snapping some zzzzz’s

Posted on June 10, 2025 by Robert

Nikon Z-mount. Image courtesy of Phiarc under the wikimedia commons copyright

Toronto. Many of us recall the Nikon ‘F’ mount. A few years ago, Nikon came out with the larger ‘Z’ mount for its digital cameras. This larger mount is used on both full frame cameras and the smaller APS-C format cameras.

My first venture into digital cameras was the Nikon ‘Coolpix’ line. I eventually moved over to Sony and its NEX line. Of course, I later ended up using my iPod Touch camera instead since it was always with me.

Nikon introduced many cameras using the Z-mount. Most recently both of Nikon’s seven year old cameras, the Z6 II and the Z7 II, received firmware updates.

You may wonder why an historical society spends its time on digital cameras like these. Well, digital is about three decades old now and some collectors have added digitals to their collection.

More modern digitals seem to be on borrowed time since the majority of photos today are taken with a smartphone (a modern day version of the old trusty folder?). In a few decades these remarkable stand alone cameras may well become as rare as wet-plate cameras are today.

Regardless, drop by one of our 2025 events and check out the gear and photos – you may even add to your collection, be it film, digital, or photos! Note that the next 2025 event is our Trunk Show on July 13th.

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picture of an era

Posted on June 9, 2025 by Robert

the famous photograph of  I K Brunel with the chains of the SS Great Eastern for a backdrop – taken by Robert Howlett

Toronto. The picture at left is that of UK engineer I K Brunel in 1857 in front of the massive chains of the ‘SS Great Eastern’ taken by Robert Howlett a year or so before Howlett’s early death at 27.

We often think of photography as a means to enhance history, but in this case one photograph captures the essence of the Victorian era and its ideals.

The story of the photograph is reproduced from the Autumn 1997 issue of This England and begins, “A photographer on special assignment from a London magazine, 140 years ago, managed to persuade the great Victorian engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, to stand still long enough for him to take a picture.

“It was to become one of the most famous shots in history. The power of the image is still arresting. There stands Brunel in muddy boots and stovepipe hat, cigar firmly jammed in mouth, hands just as firmly thrust in pockets. Behind him: the massive hand-forged launching chains of his Great Eastern, then the world’s biggest ship, symbolize the size and scale of his achievements.

“Robert Howlett, described by a contemporary as “One of the most skilful photographers of the day,” was commissioned with Joseph Cundall to make a record for the Illustrated Times of the building of “Leviathan”, as the press dubbed the iron ship.” …

Members can read the entire article in the pdf file of issue 23-5 on the free members-only DVD/thumb drive. See above and at right to join. Email Lilianne at member@phsc.ca if you have a question.

While copies of this photograph by Howlett are rare, you may well discover other images etc, to complement your collection at one of our events – next up being the July 13 Trunk Sale.

 

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who the heck was Geo E Smith?

Posted on June 8, 2025 by Robert

George E Smith and the famous CCD created by him and Willard S Boyle in the early 1970s

Toronto. We all know about the contributions of Daguerre, Fox Talbot, Scott Archer, Dick Maddox, and George Eastman to photography. Most were eccentric, sometimes well-to-do individuals whose ideas have become sign posts along the way in photographic history.

By the time photography entered the digital era, development of technology had shifted to scientists working in institutions and commercial laboratories. For example, last century (c1947), the transistor was developed by a trio of scientists at Bell Labs in New Jersey starting the digital revolution.

About a decade later,Texas Instruments (and Fairchild Semiconductor) manufactured integrated circuits (ICs), to save space and manufacturing steps. I still have a darkroom timer I built around a then popular IC by Signetics, some switches, tantalum condensers, and a few other bits and pieces.

In the case of digital technology, Bell Labs scientists (again) came up with the basis for sensors – the means to create electronic files based on photons bounced off the subject. Dr George E Smith and his associate, Dr Willard S Boyle, came up with the idea, of a charge couple device (CCD) as they called it, in 1969 and registered it 5 years later.

So if you use a digital camera of any sort (and who doesn’t these days) the device works thanks to a sensor based on the Nobel prize winning idea of the CCD.

My thanks to my good friend and fellow PHSC member, 90+ year old George Dunbar, who took the time to send me the NYT article on the late George E Smith.

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the old is new again …

Posted on June 7, 2025 by Robert

the ‘Mandler” 35mm f/2 lens to be made in China. Photo courtesy of Leica Rumors

Toronto. … or is nothing sacred these days? In 1975 I bought a 35mm summicron for my new Leica. I later (much later) learned it was the third iteration of  the lens and designed up in Midland by Dr Mandler. The lens was boldly marked “LEITZ CANADA”  around the lens front along with the name “SUMMICRON”, serial number, speed, and focal length.

A recent email from Wayne Ridley alerted me to a forth-coming Chinese knock-off of the 50+ year old pre-aspherical-element lens. The new model was announced by Leica Rumors and picked up by Digital Camera World. Rumors tag it as a seven elements design although the original late 1950s lens was said to be an eight element design and the newer (pre aspherical element) lenses were a six element design.

Dr Mandler moved to Midland after ww2 and remained in Canada for the rest of his life while camera and non-military lenses  manufacture returned to Europe as the Leitz organization struggled to avoid dissolution (another story).

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… of swimming trunks and auto trunks

Posted on June 6, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. As a kid, July meant donning swimming trunks and dashing down to the lake for a swim to the sandbar and beyond. As a grown-up July means the famous PHSC Trunk Sale is coming soon! The date is July 13th. The place, outdoors at the Trident Hall. The show goes on rain or shine. Questions? Email Clint at fair@phsc.ca. See the poster below for times (and thank our designer/treasurer, John Morden).

 

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one in a million

Posted on June 5, 2025 by Robert

Canada: These Things We Hold Dear by Lorraine Monk

Toronto. The late Lorraine Monk was a PHSC member and speaker. She was a member of the National Film Board (NFB) for two decades, becoming Executive Producer, Still Photography Division by the time she retired in 1980.

Lorraine was famous as author/editor/publisher of a great many Canadian photo books. In 1998 she called for copies of photographs for consideration in her 1999 photo book, “Canada: These Things We Hold Dear” which went on to win numerous awards.

An article in issue 23-5 (likely written by editor Lansdale) introduced to us her call for suggested photographs for her “Things We Hold Dear” book. The article, “Photographs Wanted For New Book on Canada – Millennium Book Expected to cost One Million Dollars” begins, “‘It has to be my best,’ says Lorraine Monk of Toronto, ‘as it will be my last!’

“Responsible for publishing some 30 books in her life with renowned titles of Canada’s Centennial book: A Year of the Land and our Bicentennial gift to the U.S.A.: Between Friends, Lorraine is set to produce another miracle publication. (See PC journal Vol 19 #2, Sept. 1993).

“This new project is a Millennium project for Canada, costing half a million dollars to print 50,000 copies plus another half million to cover royalties to photographers, design costs etc.. The present quest is to find 100 of the best-of-best Canadian photographs which will depict (enshrine) the title: These Things We Hold Dear…” …

Members can read all of this article (the book is only available used these days – Stephen Bulger is said to have a signed copy available) in the issue 23-5 pdf on the free members-only DVD. See above or at right to join. Email Lilianne at member@phsc.ca if you have a question.

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remembering Bill

Posted on June 4, 2025 by Robert

a younger William (Bill) Sanford courtesy of the Toronto Star

Toronto. One thing we in the true north are truly blessed with is the number of quality photographers of all stripes. One such professional was Bill Sandford. Sadly Bill passed away this month (May). He died in London, Ontario at 78 on the 20th.

Bill was one of the gung-ho brand of photographers – the news photographer –  ready to go on a moment’s notice; ready to get the special, dramatic shot.

He was a staff photographer for two decades at the Toronto Sun and its predecessor, the Toronto Telegram (remember the “pink” Tely on weekends?).

I well remember the November, 1979 Mississauga train derailment which Bill photographed. One of his photos of that startling event won the National News Paper award (the photo is displayed in the Sun obit).

Bill went on to do assignments for both the Toronto Star, and the Toronto Globe & Mail. Obituaries were recently printed in the Sun and in the Star. Our thanks to PHSC president Clint Hryhorijiw, who knew Bill, for emailing me the details of this loss of Canadian talent (Clint said years ago the two ‘chased ambulances’ together).

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hey, guys, it’s CAMERAMA time again …

Posted on June 3, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Gary sent over an email the other day. His summer CAMERAMA show is this Sunday, June 8th at the JCCC. Come on out and enjoy the show – Gary tells me the tables have sold out so there will be lots of great stuff for your collection!  Here are the details:

Next Camerama Camera Show
Sunday, June 8th, 2025.
Now in our 29th Year!
 
Same great location and time as always: 
The Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre
6 Sakura Way, Toronto, M3C 1Z5
Show Hours: 10:00am – 3:00pm
Admission $10, Students $8 (with valid ID)
 

All vendor tables are SOLD OUT so we should have a great show!

 
By the way, our next show date is: Sept. 28 2025.
 
If you have any questions or concerns let me know.
Regards, Gary
 
Gary Perry
Camerama Show
Phone/Text: 905-550-7477

 

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before movies, radio, TV we had …

Posted on June 2, 2025 by Robert

Quidi Vidi Harbour in NL c1899

Toronto. … stereo cards.  These often well photographed three dimensional cards gave folks  entertainment and education before the many ‘opiates’ of the 20th century became common place (as a child in the 1940s, I was enthralled with a relative’s ‘basket’ of stereo cards and viewer).

Stereo card groups or themes entertained the masses, offered travelogues, taught us medicine and other esoteric topics best seen in 3D for clarity. While long replaced by movies, radio, television, video, and internet sites, collectors pick up interesting cards for their collections; cards often available at our events like the trunk sale this summer.

The cover shot for issue 23-4 shows one half of a travelogue stereo card introducing its viewers to the beauties of Newfoundland. The card shows Quidi Vidi harbour in Newfoundland just before the start of the 20th century.

Editor (late) Bob Lansdale describes the scene as follows, “Stereo card #13173 by B.W. Kilburn of Littleton, N.H. provides our cover image. Inscribed: Beautiful Kitty Vitty the scene shows the harbour of Quidi Vidi in Newfoundland. Kilburn copyrighted the image in 1899. James M. Davis, as primary distributor, has his name imprinted on most cards.”

Be sure to visit our 2025 events as shown at right under “PHSC EVENTS”.

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hand in glove

Posted on June 1, 2025 by Robert

two astronauts use a ‘glove box’ – photo by Don Pettit courtesy of CTV news

Toronto. In the summer of 1969, we were ecstatic to see on TV a B&W news short of Neil Armstrong walking on the moon. For the first time ever man created enough energy in a rocket to break the hold of  gravity and float to our moon.

Years earlier, in high school I learned that we needed a powerful enough rocket to off-set the pull of gravity before we could ‘escape’ to other worlds/planets. People today seem blasé about such feats, taking the international space station (ISS) in stride.

For the photo at left the CTV news cut line reads, “Superb science: Don Pettit captures the hands of NASA astronauts Nick Hague, left, and Suni Williams inside the Life Sciences Glovebox, a facility at the International Space Station. (Don Pettit/NASA)”.

In a recent email, my friend Clint (PHSC president, auctioneer, fair coordinator, HR department, columnist, etc. – and professional photographer) Sent this link to a CTV news article, “Through an astronaut’s lens: Images from a photographer in space” that displayed some of astronaut Don Pettit’s photos. Take a peek at them – definitely other-worldly …

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