The
most significant
35mm wind-up
camera
of modern
filmmaking
is by
far the
Bell &
Howell
Eyemo.
This robust
35mm combat
veteran
of World
War II
has gotten
shots
in the
most adverse
conditions
without
any power
failures,
broken
parts
or stoppages.
An Eyemo
can sit
sixty
years
and you
just wind
it up
and it
works
perfectly.
The other
great
feature
of the
Eyemo
is its
compact
size.
No other
35mm camera
can fit
into the
tight
spots
you can
jam an
Eyemo
into.
A modified
and motorized
Eyemo
was used
to film
action
segments
of "Terminator
2: Judgment
Day."
Bell &
Howell
made an
Eyemo
in 16mm
called
a Filmo
(or 70-DR)
that also
has a
100 foot
internal
magazine.
There
are other
B&H
16mm wind-ups
(the ity-bity
200EE)
that uses
50 foot
cassette
loads
that are
smaller
than most
palmcorders
and Super-8
cameras.
The 16mm
Bolex
is a great
old range
finder
camera
that's
also a
good animation
camera
- if you
happen
to have
the factory
rack-over
device.
The Bolex
Rex models
have a
crappy
reflex
viewing
system
that's
almost
adequate.
The Kodak
Cine Special
is another
reliable
16mm camera
that should
be mentioned.
Spring
wound
cameras
are limited
to silent
shooting
but they
certainly
are THE
camera
of choice
for the
guerrilla
filmmaker,
needing
a small,
tough,
concealable
16mm camera,
independent
of electricity.
If
you have
an Eyemo,
NEVER
PART WITH
IT! They
have been
out of
production
for many
years
and are
something
of a collector's
item.
Any savvy
cinematographer
will try
to add
one to
their
personal
35mm arsenal
if they
can find
one that
someone
is stupid
enough
to sell.
An interesting
new 16mm
reflex
camera
is the
Russian
Krasnogorsk-3
that sells
for around
$400.00
Considering
that it
comes
with a
zoom lens,
it's a
bargain
(and you
have a
polishing
attachment
for your
Dremel
tool!).
