wish I still had my Dad's old 3-lens 8mm camera, tripod, lights, and editing station...

GJ
 
By the time you purchase everything needed to develop your film, and learn how to do it properly, you might as well get it done professionally. As you will likely blow through a lot of money learning how to. Film is expensive to work with. That's one of the major reasons for it's decline. If it were me I would use your newly acquired film pieces as display items in your studio and call it a day.

All the Best!

Dave
 
Then again, if you want that "classic home movie" film look, then film is the way to go. ("Vintage" is in).

In any event, I found a few of my old film-maker guide books. You might want to try and find: Petersen's Bolex Guide to 16mm Movie Making (Ernst Wildi), and/or An Introduction To Cinematography (John Mercer). OLD books, but the web is sometimes a surprising resource.

GJ
 
David W. Jones said:
By the time you purchase everything needed to develop your film, and learn how to do it properly, you might as well get it done professionally. As you will likely blow through a lot of money learning how to. Film is expensive to work with. That's one of the major reasons for it's decline. If it were me I would use your newly acquired film pieces as display items in your studio and call it a day.

All the Best!

Dave
Click to expand...

Why not give it a go? You never know, he may love it and stick with shooting film as a hobby or more. I saY GO FOR IT. The number one piece of gear I would buy is a decent used light meter. It's a must have for shooting film, even if the camera has a metering chart. Send it out, dont waste your time or money on processing your own film. There's a big underground super8 group out in LA. Try google, im sure you will find it, The great part is the film stocks are amazing compared to when that camera was made, so it's actually not a bad time to learn.
 
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