Category Archives: history

gold in them thar hills …

Posted on January 22, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Ahhh! The excitement of the  gold rush! When it hit the Yukon,  it became famous the world over. Movies were made; books were written (even poems); the centennial of the celebrated trail (Chilkoot) was recorded. Over six years ago, … Continue reading →

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fuzzy focus

Posted on January 21, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. Modern smart phone and digital camera buffs only see fuzzy focus when they move or try using dim lighting or are just too close to the subject. No need to understand photography these days to get correct lighting. Focus … Continue reading →

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elementary, my dear Watson …

Posted on January 20, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. … as Sherlock Holmes was supposed to have said (but never did say in Conan Doyle’s stories). However; Holmes often said ‘elementary’ to his side kick, in his usually superior and snobbish way. And of course our photographic lenses … Continue reading →

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reflections

Posted on January 19, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. No, not the introspective kind you dream about on a cold winter’s day. I mean the kind that reduce image contrast and limit the number of lens elements used. At left I show two lenses for a film camera. … Continue reading →

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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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