Category Archives: history

will that be 8 or 16?

Posted on January 18, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Bell & Howell was a respected name in Hollywood movie equipment. For home movies, they used the “Filmo” brand. In the March 1940 issue of Popular Mechanics, B&H advertised both the 8mm and the 16mm versions of their Filmo … Continue reading →

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jumping in with both feet

Posted on January 17, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. America was a bit late to the WW2, but made up for it in spades after Pearl Harbor was attacked by an ally of Germany. All industries quickly turned to the war effort. Hollywood cranked out propaganda movies galore … Continue reading →

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a rose by any other name

Posted on January 14, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. One of the earliest ambitions of film makers was to expand their film’s sensitivity spectrum down to the reds. By the mid 1930s when Agfa-Ansco made this film, yellows, greens through near violet blues could be captured. Such a … Continue reading →

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modern times

Posted on January 13, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. These days of digital cameras and smartphones make photography a piece of cake. You see it; you shoot it; you send it. Easy Peasey.  But it wasn’t always the case. Many of those who haunt our fairs and shows … Continue reading →

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fleet of foot, with fully adjustable slow speeds too

Posted on January 12, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. In 1935, advertisements pointed out how a particular camera or maker was different. Was superior to the rest. Was a far better buy than the competition. This was especially noticeable in highly competitive America. For example, Leitz NY would … Continue reading →

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to the victor …

Posted on January 11, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. … go the spoils (well, most times). Do you remember the Victor 16mm movie gear? The majority of their products suffered from very small sales. A government contract during WW2 was far more promising as was their knockoff of … Continue reading →

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a lens for all reasons

Posted on January 10, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. When Leitz first marketed the Leica in the mid 1920s, it was an innovative success. By 1933 other makers had competing cameras out. The mighty Carl Zeiss organization not only marketed cameras, but their Tessar lens was a excellent … Continue reading →

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a neater meter

Posted on January 7, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. One area of photography that absolutely demanded consistency in exposure was movies. Any unexpected exposure shift between scenes or reels was obvious and annoying to theatre goers, especially those who paid hard earned money for the movie experience. Weston … Continue reading →

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anchors aweigh!

Posted on January 6, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Those were the heady days of home movies when people lugged out the heavy projector and its awkward screen. Today, we call such marvels ‘boat anchors’ – not much value to a camera collector, and only good if you … Continue reading →

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daylight blues

Posted on January 5, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. In the mid last century, one could buy daylight or tungsten transparancy (slide) film. The difference was in their white balance. Incandescent bulbs would have a colour balance around 2700 degrees kelvin and a special blue filter on the … Continue reading →

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