Category Archives: history

everything old is new again

Posted on March 12, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. There is a saying that there is nothing new under the sun. As a kid, I made a radio with a tiny bit of ‘fools gold’ (iron pyrite) and a thin copper wire ‘cat’s whisker’. This rustic semi-conductor radio … Continue reading →

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all in a row

Posted on March 6, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. Those wanting to make the odd close-up but not wanting to pay for fancy accessories resorted to extension tubes – those tubes that fit between the camera body and lens to extend the lens for closer subjects. Most camera … Continue reading →

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its getting closer

Posted on March 5, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. As Leitz moved to the phenomenally successful M-series cameras, the accessories changed to complement the new line. A strange ‘bug-eyed’ little gadget called a SOOKY-M is just such a wonder. Like the screw mount NOOKY, this gadget gives the … Continue reading →

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Hey, Rita!

Posted on March 4, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. Pre WW2, standalone meters began to appear. The more expensive ones used a selenium cell. In 1951, camera-mounted meters came along, often with a means to attach a booster cell. Selenium meters (and older) were okay in sunlight but … Continue reading →

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a penny for your thoughts

Posted on March 1, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. When the widely popular little Leica cameras first came out in the mid 1920s they were very utilitarian in design. To meet demand for features and versatility, Leitz made accessories. In many cases an accessory simply over-came an earlier … Continue reading →

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well, how about flora then?

Posted on February 27, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. Experienced collectors of images can be quite choosey. Particular processes, older photos, famous people, etc., the list goes on. A sub-category of photos may include flora of various stripes such as blossoms, cacti, plants, trees, etc. While this colour … Continue reading →

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see any more fauna?

Posted on February 26, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. A sub-set of old photos collectors like to collect are fauna. Either wild or domestic. Sometimes a particular species. Or a special era. This example, while far too recent to be collectible, could be considered either fauna or pets. … Continue reading →

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a closer view

Posted on February 24, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. When supplementary lenses, extension tubes, and ‘spider legs’ proved successful in the early 1930s, Leitz came up with more ways to allow the tiny Leica to operate closer to the subject. One idea was to use a variable depth … Continue reading →

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the itsy bitsy spider …

Posted on February 23, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. … climbed up the water spout. In the mid 1920s, Leitz made the tiny Leica to help retain its well trained mechanics in the face of post war hyper-inflation. The camera was an overwhelming success. In fact it was … Continue reading →

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the better to see …

Posted on February 22, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. … you with, said the wolf to Little Red Riding Hood. In the last century, Leitz made close-up devices for the Leica. Both various focussing slide gadgets and mirror boxes used common five power magnifiers code named LGCOO (on … Continue reading →

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