Category Archives: camera

nailing down the minicam revolution

Posted on April 2, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Some years ago, I had one of the early Retina camera models in my collection. I still have a slightly older Nagel Recomar. When the minicam revolution took off, Kodak bought the Nagel factory (end of 1931) in Stuttgart … Continue reading →

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a glass eye for sharpness …

Posted on December 13, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. A recent notice from Alexa Alexiades of Lomography in New York touts the new “Lomo’Instant Wide Glass Camera”. The marketing blurb says, “We’re thrilled to introduce the Lomo’Instant Wide GLASS – the world’s sharpest instant camera. Equipped with a … Continue reading →

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what the heck is this camera

Posted on August 29, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. The other day Les Jones dropped me a note about a strange movie camera. Was it used to take movies? Or to take a shot one frame at a time with enough room for hundreds of shots on a … Continue reading →

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seeing stars

Posted on May 3, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. My good friend and fellow PHSC member suggested this article, “Electronically Assisted Astronomy on the Cheap”. on the IEEE Spectrum web site. Photography of the heavens has been a valid branch of the art for many years. With the … Continue reading →

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c’est mon Kodak ..

Posted on April 28, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. .. as the Quebec farmer said flashing his camera. In Quebec, Kodak was so pervasive that ANY camera was called a ‘Kodak’. But not all cameras were made by Kodak. For instance, the camera at left was made by … Continue reading →

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camera for free …

Posted on April 27, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. … that’s how you do it. In the days of film, most families used a cheap box camera or folder to record family events and relatives. When the digital era took over, people moved to digital over two or … Continue reading →

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off with their heads …

Posted on February 28, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. … said the queen in the famous “Alice” stories. Those of the smartphone generation have little use for tripods or tripod heads as the media (sensor) is so sensitive that the majority of shots are taken hand held. Only … Continue reading →

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close call

Posted on February 1, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. One of my favourite past times is closeup photography. With the digital era this is like Dickens and his “Tale of Two Cities” – “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times …”. Digital technology … Continue reading →

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the one you have with you

Posted on November 26, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Smartphone cameras keep improving. Florida photographer Brian Matiash writes a blog newly christened, “Lightroom Everywhere“. In his very first article, “Smartphone Photography Apologetics“, he confesses that he has used his iPhone camera as his ‘mobile’ camera since 2008. I … Continue reading →

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twin views

Posted on November 14, 2023 by Robert

Toronto.  My earliest activity on the camera collecting front was an old view camera like this – no shutter, no lens – in a small suitcase. The junk shop in Toronto was delighted to see it out the door. The … Continue reading →

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