Category Archives: lens

honey, I shrunk the lens

Posted on June 13, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Photographic lenses as you likely know once used various elements to eliminate distortion and flatten the field. Early cameras were large and bulky with terribly slow sensitive media. As general rule, the long focal length, slow lens designs required … Continue reading →

Posted in lens | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on honey, I shrunk the lens

did you hear? the fat’s in the auction!

Posted on June 19, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. The 9cm Elmar was made from 1931 to 1968 – nearly 40 years. It was an early addition to the Leica stable once interchangeable lenses were marketed. The 9cm focal length had a pleasant presentation of head and bust … Continue reading →

Posted in lens | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on did you hear? the fat’s in the auction!

look-a-like-a-leica

Posted on September 15, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. After WW2, the world was inundated with Leica lookalikes. Some were  flat out copies like the Russian FED and Zorki models; some were copies of Leica features like Canon; and some were marketed as improvements on Leica like the … Continue reading →

Posted in history, lens | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on look-a-like-a-leica

nice Zeiss lens

Posted on November 12, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. In 1926 Zeiss formed Zeiss-Ikon for its government. The goal was to streamline the redundant over-lapping cameras made by the German camera factories. Belatedly, about a decade later, Zeiss realized that the minicam had taken over the amateur box/folder … Continue reading →

Posted in lens | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on nice Zeiss lens

plus ça change

Posted on April 13, 2020 by Robert

Toronto. It is said that the more things change, the more they are the same. Like the Zeiss Sonnar lens for example. Larry Gubas in his massive text “Zeiss and Photography” shows the Sonnar as it was initially sold in … Continue reading →

Posted in lens | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on plus ça change

a different spin on things

Posted on December 5, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. One serious issue with extreme wide angle lenses in the days of big cameras and film or glass plates was light drop off in the film (or plate) corners. Expose for the centre, and there was serious vignetting. Expose … Continue reading →

Posted in lens | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on a different spin on things

Schneider lenses for the cognecenti

Posted on November 9, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. Schneider Kreuznach has been around as an optical house for many years – in fact over a century going back to 1913 when the firm was founded as the Joseph Schneider Optical Works in Bad Kreuznach, a small town … Continue reading →

Posted in lens | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Schneider lenses for the cognecenti

making it big – making it better

Posted on August 5, 2019 by Robert

Toronto. We often hear that Leitz turned photography on its head with its revolutionary 35mm camera, the Leica. But then what? How could you make such tiny negatives into larger prints? Fortunately enlargers were around before the little marvel and … Continue reading →

Posted in lens | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on making it big – making it better

a new meaning to coated lenses

Posted on November 26, 2018 by Robert

Toronto. Mid last century science perfected a lens coating that improved the contrast of lens designs allowing even more elements to further correct lenses,  paving the way for the complex zoom lenses commonplace today. And now modern coating technology has … Continue reading →

Posted in lens | Tagged , , | Comments Off on a new meaning to coated lenses

Camerama Show this Sunday Nov 11th

Posted on November 9, 2018 by Robert

Toronto. Is there a Rollei you lust after for your collection or use? You may find one Sunday November 11th at PHSC member Gary Perry’s latest Camerama show in our fair city. Its a small intimate and cozy show. Easy … Continue reading →

Posted in camera, fair, lens, photos | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on Camerama Show this Sunday Nov 11th