help me get this thing rollin

[JimJones]

Hey, I bought a few super 8 cameras the other day at local garage sales, one is Belle & Howell 440 autoload, and i put batteries in it and the battery tester light worked and everything but when i press the motor control, nothing happens. It came with the instructions and everything but no trouble shooting. Does anyone know what could be wrong with it, and or how much it would be to get it repaired.

p.s. i paid a grand total of $4 for the belle and howell as well as a kodak

[Alex]

The camera could be broken. [img]graemlins/cry.gif[/img]

One thing you can try is to isolate various functions on the camera and see which functions work, such as the automatic exposure function, the manual exposure setting, the motorized zoom control.

If there is more than one filming speed, switch between settings.

One other thing to try is to properly load a film cartridge into the camera and see if that makes a difference...(probably not, but it's worth a try)

Guess what, you camera still has value! It makes an excellent low cost "directors scope" for establishing framing for your video production shoots.

[Levi]

Well, I just found a Bauer C1m at a flea market a few hours ago for 8 bucks. It didn't run until I slammed it on the ground a few times, now it runs like new. So it's either that or buy another one on www.ebay.com. Or maybe it's in single frame mode. Is it not in "run" mode. ?? I don't think Bell & Howell will fix it. What about the Kodak? Does it work?

Good Luck!
Corey

[Alex]

[img]eek.gif[/img] [img]confused.gif[/img] [img]frown.gif[/img] [img]graemlins/cry.gif[/img]

[Alex]

Corey, we do not slam cameras on the ground.

One other note J.J., even if the camera is "on", sometimes various functions won't activate unless the trigger handle is pressed in at least half-way.

Sometimes the batteries have a second compartment for an additional battery.

[Levi]

It wasn't on anything hard, just the carpet.

This isn't my first time to do that. I got a free Minolta XL-400 from a pawn shop. The guy just gave it to me. When I got home and put batteries in it nothing happened. I fiddled with it a couple days, the light meter worked, but that wasn't good enough. I decided it was all or nothing so I went outside and gave it a few good slams (on the grass). Still nothing, I haven't done anything to it since. I just use it as a viewer. [img]smile.gif[/img]