Tag Archives: Popular Photography

stereo, stereo, everywhere

Posted on April 19, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. In the mid 1950s stereo was popular again. Graphic, to find a niche, set its marketeers loose. The high end camera spot was taken by the pricy Realist so the marketing folk at Graphic aimed at the low end … Continue reading →

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1956 and stereo is rising again

Posted on February 16, 2018 by Robert

Toronto. In the 1950s, stereo made one of its periodic rises to the conscious mind of the common man. Books. cameras, attachments and movies touted the impressive 3D imagery. I remember seeing a 3D movie one Sunday starring Vincent Price … Continue reading →

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Leica M3 Fall 1956 Advertisement

Posted on February 15, 2018 by Robert

Toronto. In 1954, Leitz finally began selling the famous M3 camera. The design was radically different than the screw mount cameras, adding many features that other makers had adopted. The Bayonet Mount still exists today (over 60 years later) in … Continue reading →

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a 50mm Summicron lens

Posted on January 29, 2018 by Robert

Toronto. A few days ago George Dunbar sent me more ads by email. Amongst them was a Leitz ad for its famous 50mm Summicron in a collapsible mount. I wrote back to George saying, “The seven element 5cm summicron ad … Continue reading →

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the days of the prime lens

Posted on January 24, 2018 by Robert

Toronto. We are spoiled these days by the wonderfully sharp zoom lenses which allow us to be lazy and just adjust the lens focal length to crop the scene rather than change a prime lens and actually move to get … Continue reading →

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see small, see large

Posted on January 18, 2018 by Robert

Toronto. George Dunbar sent me this September 1951 advertisement from Popular Photography. Leitz made use of the atomic bomb and research to join their microscope and camera products. Both were innovative instruments for their time. The Ortholux microscope was designed … Continue reading →

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the famous Hasselblad 2-1/4 square SLR

Posted on January 12, 2018 by Robert

Toronto. My thanks to George Dunbar for finding this charming May 1951 ad for the original Hasselblad camera in Popular Photography magazine. Surprisingly the company goes way back to 1841. A photography division was first established in 1887. Popular recognition … Continue reading →

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internal flash sync comes to the Leica

Posted on January 6, 2018 by Robert

Toronto. George Dunbar finds a wealth of these old advertisements on line. This December 1950 ad in Popular Photography announces the advent of internal flash synchronization in the famous Leica camera. Long over due, this feature was common in many … Continue reading →

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Rectaflex – an Italian 35mm SLR

Posted on January 2, 2018 by Robert

Toronto. My thanks once again to my friend and fellow PHSC member George Dunbar for this  vintage July 1950 ad from Popular Photography magazine. The Rectaflex camera at the time was manufactured in Italy and is relatively rare as it … Continue reading →

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Innovations from Graflex in 1949.

Posted on December 26, 2017 by Robert

Toronto. Thanks once again to George Dunbar for this crisp ad about the Graphic/Graflex cameras. It appeared in the December 1949 issue of Popular Photography. The big deal on the Graflex was twofold: An extra bright viewfinder courtesy of an … Continue reading →

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