old ground glass magnifiers – left by T.T.&H. and right by C.P. Goerz
Toronto. Before auto focus came along, photographers needed to both frame and focus the subject as well as decide on the best exposure (shutter speed/lens aperture/lighting). With the digital technology of today, many folks don’t even think about focussing.
For most of the 1800s, photography was based on sensitized metal or glass plates, allowing framing and focussing on a ground glass placed in the focal plane. Once framed/focussed, the ground glass was replaced by a solid plate holding the sensitive media in the focal plane.
In the days of ground glass cameras, many photographers resorted to dark cloths over themselves and their camera, the better to see the upside-down image on the ground glass.
To aid the poorly sighted, or to just make sure the right subject plane was in sharp focus, lens makers offered small brass magnifiers such as those shown here. These little gadgets could be easily moved around on the ground glass. Their slight magnification (about 5X at most) would allow a more precise adjustment of the lens/focal plane distance. Usually the photographer’s eye-sight could be corrected by turning the eye-piece so it was closer or farther to/from the ground glass.
The picture at left of the TT&H and Goerz magnifiers was taken with an iPhone 16 under a LED light with no regard for focussing – just framing.
You may spot these magnifiers – or other interesting items at our 2026 events. The Spring Fair is being held at the Trident Hall on Sunday, May 24th, a week after Victoria day here in Ontario. A poster and directions will be pinned to this site as we near the fair date.
