Tag Archives: auction

an eye-popping price tag!

Posted on July 2, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. A null series  Leica serial 112, once assigned to the inventor of the tiny marvel, Oskar Barnack, was sold at auction in Europe for an estimated 11 and a half MILLION dollars Canadian! The camera was sold by Leica … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , | Comments Off on an eye-popping price tag!

suddenly, a shot rang out …

Posted on June 11, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. In the pre-ww2 days of film, the media was relatively slow and lenses were of generally smaller aperture, especially as the focal length increased. The result was to make it difficult to keep longer focal length lenses steady for … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , | Comments Off on suddenly, a shot rang out …

all quiet on the minutes front …

Posted on May 19, 2025 by Robert

PHSC President Clint Hryhorijiw Toronto. When meeting #58 via ZOOM was held last Wednesday, it was a perfect storm – many regulars were unavailable for a variety of reasons. Fortunately there were no urgent issues to be minuted and voted. … Continue reading →

Posted in activities, film | Tagged , , | Comments Off on all quiet on the minutes front …

this is a strange one …

Posted on May 14, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. My friend and associate at the PHSC, Les Jones (sports photographer and author) sent me an email the other day, saying, some one was auctioning off , “A VICTORIAN MAHOGANY FLOOR STANDING STUDIO CAMERA WITH A HINGED BULLSEYE LENS … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , | Comments Off on this is a strange one …

ye gads, a tryclopes

Posted on April 27, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Greek mythology had the Cyclopes – a gang of scary giants with one eye in the middle of the forehead! Issue 23-3 uses a photo of an unusual “three-eye” turret device mounted on a Leica camera as its cover … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on ye gads, a tryclopes

the accidental collector

Posted on April 24, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. I bought my first 35mm camera – a Minolta Super A around the late 1950s. I was amazed at the clarity of the f/2 Rokkor lens. About a year later I moved on to an SLR Exakta. It had … Continue reading →

Posted in activities | Tagged , , , , , , | Comments Off on the accidental collector

a slight touch-up is in order …

Posted on April 22, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Early to mid last century professionals used larger glass plates or cut film to create photographs. Most prints were contact prints making ‘dodge’ and ‘burn’ to adjust exposure and contrast impractical. Instead, professionals would have staff use a retouching … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on a slight touch-up is in order …

shifting value over time

Posted on April 20, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Like many antiques, old photographs tend to appreciate with age. The value of a specific photograph  depends on many factors: condition, process used, subject (famous? pedestrian? newsworthy? etc.), current interest, studio, turnover, … A note from past president, sports … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , | Comments Off on shifting value over time

t’row da book at him!

Posted on April 18, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Our society was founded in 1974 during the rapid growth of Photographic Historical Societies –  essentially like-minded folk who collected cameras and possibly old  photographs. Over time ranks swelled as people interested in the history of photography joined, followed … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on t’row da book at him!

blink of an eye

Posted on April 17, 2025 by Robert

Toronto. Up until dry plates became common, camera shutters were simply unnecessary. Timing could be easily set by holding something like a dark hat over the lens then briefly removing and replacing it. Once dry plates and later film became … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off on blink of an eye