Bell & Howell Dial 35 Goes to College

Got through scanning some of the film I ran through the Dial 35 that my dad gave me sometime between my sophomore and junior year in college It had a sharp little 28mm f2.8 lens and shutter speeds from 1/30 to 1/250 second. Shutter priority or manual. Spring wound film advance. Fun little camera to take along to class. A few images from those days.

where it all began, the family camera shop

 

The Dial 35 was a trade in that quickly a fun camera to borrow. My dad finally gave it to me.

Younger sister and brother

 

The 69 Mustang I started with in the fall of '75 was proving too expensive to keep repaired so I ended up with this

notice the 8 track player under the dash

 

What the Mustang cost in repairs was absorbed by the cost of keeping the 350 V8 supplied with gasoline. I didn't complain too much since my parents had a Caprice one year newer with the 402 big block which had the 4 barrel and dual exhaust. But it was more fun to drive.

 

looking west from beside the Poultry Science building where I took Genetics one summer term

 

Focusing was by scale and holding it steady took some practice, but the small negative probably did more harm to sharpness than the other factors.

My audio system, which still used 8 tracks.

 

Had a pair of two way speakers and a dinky 3.5 watt per channel amplifier. At least it did have a magnetic phono input so I could use a decent turntable (complete with elliptical stylus)

 

okay, who really crosses at the proper place?

 

I may have some more to add in a day or two. It takes a little longer to scan half frame.

Thanks for posting these. I have this camera and will be revisiting it. I ran some color film through there last time but really want to try black and white film. The battery contact is shot on my copy so I have to use it in manual mode. I had to do some work on in to get the winding mechanism to work properly.

Indeed a fun little camera, and a true unique design that is worth using and collecting.

Always had a soft spot for the 4:3 aspect ratio. My camera of choice has been Olympus, from a early all manual Pen VF camera (still have it) to the Pen F and a few half frame Zuiko's, and a Pen D..

With todays T-grain film grain is less of an issue.

During my college years and for quite a few more, most labs were set up to process and print half frame negatives. I'll have to look and see if I can find some color that I shot.

Mike - These are great, nostalgic shots. I love the fuel gauge on the Impala showing less than a quarter tank. Been there. Done that. That 8 track looks pretty standard for the time. In 1973 I put a cassette player in my Toyota. Rare for the time. A burglar broke into my car and stole it. I always wonder what they thought when they realized it was a cassette player and not an 8 track. They probably tossed it into the trash.

Thanks Marc. That little 8 track player came from Radio Shack. I put a pair of 6x9 coax speakers in the rear shelf. It was easier to leave it in the car when I traded it in a couple of years later. Car rode well, but the trunk leaked.