Category Archives: history

one camera’s wide angle …

Posted on May 29, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. … is another camera’s telephoto. Did you ever wonder why the tiny smart phone camera has an equivalent 35mm camera size? For example my iPod Touch camera has a 3.3mm, f/2.8 lens but images it takes are considered to … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on one camera’s wide angle …

what’s in a name

Posted on May 28, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. In the early days of photographic lens design there was no established standard for the data recorded on the lens. Early lenses usually had the patent number and/or date shown, but what else was needed? The coverage of the … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on what’s in a name

some thoughts on contrast

Posted on May 27, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. The other day as I watched a 1938 movie with Boyer and Lamarr, I got to thinking about contrast. The movie I watched was a dark, contrasty,  flick called ‘Algiers’. Some scenes had inky black shadows, others nearly washed-out … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on some thoughts on contrast

having a blast with photography

Posted on May 26, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. For years our thirst for social media images has decimated the numbers and profits of serious professional photographers. The value of these ‘amateur social media’ recordings changed shortly after the huge blast on Beirut’s waterfront. On August 4th, 2020, … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on having a blast with photography

NJ Photographer GUSTAVUS PACH (1845-1904)

Posted on May 25, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. Our president Lewko (Clint) Hryhorijiw passed along this note from the Monmouth County Historical Association in New Jersey. The MCHA do a number of online presentations. Unfortunately I missed this one on the 20th of May when Gary Saretzky, … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on NJ Photographer GUSTAVUS PACH (1845-1904)

camera boy

Posted on May 23, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. My good friend and fellow PHSC alumni, George Dunbar spotted this interesting web site and the sample German stereo card added by John Robertson of the UK back on January 18th of this year (2021). Browse the interesting links … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on camera boy

sink, sank, sunk

Posted on May 21, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. years ago a friend of mine dropped off a camera. Inside was a roll of mostly exposed film. The kicker? The camera was recovered from the glove box of a car that sunk through the ice on a local … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on sink, sank, sunk

look back in anger

Posted on May 18, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. Many of us come from British roots. We often think about the olden days when thinking about ‘over home’. Sadly, nothing rarely stands still. Like here and elsewhere, many old places give way to the new. Historians are constantly … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on look back in anger

a Mitchin great camera

Posted on May 17, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. Did you ever see a movie in the days when movie scenes were captured on 35 or 16 mm film? Well the chances are a Mitchell camera was used! Mitchell Cameras took over from Bell & Howell a few … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on a Mitchin great camera

let’s try small …

Posted on May 14, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. … and aluminum, and made in America, and 35mm film. Sadly nothing worked, and the ‘Classic 35’ came out in 1948 and disappeared. Just another flop, but worth far more today for collectors – if they can find one!. … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on let’s try small …