Author Archives: Robert

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 →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on a lasting memory …

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 →

Posted in history | Tagged , , | Comments Off on you could shoot a cannon …

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 →

Posted in history | Tagged , , | Comments Off on speaking of curiosity …

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 →

Posted in history | Tagged , , | Comments Off on curiouser and curiouser …

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 →

Posted in history | Tagged , , | Comments Off on medal worthy?

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 →

Posted in history | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Dektol the halls …

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 →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on hello darkness, my old friend (II)

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 →

Posted in activities-other | Tagged | Comments Off on lest we forget …

October 2025 PHSC News 25-10

Posted on November 10, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. A 20 page issue in the usual fine upscale style we have come to enjoy from editor Gunn (Patrick had to cut back – he had enough material for twice the number of pages). The cover gives away the … Continue reading →

Posted in newsletter | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on October 2025 PHSC News 25-10

hotdog! It’s a hoodie!

Posted on November 9, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. With apologies to Sam whose jingle sparked this title. No lens should be sans hood. The purpose of the lens hood is to allow all image forming rays to hit the media and all other rays to be blocked, … Continue reading →

Posted in auction | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on hotdog! It’s a hoodie!