Category Archives: history

Oh Lordy, Lordy!

Posted on April 19, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. After World War Two (WW2), Japan worked hard to restore its industries. One such company was called Okaya Kogaku Kikai K.K. This optical house sold cameras to North America. To be accepted, the company had to rename their camera line … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on Oh Lordy, Lordy!

flogging colour print film in the 1970s

Posted on April 16, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. At first I thought these were two separate shots showing the superiority of Kodak colour film, since cameras or gift sets didn’t appear in the advertisement. Suddenly, I realized that the vertical white bar was a seam. This photo … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on flogging colour print film in the 1970s

down periscope

Posted on April 15, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. The Corfield Periflex line fulfilled the post-war demand in Britain for  a quality 35mm camera. The cameras copied the old Leica screw mount bodies without a rangefinder or (initially) a viewfinder. Borrowing from the SLR world, a periscope and … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on down periscope

a CHPF off the old block

Posted on April 11, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. Back on March 22, 2021, I did a post on the CHPF photo contest. Tusday afternoon I heard directly from Nicole Plaskett on a new on line image facility. Nicole writes, “The Canadian Heritage Photography Foundation (CHPF) is excited … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on a CHPF off the old block

future history

Posted on April 9, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. The title of this post may sound like an oxymoron but it isn’t. The American agency, NASA, successfully landed an explorer and a tiny helicopter (drone) on Mars a few weeks ago. The helicopter, Ingenuity by name, has a camera … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on future history

a photo’s back pages

Posted on April 7, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. In the dirty thirties, the FSA in the States was busy recording the impact of the severe dry spell and depression on farmers. Dorthea Lange was one of their photographers. She captured this iconic image of a migrant mother … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on a photo’s back pages

a camera fit for a Queen

Posted on April 6, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. The German optical firm of Ernst Leitz began as a maker of optical objects including microscopes. In the mid 1920s to keep its factory open and staff working, Leitz began the sale and manufacture of the 35mm Leica camera … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on a camera fit for a Queen

catching the wave

Posted on April 5, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. My now elderly NEX-6 boasts a maximum ISO of 25,600 (so noisy only black and white images are okay). Back in 1967, a maximum ASA (ISO) unpushed, was around ASA 400 (Tri-X). This speed was far too slow to … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on catching the wave

controlling the market

Posted on April 3, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. For decades Kodak controlled the film market by creating new film sizes and the cameras to use them. Heavy advertising prompted the ill informed public to buy the latest Kodak camera and use Kodak film.  An example is this … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on controlling the market

can you help us with this question?

Posted on March 30, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. As many of you may know, amongst other ideals, we are devoted to helping others with photographic history questions – especially Canadian. The other day we had a question from the curator of the Lennox-Addington Museum and Archives in … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on can you help us with this question?