Category Archives: history

a plus one… ?

Posted on October 24, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. My friend Les Jones, sent me an email the other day about some items for last Sunday’s fair. In part he referred to a camera called EXA from c1950. It was embossed ‘USSR Occupied’. I happen to have a … Continue reading →

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the right POV

Posted on October 22, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Dry plate technology introduced ‘detective’ cameras – hand held cameras disguised as satchels, purses, boxes, etc. usable without the give-away of a tripod. Once potential subjects recognized this new variation of camera, another means of  secrecy had to be … Continue reading →

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Film Formats 1930-60

Posted on October 21, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Those of us who know only digital photography, likely never used film. For our 25th Anniversary, editor Lansdale prodded exchange member editors to offer one article each for our anniversary edition of Photographic Canadiana. The boys from ‘Down Under’ … Continue reading →

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we all have regrets …

Posted on October 19, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. For our 25th Anniversary, editor Bob Lansdale worked his network of exchange journal editors to pony up an article for this volume of our journal – Photographic Canadiana. The WCPHA (Western Canada Photographic Historical Association) had a friendly debate … Continue reading →

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what the heck are pannotypes?

Posted on October 18, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. In the late 1800s, prints were made in a variety of ways on many different materials. Pannotypes used a process to convert Ambrotype photos from glass to patent leather. The above link offers some details. The article was published … Continue reading →

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better than pearl …

Posted on October 8, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. A young Peter Stackpole shot the construction of the Bay Bridge  (to Oakland) and the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco with his Leica A – the first professional quality and successfully marketed miniature camera. The last edition of … Continue reading →

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amazing Oskar

Posted on October 6, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. In a recent Digital Camera World article, it was announced that Leica Camera AG had its best  (in revenue) year ever – this on the 100th anniversary of the first sale of Leicas ever. Like many firms in Europe, … Continue reading →

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a phoenix moment …

Posted on October 5, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Past president, author, sports photographer, etc., etc., Less Jones, sent me an email the other day noting Kodak’s ‘Phoenix‘ moment. The article was recently published in the NYT International Weekly, but since I do not have a current account, … Continue reading →

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essence of beauty

Posted on October 2, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. James Esson founded his photographic studio  in the tiny village about an hour today west of Toronto. The village of Preston, Ontario, since absorbed in larger communities, had a population of some 1,400 souls in 1884. The history of … Continue reading →

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some thoughts on construction

Posted on September 28, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Have you noticed that many things take on the construction skills of the day? As a kid, radio chassis and cameras were often manufactured in metal. Parts were held together by screws and rivets. This applied to cars, kitchen … Continue reading →

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