Film Cameras

Instamatic Lens-Shutter Camera

Bell & Howell Autoload 342

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  • Outline
  • Specifications
Marketed February 1969
Original Price For export only (no Japanese price)

Like the Autoload 341, the Autoload 342 was made for Bell & Howell. The delta rangefinder was operated by a focusing lever for fully automatic focusing in seven steps from near distances to infinity. (The system was called Focusmatic.) Film advance was automatic with a battery-powered motor.

The Copal shutter used everset-type program EE. The exposure range was EV 8 (1/30 sec. at f/2.8) to EV 17 (1/800 sec. at f/13). The viewfinder displayed the exposure meter needle, shutter speed scale, underexposure and flash-ready indicator, and overexposure indicator.

Type Instamatic Lens-Shutter camera for Kodak film cartridges
Picture Size 28.5 x 28.5 mm
Lens 40mm f/2.8 (4 elements in 3 groups)
Shutter Copal mechanically-controlled Everset program EE shutter. EV 8 (f/2.8 at 1/30 sec., ISO 160) to EV 17 (f/13 at 1/800 sec.). Shutter speed scale: 30 (1/30 sec.), 60 (1/60 sec.), 125 (1/150 sec.), 250 (1/250 sec.), 500 (1/500 sec.), and 1/800 sec. (no marking).
Viewfinder Reversed Galilean viewfinder with projected frames. 0.45x magnification. Exposure meter needle, shutter speed scale, underexposure warning and flash-ready indicator, and overexposure warning within the image area.
Focusing Canon-developed full-auto Focusmatic with focusing lever. Triangulation system with pendulum and pendulum cam for automatic focusing. The pendulum cam divides the focusing distance into 7 steps from the minimum distance to infinity. For EV 11 (f/5.6 at 1/125 sec., ISO 100) and brighter conditions, pan focusing is set for all subject distances (4 ft – 30 ft or infinity).
EE Selenium photocell (circle eye) for full-auto program EE. Metering range of EV 8 – 17 (at ISO 100). Film speeds of ISO 64 and 160 set automatically.
Flash Flashmatic system with flashcubes. Flash exposure is controlled automatically to suit the subject distance and flash aperture. Built-in motor for automatic film advance and flashcube rotation.
Film Loading &
Advance		 Loading with film cartridge. Advances automatically (with the built-in motor) to frame 1 by pressing the shutter release button.
Frame Counter Frame number on film back viewable through camera back window.
Film Rewind None
Power Source Two 1.5 V size-AAA batteries for both the camera and flash
Dimensions &
Weight		 120 x 70 x 63 mm, 400 g (without batteries)