Eyemo
Encyclopedia
The Eyemo is a 35 mm
motion-picture film camera
which was manufactured by the Bell & Howell Co. of Chicago.
and combat cameramen (it was used through the Vietnam War, and the War Department issued special manuals for it), and also found use for fiction and documentary
filmmakers whenever a portable, rugged, and inconspicuous camera was needed.
The Eyemo is still in use by some filmmakers. It is often used these days as a "crash cam" for filming dangerous stunt
s and explosions, and shots in which the camera must be dropped from a building or other elevation.
incorporated into the camera lid. Some models take one lens
only. In 1929 there was the first three-port Eyemo, while the "spider model" features a rotating three-lens turret and a "focusing viewfinder" on the side opposite the optical viewfinder. Eyemos feature a 1½" diameter lens mount
except the 71-k model, which is slightly different.
Eyemos feature a built-in clockwork
(spring wind) motor which, when wound by a ratchet key
, runs about 20 seconds of film per winding (at the 24 frames per second
speed), and work at speeds of 4 through 64 frames per second, depending on the model. The camera can be hand-cranked
with a manual crank accessory. Several optional electric motor
s are available; some use DC
battery
power while others use household AC
current. There is currently a synchronized motor available for sync sound
filming, but no commercially available camera blimp to reduce the camera's noise.
The Eyemo takes an internal load of 100 feet net (30,5 m) of film
, which lasts just over a minute when filming at the standard 24 frames-per-second speed. Some models also accept a 400 ft or 1000 ft magazine
that is attached to the back, and can hold 4⅓ and 11 minutes of film respectively. When used with a 400 ft magazine, the Eyemo is cumbersome (but not impossible) to operate without the use of a tripod
, while the use of a 1000-ft magazine requires tripod support.
Some camera shops have modified Eyemos to reflex viewing, attached video tap
s and motors to them, and modified the proprietary lens mount to allow the camera to use different optics (such as lenses made for still Nikon
cameras).
Bell & Howell also built the successful 16 mm "Filmo
" which became first available at the end of 1923. In the 1930's this film was marketed as a 'semi professional' camera wile the Filmo 127 was introduced as an amateur camera using Super 8
film.
35 mm film
35 mm film is the film gauge most commonly used for chemical still photography and motion pictures. The name of the gauge refers to the width of the photographic film, which consists of strips 35 millimeters in width...
motion-picture film camera
Movie camera
The movie camera is a type of photographic camera which takes a rapid sequence of photographs on strips of film which was very popular for private use in the last century until its successor, the video camera, replaced it...
which was manufactured by the Bell & Howell Co. of Chicago.
Background
Designed and first manufactured in 1925, it was for many years the most compact 35 mm motion-picture film camera of the hundred foot capacity. Its small size and ruggedness made it a favorite choice for newsreelNewsreel
A newsreel was a form of short documentary film prevalent in the first half of the 20th century, regularly released in a public presentation place and containing filmed news stories and items of topical interest. It was a source of news, current affairs and entertainment for millions of moviegoers...
and combat cameramen (it was used through the Vietnam War, and the War Department issued special manuals for it), and also found use for fiction and documentary
Documentary film
Documentary films constitute a broad category of nonfictional motion pictures intended to document some aspect of reality, primarily for the purposes of instruction or maintaining a historical record...
filmmakers whenever a portable, rugged, and inconspicuous camera was needed.
The Eyemo is still in use by some filmmakers. It is often used these days as a "crash cam" for filming dangerous stunt
Stunt
A stunt is an unusual and difficult physical feat, or any act requiring a special skill, performed for artistic purposes in TV, theatre, or cinema...
s and explosions, and shots in which the camera must be dropped from a building or other elevation.
Construction
The Eyemo is a non-reflex camera: viewing while filming is through an optical viewfinderViewfinder
In photography, a viewfinder is what the photographer looks through to compose, and in many cases to focus, the picture. Most viewfinders are separate, and suffer parallax, while the single-lens reflex camera lets the viewfinder use the main optical system. Viewfinders are used in many cameras of...
incorporated into the camera lid. Some models take one lens
Photographic lens
A camera lens is an optical lens or assembly of lenses used in conjunction with a camera body and mechanism to make images of objects either on photographic film or on other media capable of storing an image chemically or electronically.While in principle a simple convex lens will suffice, in...
only. In 1929 there was the first three-port Eyemo, while the "spider model" features a rotating three-lens turret and a "focusing viewfinder" on the side opposite the optical viewfinder. Eyemos feature a 1½" diameter lens mount
Lens mount
A lens mount is an interface — mechanical and often also electrical — between a photographic camera body and a lens. It is confined to cameras where the body allows interchangeable lenses, most usually the single lens reflex type or any movie camera of 16 mm or higher gauge...
except the 71-k model, which is slightly different.
Eyemos feature a built-in clockwork
Clockwork
A clockwork is the inner workings of either a mechanical clock or a device that operates in a similar fashion. Specifically, the term refers to a mechanical device utilizing a complex series of gears....
(spring wind) motor which, when wound by a ratchet key
Ratchet (device)
A ratchet is a device that allows continuous linear or rotary motion in only one direction while preventing motion in the opposite direction. Because most socket wrenches today use ratcheting handles, the term "ratchet" alone is often used to refer to a ratcheting wrench, and the terms "ratchet"...
, runs about 20 seconds of film per winding (at the 24 frames per second
Frame rate
Frame rate is the frequency at which an imaging device produces unique consecutive images called frames. The term applies equally well to computer graphics, video cameras, film cameras, and motion capture systems...
speed), and work at speeds of 4 through 64 frames per second, depending on the model. The camera can be hand-cranked
Crank (mechanism)
A crank is an arm attached at right angles to a rotating shaft by which reciprocating motion is imparted to or received from the shaft. It is used to change circular into reciprocating motion, or reciprocating into circular motion. The arm may be a bent portion of the shaft, or a separate arm...
with a manual crank accessory. Several optional electric motor
Electric motor
An electric motor converts electrical energy into mechanical energy.Most electric motors operate through the interaction of magnetic fields and current-carrying conductors to generate force...
s are available; some use DC
Direct current
Direct current is the unidirectional flow of electric charge. Direct current is produced by such sources as batteries, thermocouples, solar cells, and commutator-type electric machines of the dynamo type. Direct current may flow in a conductor such as a wire, but can also flow through...
battery
Battery (electricity)
An electrical battery is one or more electrochemical cells that convert stored chemical energy into electrical energy. Since the invention of the first battery in 1800 by Alessandro Volta and especially since the technically improved Daniell cell in 1836, batteries have become a common power...
power while others use household AC
Alternating current
In alternating current the movement of electric charge periodically reverses direction. In direct current , the flow of electric charge is only in one direction....
current. There is currently a synchronized motor available for sync sound
Sync sound
Sync sound refers to sound recorded at the time of the filming of movies, and has been widely used in movies since the birth of sound movies.-History:...
filming, but no commercially available camera blimp to reduce the camera's noise.
The Eyemo takes an internal load of 100 feet net (30,5 m) of film
Film stock
Film stock is photographic film on which filmmaking of motion pictures are shot and reproduced. The equivalent in television production is video tape.-1889–1899:...
, which lasts just over a minute when filming at the standard 24 frames-per-second speed. Some models also accept a 400 ft or 1000 ft magazine
Camera magazine
A camera magazine is a light-tight chamber or pair of chambers designed to hold and move motion picture film stock before and after it has been exposed in the camera...
that is attached to the back, and can hold 4⅓ and 11 minutes of film respectively. When used with a 400 ft magazine, the Eyemo is cumbersome (but not impossible) to operate without the use of a tripod
Tripod (photography)
In photography, a tripod is used to stabilize and elevate a camera, or to support flashes or other photographic equipment. All photographic tripods have three legs and a mounting head to couple with a camera...
, while the use of a 1000-ft magazine requires tripod support.
Some camera shops have modified Eyemos to reflex viewing, attached video tap
Video tap
A video tap is an accessory for a motion picture camera used in filmmaking to provide a video signal from the camera lens. Video taps are used to allow the film crew to see what is in the camera's frame without having to look through the viewfinder, as well as allowing video to be recorded and can...
s and motors to them, and modified the proprietary lens mount to allow the camera to use different optics (such as lenses made for still Nikon
Nikon
, also known as just Nikon, is a multinational corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, specializing in optics and imaging. Its products include cameras, binoculars, microscopes, measurement instruments, and the steppers used in the photolithography steps of semiconductor fabrication, of which...
cameras).
Bell & Howell also built the successful 16 mm "Filmo
Filmo
Filmo is a series of 16-mm movie equipment made by the Bell & Howell Company. The line included cameras, projectors and accessories.-History:...
" which became first available at the end of 1923. In the 1930's this film was marketed as a 'semi professional' camera wile the Filmo 127 was introduced as an amateur camera using Super 8
Super 8
-Media and entertainment:* Super 8 mm film, a motion picture film format* Super 8 , a 2011 science fiction film* Super 8 , by Züri West* Super 8 * super8 * Super8, a DJ of the duo Super8 & Tab...
film.