Autoload 342
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| image by E. Magnuson (Image rights) |
The Bell&Howell Autoload 342 is a quite sophisticated viewfinder camera for type No. 126 film cassettes. It comprises a unique kind of focus-matic rangefinder and motorized film advance. It has a Bell&Howell f/40mm 1:2.8 4-element lens, and a shutter with speeds 1/30 to 1/800 sec.
Its triangulation rangefinder is activated by focusing the subject's feet while pressing the focusing lever. Then a ball bearing rolls in a track to measure the angle. When the lever is released the lens is locked in a position based on the ball bearing position, and the sacle in the window at the lens barrel shows the distance.
The camera has a selenium cell as metering sensor built around the lens opening. The meter controls exposure and flash. The camera uses flashcubes. It needs 2 AA batteries.
Links
- autofocus in the 60s on eyescoffee [1]
