Description: This is a Bell & Howell Autoload 342, a compact camera made by Canon of Japan that used Kodak’s type 126 Instamatic film cassettes. The Autoload 342 had an innovative Focus-matic system that used a delta rangefinder that worked using a moving ball bearing that would trap the focus distance of the lens depending on the angle of the camera to the ground. This type of mechanical auto-focus is unique to this camera and it’s predecessor, the Autoload 341. In addition to the Focus-matic system, it had a battery powered motorized film advance and fully programmed automatic exposure, making for a very capable camera. The Bell & Howell Autoload 342 is an unassuming Instamatic film camera built by Canon and sold in the United States featuring a nicely designed body, a quality 4-element Canon lens, auto exposure, and a motorized film transport. But it has one feature others don’t, a unique Delta Rangefinder focusing system which they called “Focus-Matic” which uses a rolling ball bearing that changes position depending on the angle the camera is to the ground. As strange as this sounds, the system actually works quite well, and I was able to shoot many properly focused shots with little difficulty. This isn’t a common camera, and most people don’t want to deal with the challenges of shooting an Instamatic film camera these days, but if you’re interested, there weren’t many other cameras like this one. Film Type: Kodak Instamatic Type 126 Cassettes Lens: 40mm f/2.8 Bell & Howell coated 4-elements Focus: 4 feet to Infinity, Focus-matic Delta Rangefinder System Viewfinder: Reverse Galilean Viewfinder with Projected frames Shutter: Copal Electric Leaf Speeds: 1/30 – 1/800 seconds Exposure Meter: Full Program AE with Viewfinder Readout and Overexposure Indicator Battery: 2 x 1.5v AAA Flash Mount: Flashcube Socket Weight: 373 grams (without batteries) Manual: None
Price: 24.94 USD
Location: Burton, Michigan
End Time: 2025-01-20T14:53:34.000Z
Shipping Cost: N/A USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Brand: Bell and Howell
Type: 126
Format: 126
Focus Type: Fixed
Color: Black
Model: 342 FocusMatic
