Front or back – that is the question

Posted on December 10, 2017 by Robert

B&L UNICUM shutter with air pistons

Toronto.  Around the turn of 1900, a number of Leaf shutters emerged, all at the front of the camera. For efficiency, the shutters were usually mounted between the lens elements next to the aperture diaphragm.

Bausch and Lomb made a number of shutters including the popular UNICUM model shown here at left top. A hollow rubber tube could be pushed on the base of either cylinder so a rubber bulb could be used to trigger the camera.

Optionally the operator could squeeze the lever at the top of the right hand cylinder. The various shutter speeds are set using the chrome wheel on the top of the shutter and lens assembly.

Most inexpensive cameras, and some high end models used leaf shutters. The benefit was slower speeds than the focal plane shutters of the time offered. Almost all Kodak cameras used simple self capping two leaf shutters. Box cameras often had time and instantaneous (about 1/25th second, fast enough for hand held shots) settings with more expensive folders giving a variety of instantaneous settings  up to 1/100th second.

Posted in camera | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Front or back – that is the question

Strings and springs and things

Posted on December 9, 2017 by Robert

Shutter on Kodak No. 1 camera in 1888

Toronto. In 1888, George Eastman concocted a camera to use his newly invented stripping film. He famously named the well constructed box camera the Kodak. Since the film was too fast in sunlight to use a lens cap as a shutter, Eastman used a long cylinder and springs as a shutter for instantaneous (and time) photographs.

A string was pulled to cock the shutter and when the button was pressed for a picture, spring power rotated the cylinder to briefly expose the film to the scene via a fixed f/9 rapid-rectilinear lens.

Note that the illustrations are courtesy of Brian Coe’s book Cameras mentioned in an earlier post.

Posted in camera | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Strings and springs and things

Thornton-Pickard shutter to update your camera

Posted on December 8, 2017 by Robert

Thornto-Pickard shutter

Toronto. When instantaneous dry plates became available, there was suddenly a market for an accessory shutter. Thornton-Pickard made just such an accessory well after the turn of the century. The shutter was made in many sizes to fit the front or back of a lens and instantly convert the camera used with the lens to operate with the newer faster dry plates.

We saw many of these accessories at our photographica-fairs over the years. Long out of manufacture and marketing, these fancy roller blind shutters can be repaired following sites like that of our own Yvette Bessels, or  paulwilliams.com.

Posted in camera | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Thornton-Pickard shutter to update your camera

Cameras by Brian Coe

Posted on December 7, 2017 by Robert

Brian Coe’s 1978 book for Photographic History

Toronto. After writing a number of books on aspects of photographic history, the late Brian Coe of the Kodak Museum in England wrote a delightful book on the history of photography from Daguerreotypes to Instant Pictures. His unique style was complemented by using drawing – both line and coloured – instead of photographs of various cameras and accessories.

The book I bought in late July of 1979 was published in North America by Crown Publishers, Inc. and printed in Italy. In Cameras, Coe covers all photographic milestones from the perspective of cameras, lenses, and accessories.

His chapter on shutters gives an insightful overview of how this essential part of the camera evolved. Until Maddox discovered how to make dry plates in 1871, there was  little need for a precise shutter – a lens cap, flap, black focussing cloth or even a hat would do the job. Shutters  date back to the earliest days of photography but were limited to keeping light from the sensitive medium.

Posted in book | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Cameras by Brian Coe

Halifax Explosion Dec 6 1917

Posted on December 6, 2017 by Robert

100th Anniversary of Halifax Explosion

Toronto. Just after 9 am in the morning, 100 years ago, Halifax was rocked with a massive explosion that killed almost 2,000 residents – mostly children and youths – and severely injured some 9,000 more.

A French munitions ship from NYC was docking at Halifax before heading across to France and the Great War. As the ship came down the narrows to the docks, the outbound Norwegian vessel, Imo, was heading for NYC to load clothing and food for Belgium. The unloaded Imo accidentally  rammed the Mont-Blanc setting fire to the chemicals on the deck. Minutes later the cargo in the holds went off.

The explosion was seen, heard, and felt many miles away. During rescue efforts the next day, Halifax and Nova Scotia were subjected to a blinding snowstorm.  Go to CTV’s W5 to see reporting of this event.

Posted in miscellaneous | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on Halifax Explosion Dec 6 1917

News from the guys out West

Posted on December 5, 2017 by Robert

Voigtlander Vitessa 35 mmm camera

Toronto. The Western Canada Photographic Historical Association (WCPHA) send their latest newsletter.  Along with notes on the add-on frame viewers, and Voigtlander Vitessa 35mm camera, the folks announce  their Christmas get together tomorrow, December 6th.

A friend of ours had a jammed Vitessa, but the cost of repair even for me was more than a working Vitessa in cosmetically excellent condition would cost at the time. They kept the defunct camera as a family memento.

Click the icon at left to read and print the newsletter.

Posted in newsletter | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on News from the guys out West

Graflex Journal Issue 3-2017 now available

Posted on December 4, 2017 by Robert

Massive 5×7 Press Graflex
compared to a Hasselblad

Toronto. Ken Metcalf down in North Carolina has released his third and final edition of the Graflex Journal for this year.

Issue 3 covers The Graphic 35 Electric (Michael Parker), The Press Graflex (Jim Chasse) as shown at left, Images of America book review, Graflex Identification Cameras (Ken Metcalf), Graflex Ads (George Dunbar), and John Adams letter to Tim Holden in 1983 (in part about the Big Bertha camera).

Click the above text link to read or print this issue. Enjoy!

Posted in camera, journal | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Graflex Journal Issue 3-2017 now available

Photographic Canadiana 43-3 is coming

Posted on December 3, 2017 by Robert

PC Journal 43-3

Toronto. Okay all you folk who are members – the latest exciting issue of our favourite journal will be packaged late this week!

We have the Toronto Notes column up front covering the first two fall meetings. This column is followed by a lengthy synopsis of Natalie Banasazak’s thoughtful thesis on the earliest architecture photographs in exhibitions (in England) and the business model early architects used to sell copies of the photographs.

Bob Lansdale then offers his insightful article on the history of acetylene illumination. The fall fair report and photos are next followed by two book reviews, Write! Shoot! Edit! by Deb Patz and 19th Century Photographic Lenses by Corrado d’Agostini. As usual there are lots of inserts for last minute news items, etc.

Posted in journal | Tagged , , , , , , , | Comments Off on Photographic Canadiana 43-3 is coming

and then there was the smartphone…

Posted on December 2, 2017 by Robert

comparing light for
iPhone 7 Plus and iPhone X
telephoto lens

Toronto. When I first bought a Sony F-828 camera at the end of its production and marketing, I bought my wife a thin, pocket sized Sony point and shoot T7 with a 3:1 Zeiss zoom lens and a 3.3 megapixel sensor. The F-828 had an 8 megapixel sensor and a beautiful Zeiss zoom lens. The camera was massive and heavy. Both took jpeg files and used different batteries and chargers.

The recently announced Apple smartphones (caution: the linked   Macworld site has a ton of annoying ads) have a higher pixel rating, two lenses and stabilizing circuitry, plus automatic colour balance, exposure, aperture and speed settings. The camera in the iPhone X is 12 megapixel – twice the size of my decade-plus old F-828 and nearly 4x that in my wife’s T7, The two lenses are about equivalent to a 28mm and 56mm camera lens.

The clever aspect is this: The wide-angle has a larger aperture so if the light is dim and the telephoto is selected, the camera uses a cropped version of an image taken with the wide-angle lens instead!

And anyone who owns a smartphone usually has it with him, ready to snap a family or even a news-worthy photo. So the question is, with smartphones, “who needs a camera today”?

You can learn more on family photos by hearing our December speaker, Dr Jennifer Orpana of the ROM who will speak on Family Photo Archives!

 

Posted in camera | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on and then there was the smartphone…

the era of digital cameras

Posted on December 1, 2017 by Robert

Two simultaneous injections are easier on the tiny patient

Toronto. The trend from the beginning of photography in 1839 was improved simplicity and accuracy. Today, with the era of digital photography, the making of a photograph is simplicity beyond belief: Focus, exposure, light balance, speed, and aperture are set automatically on the fly.  Images appear on the camera back instantaneously. Shaky? Blurry? Poorly framed? Shoot again!

No need to print – send to friends by email or internet. Just store it on a computer and for the truly old fashioned, a few quick presses of computer keys (and a few seconds), then the computer’s inkjet printer shoots out a copy – even on a print-like 4×6 inch piece of glossy or matt paper if you so choose.

The above image was taken by me back in 2012 with a Sony digital camera. The subject was my baby granddaughter being immunized in her doctor’s office. A Kodak moment indeed!

To learn more, come and hear our December speaker, Dr Jennifer Orpana of the ROM who will speak on Family Photo Archives!

Posted in camera | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on the era of digital cameras