Bell + Howell Company

Nihon Beru-haueru Kabushiki Kaisha (bell and Howell Japan, Ltd.)

Michiharu Suwa

Yoshiaki Mizuki

A movie camera is shown with a zoom lens capable of automatic focus by movement of the lens system closest to the camera body instead of the front objective. As a result the system is more efficient because the heavy large front objective is fixed during automatic focusing and the focusing system need only move a smaller lens or group of lenses which are closer to the camera body. The variator, the compensator, the fourth lens group or any combination of them can be adjusted for automatic focusing.

Focusing system

Disclosed is a reflex rangefinder system for a camera having a pair of li reflecting members mounted to reflect light rays from the scene in the viewfinder system. The members are dichroically coated with different complementary colors such that the dual image formed when the objective lens is out of focus have different colors to enhance the distinction for easy focusing.

Growing community of inventors

Fuchu, Japan

Michiharu Suwa