Author Archives: Robert

reflections

Posted on January 19, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. No, not the introspective kind you dream about on a cold winter’s day. I mean the kind that reduce image contrast and limit the number of lens elements used. At left I show two lenses for a film camera. … Continue reading →

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will that be 8 or 16?

Posted on January 18, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Bell & Howell was a respected name in Hollywood movie equipment. For home movies, they used the “Filmo” brand. In the March 1940 issue of Popular Mechanics, B&H advertised both the 8mm and the 16mm versions of their Filmo … Continue reading →

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jumping in with both feet

Posted on January 17, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. America was a bit late to the WW2, but made up for it in spades after Pearl Harbor was attacked by an ally of Germany. All industries quickly turned to the war effort. Hollywood cranked out propaganda movies galore … Continue reading →

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January 19, 2022 Presentation via ZOOM

Posted on January 16, 2022 by Robert

Join us at 8pm on the 19th of January via ZOOM to see and hear Brandon Leung on “Asian Canadian Activism in the 1970s” The poster below designed for our January PHSC News, or the EventBrite link gives more details. … Continue reading →

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PHSC News newsletter for January 2022

Posted on January 15, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. The Voigtlander Bergheil shown here is from the right top of page 1 in this month’s PHSC News newsletter. A Bergheil model was a favourite camera of Brassai when he haunted French street life. Well, most of us made … Continue reading →

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a rose by any other name

Posted on January 14, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. One of the earliest ambitions of film makers was to expand their film’s sensitivity spectrum down to the reds. By the mid 1930s when Agfa-Ansco made this film, yellows, greens through near violet blues could be captured. Such a … Continue reading →

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modern times

Posted on January 13, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. These days of digital cameras and smartphones make photography a piece of cake. You see it; you shoot it; you send it. Easy Peasey.  But it wasn’t always the case. Many of those who haunt our fairs and shows … Continue reading →

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fleet of foot, with fully adjustable slow speeds too

Posted on January 12, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. In 1935, advertisements pointed out how a particular camera or maker was different. Was superior to the rest. Was a far better buy than the competition. This was especially noticeable in highly competitive America. For example, Leitz NY would … Continue reading →

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to the victor …

Posted on January 11, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. … go the spoils (well, most times). Do you remember the Victor 16mm movie gear? The majority of their products suffered from very small sales. A government contract during WW2 was far more promising as was their knockoff of … Continue reading →

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a lens for all reasons

Posted on January 10, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. When Leitz first marketed the Leica in the mid 1920s, it was an innovative success. By 1933 other makers had competing cameras out. The mighty Carl Zeiss organization not only marketed cameras, but their Tessar lens was a excellent … Continue reading →

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