Category Archives: history

unintended consequences

Posted on December 14, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. In 1954 Leitz blazed a new trail in the minicam saga with the introduction of the M3 model Leica – Its first post war design, the camera had  features galore over the modest screw-mount line. Gone forever was the … Continue reading →

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shelter from the dust …

Posted on December 13, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. When Leitz produced the Leica, they used a removable base plate to replace films and help reduce the area open to air borne dirt and dust. This worked for models without lens interchangeability. When the model II gave way … Continue reading →

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not all that glitters …

Posted on December 12, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. .. is gold. Some camera makers did use a gold coating occasionally to sell a particular model to those with expensive tastes. For example, Leitz sold a Leica model it called a ‘Lexus”. It was made with typical Leica … Continue reading →

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après la pluie

Posted on December 11, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Landscape photos seem better when we add in some bad weather effects. This example shows not rain, but the effect of rain when it ends. Rainbows have traditionally meant that better times were ahead. For a photographer, a rainbow … Continue reading →

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a real brick …

Posted on December 10, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. We have commented on the famous Argus C-3 camera many times, but this beautiful ad was just too hard to pass up. Fondly known as the ‘brick’, the C-3 (C3) was by far the best selling camera of the … Continue reading →

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a cold winter’s night

Posted on December 7, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Nasty weather is the bane of a human’s existence – unless he is a photographer. For a photo, inclement weather can create a memorable exposure – witness Henri Cartier-Bresson’s “decisive moment” when a French commuter jumps a puddle and … Continue reading →

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zoned out

Posted on December 6, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Post WW2, a decision was made to divide Germany into four zones – American,  British, French, and Russian. To politicians, this was a marvellous way to solve occupation of the defeated country by many forces. But to some camera … Continue reading →

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showboating

Posted on December 5, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Do you remember Expo67,  a World’s Fair held in Montreal? It was a remarkable show in spite of the inevitable strikes. My wife and I enjoyed Expo and courtesy of a bus strike we were able to see so … Continue reading →

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not a good image …

Posted on December 4, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Kodak did show up in the last issue of Life (December 1972), but not in their own ad. Instead, a Kodak camera was featured in a colourful Raleigh cigarette ad as one of many ‘free’ items available with B&W … Continue reading →

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a Johnny come lately

Posted on December 3, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Introduced in 1924, the Leica by Leitz was a flat out success. Two years later, in 1926, its competitor, Zeiss formed the Zeiss-Ikon group to rationalize the German photographic Industry. By 1932, the first Zeiss Contax reached market – … Continue reading →

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