Author Archives: Robert

21st century photographer

Posted on August 8, 2017 by Robert

Toronto. The stand alone camera as we know it will soon disappear in the face of the ubiquitous smartphone (shown is an iPod Touch). Modern photographers shoot digital and view digital. The files may be downloaded to a computer and … Continue reading →

Posted in people | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on 21st century photographer

A drum you can’t beat

Posted on August 7, 2017 by Robert

Toronto. Yesterday I mentioned some darkroom stuff being auctioned this November. One of the items is a dark plastic tube with odd end caps. In the 1970s, colour chemistry was both expensive and short lived. The amateur photographer of the … Continue reading →

Posted in miscellaneous, processes | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on A drum you can’t beat

…beginning to see the light

Posted on August 6, 2017 by Robert

Toronto. It seems like just yesterday that I headed to my darkroom to develop my Leica negatives and make some prints using my hands to dodge and burn to improve the contrast. I would spend one night developing negatives and … Continue reading →

Posted in auction | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on …beginning to see the light

Black is Beautiful

Posted on August 5, 2017 by Robert

Toronto. The early Leicas were mostly black – black enamel – and if well used had “brassing” or edges where the enamel wore through to the brass. Shown is a beautiful  example of a clean 1937 Leica II (no slow … Continue reading →

Posted in camera, lens | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Black is Beautiful

Polaroid – before the cameras

Posted on August 4, 2017 by Robert

Toronto. In 1948 Edwin Land began marketing the amazing “picture in a minute” camera. In the early days demand far exceeded supply making the new cameras very scarce. But what happened before the cameras? Why are they called Polaroid cameras, … Continue reading →

Posted in processes | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Polaroid – before the cameras

More Fish than Fowl – Leica IIIg

Posted on August 3, 2017 by Robert

Toronto. 1956 was an exciting year for Leitz Germany and Leitz Canada, the small factory established in Midland as Ernst Leitz Canada. The company made the IIIf, IIIg, and M3 in Germany and assembled them there and in Canada. For … Continue reading →

Posted in camera | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on More Fish than Fowl – Leica IIIg

Seven come Eleven…

Posted on August 2, 2017 by Robert

Toronto. A late rangefinder model Canon was introduced   as the Canon 7 in 1961. This was replace by the Canon 7s shown here in 1965 and made until the summer of 1967. The 7s had two improvements over the … Continue reading →

Posted in camera | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Seven come Eleven…

Some Canons shoot pictures…

Posted on August 1, 2017 by Robert

Toronto. The Canon P shown here with a Canon f/1.2 lens will appear in our fall auction (Nov 19, 2017). If you don’t have one in your collection, or would like the super fast f/1.2 lens now is your chance! … Continue reading →

Posted in camera, lens | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Some Canons shoot pictures…

Full Circle

Posted on July 31, 2017 by Robert

Toronto. In 1957, I started the big adventure of my life. I joined Bell’s Tropospheric Scatter project which would bring telephone communications to remote areas of Northern Quebec and Labrador. Training was based in Montreal in the old Salada Tea … Continue reading →

Posted in camera | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on Full Circle

When a Professional was a Professional!

Posted on July 30, 2017 by Robert

Toronto. Every Canadian knows of the sudden death football game for the Grey Cup. In 1956 – about 60 years ago – a gaggle of professionals gussied up in mainly medium format cameras with attached flash, were in the Varsity … Continue reading →

Posted in people, photos | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on When a Professional was a Professional!