CameraWorth.com

Bell & Howell Filmo 70

The Bell & Howell Filmo 70 is a hand-cranked spring-wound 16mm cine camera, introduced in the United States in the 1920s as one of the earliest portable 16mm motion-picture cameras aimed at amateur and professional cinematographers. It uses interchangeable lenses on a rotating turret and became a long-running platform that Bell & Howell developed through multiple sub-variants over subsequent decades.

At recent UK auction, hammer prices for the Filmo 70 have been modest, with recorded sales ranging from around £20 to £80 and a median near £50. With only a small number of saleroom results to reference, what a Filmo 70 is worth today depends heavily on which sub-variant appears, whether the clockwork motor still runs to speed, and whether the lens turret and original lenses are present.

Sales History

Prices shown are UK auction hammer results — the wholesale level achieved in the saleroom. Neither buyer’s nor seller’s commission is included. Dealer and retail asking prices are typically higher.

Date Price Source
Nov 2025 £80 Special Auction Services
Aug 2023 £20 Special Auction Services
May 2002 £293 Christie's