Author Archives: Robert

photographic lenses – Conrad Beck

Posted on January 9, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. Like most optical houses in the 1800s, The British house of R and J Beck at Cornhill (London, England) expanded their optical product repertoire to photographic lenses (and cameras). In this seventh edition of Conrad Beck’s small book, like … Continue reading →

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movies, anyone?

Posted on January 8, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. Continuing on with the LIFE and movies theme, Bell and Howell of Chicago was a respected professional movie equipment maker. They added a consumer line pre-war (Filmo). Post-war they dumbed down the consumer cameras and ads – the cameras … Continue reading →

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soupe du jour

Posted on January 7, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. Post war everyone had catching up to do. Wages, telephones, cars, home appliances, televisions and cameras.  In the 1950s the next big thing was home movies. Kodak and its competitors sold 8mm film in both black and white and … Continue reading →

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Myseum

Posted on January 6, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. Most of us who live here know the ROM – Royal Ontario Museum on the corner of Avenue Road and Bloor, in easy reach of U of T students (and the rest of us by subway). But I wonder … Continue reading →

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another Boris Spremo story

Posted on January 5, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. The late Boris Spremo, PHSC member, speaker, Toronto Star photographer,  and an illustrious photographer as well has another story about his work here on a local Museum website. This iconic silhouette of PM Diefenbaker will strike a chord with … Continue reading →

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through the glass darkly

Posted on January 4, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. As a kid I often saw ads for a Kalart after market rangefinder. This little gadget was bolted on the side of a Speed Graphic.  I never thought of Kalart as a camera maker. At our Show and Tell … Continue reading →

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phoenix rising

Posted on January 3, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. Just over two weeks after touting its IIIf model, in the May 31, 1954 LIFE (p60). Leitz announced its most radical and eventually best selling Leica M3. The camera design began before the war and the prototype was field tested … Continue reading →

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the power of persuasion

Posted on January 2, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. In its May 17, 1954 LIFE (p64) ad, Leica rested on its laurels as the driving force in kick starting the  minicam era.  The ad featured its newest camera, the IIIf with the f/2 collapsible Summitar lens that replaced the … Continue reading →

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Happy New Year 2019!

Posted on January 1, 2019 by Robert
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some year!

Posted on December 31, 2018 by Robert

  Toronto. As I sup upon the dredges of 2018, I think back on the progress of photography. The cell phone has become the universal camera. Nearing saturation, few of us leave home without our phone (and camera). While the … Continue reading →

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