Monthly Archives: November 2025

a game changer

Posted on November 20, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. When 35mm movie film ‘ends’ were common, various cameras using the ends were sold, but failed to gain traction – until a century ago when a little German camera from a optical house specializing in microscopes introduced the Leica … Continue reading →

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Ja, das ist gut!

Posted on November 19, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. After WW1, Germany faced high inflation and had a serious need for foreign funds.  Mergers and consolidation within German industries was in the air! For example, its camera industry was a conglomeration of relatively small firms who spent their … Continue reading →

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a lasting memory …

Posted on November 18, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. When the military returned from the Korean war, some US reported brought along a new and challenging professional camera made in Japan- a Nikon SLR. In time Nikons became one of the two makes preferred by professionals. The other … Continue reading →

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you could shoot a cannon …

Posted on November 17, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. … at sunset down the street … ia an old expression to describe a sleepy town. Slightly mis-spelt, Canon is one of the two significant camera makes currently preferred by professionals. Like many makers, Canon digital cameras were preceded … Continue reading →

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speaking of curiosity …

Posted on November 16, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. … did you ever wonder about the old film/plate lenses in your collection? In 1971, I spotted Kingslake’s 1951 opus. “Lenses in Photography” used and bought it. In 1989 Kingslake released, “A History of the Photographic Lens”. Published by … Continue reading →

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curiouser and curiouser …

Posted on November 15, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. The good reverend Dodgson (a.k.a. Lewis Carroll) was both a photographer and author (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland , anyone?). He was a  contemporary of  Julia Margaret Cameron, who he took in a portrait. Unfortunately, few of his photographs survive. … Continue reading →

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medal worthy?

Posted on November 14, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. When the USA joined WW2 in 1941, it lost access to German cameras. Local manufacturing tried to plug the gap. Kodak provided a bulky “120” size camera in 1941 that lasted to 1948. The monster (about three pounds!) had … Continue reading →

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Dektol the halls …

Posted on November 13, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Just past mid last century, I used Kodak’s Dektol developer to process prints. Those who are frugal and wish to “roll their own” can use the D-72 formula in the old “Photo-Lab-Index” (not the compact one) or just browse … Continue reading →

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hello darkness, my old friend (II)

Posted on November 12, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Throughout most of the plate/film era a darkroom was de regueur to see the negative exposure as a positive plate or print. For many years a red/yellowish safe light – black to non-panchromatic emulsions but visible to the human … Continue reading →

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lest we forget …

Posted on November 11, 2025 by Robert

In Flanders Fields BY JOHN MCCRAE In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row,     That mark our place; and in the sky     The larks, still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are … Continue reading →

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