Tag Archives: lenses

before auto-focus – I

Posted on March 23, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. Before auto focus came along, photographers needed to both frame and focus the subject as well as decide on the best exposure (shutter speed/lens aperture/lighting). With the digital technology of today, many folks don’t even think about focussing. For … Continue reading →

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open wide, wider

Posted on March 22, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. As a camera collector, old lenses have always been an interest – especially wide angle lenses such as the Protar at left or the Pantoscop by Emil Busch. The traditional ‘portrait’ lens is a medium Telephoto. The focal length … Continue reading →

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not so far, far, away

Posted on March 21, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. I took this shot a couple of decades ago at our Fair in 2006. Along with cameras, I collected lenses, books, brochures, etc, that offered information on the history of photography. I imagine other camera collectors collect lenses too, … Continue reading →

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another use for paper …

Posted on March 20, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. The idea of roll film revitalized the use of sensitized paper (negatives). In fact various roll film mechanisms were developed to use the medium in cameras. An example is the Warnerke Roll Film Holder. Editor Robert Lansdale wrote about … Continue reading →

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a DAR mystery train

Posted on March 19, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. Collectors of old images sometimes concentrate on transportation photos, or have a subset of their collection comprising of transportation/train photos. Here is a mystery you perhaps can solve. Jeff Ward in Halifax dropped me a line the other day … Continue reading →

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fairs past, fairs present

Posted on March 15, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. Our spring fair a quarter century ago, was held just north of the city in the Soccer Centre. Mark Singer added a free bus service from the TTC subway for the convenience of  some attendees. The centre also offered … Continue reading →

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everything old is new again

Posted on March 12, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. There is a saying that there is nothing new under the sun. As a kid, I made a radio with a tiny bit of ‘fools gold’ (iron pyrite) and a thin copper wire ‘cat’s whisker’. This rustic semi-conductor radio … Continue reading →

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do you TLR?

Posted on March 7, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. Snap Shots 31-7 was recently issued by the PHSNE. The newsletter announced their camera show ‘Photographica 93″ on Saturday, April 25th, 2026. An item featured in the show will be this Rolleiflex Standard 621 with a 75mm f/3.5 Zeiss Tessar lens. … Continue reading →

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all in a row

Posted on March 6, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. Those wanting to make the odd close-up but not wanting to pay for fancy accessories resorted to extension tubes – those tubes that fit between the camera body and lens to extend the lens for closer subjects. Most camera … Continue reading →

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Hey, Rita!

Posted on March 4, 2026 by Robert

Toronto. Pre WW2, standalone meters began to appear. The more expensive ones used a selenium cell. In 1951, camera-mounted meters came along, often with a means to attach a booster cell. Selenium meters (and older) were okay in sunlight but … Continue reading →

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