Tag Archives: shutter

pushing all buttons

Posted on January 25, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. The invention of the dry plate in 1871 opened the door to sub-second exposures in sunlight through a normal photographic lens. And with sub-second performance came a need for shutters. And with shutters came a need for shutter buttons. … Continue reading →

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when Kodak was King

Posted on January 16, 2024 by Robert

Toronto. For much of the 20th century, Kodak and photography were synonymous. By the mid 20th century Kodak was among the biggest – if not the biggest – in the industry, world-wide. Home base was Kodak Park in Rochester. George … Continue reading →

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measuring sub-second time etc.

Posted on December 8, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. Those of us who once prided ourselves for shooting that special film moment know all about sub-second time; time measured by a shutter that allows light from the subject to reach the film for the prescribed fraction of a … Continue reading →

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… and everything nice …

Posted on March 19, 2023 by Robert

Toronto. From the earliest days of photography to the invention of dry plates, shutter speeds were unnecessary – the media were far far too slow. A simple hat or lens cap (and verbal counting) served as a shutter. As to … Continue reading →

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the sky is falling …

Posted on December 5, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. … or so said Chicken Little in the Children’s fable (I learnt the English version … ). For many years film and glass plates were basically insensitive to blue light (orthochromatic) so clouds and sky exposed for the landscape … Continue reading →

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fleet of foot, with fully adjustable slow speeds too

Posted on January 12, 2022 by Robert

Toronto. In 1935, advertisements pointed out how a particular camera or maker was different. Was superior to the rest. Was a far better buy than the competition. This was especially noticeable in highly competitive America. For example, Leitz NY would … Continue reading →

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a positive spin on WW2

Posted on May 31, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. Ilex of Rochester NY ran this ad in the February 1944 issue of Popular Photography. The company bravely said, “When war clouds clear **look to Ilex”. The Ilex Optical Company in Rochester made “lenses, shutters, gunsights, and other precision … Continue reading →

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time slicers

Posted on May 12, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. I often think of a shutter as a means to control speed and illumination. However when the image is framed and the shutter button pushed, it captures on film, a ‘slice of time’ in the subject’s life. I have … Continue reading →

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like a surgeon

Posted on April 13, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. A fitting title in this pandemic crisis we face today! The camera you see here is the Wirgin Gewirette v.1 manufactured by the Wirgin company in Wiesbaden, Germany. This particular camera predates the 35mm minicam revolution. It uses 127 … Continue reading →

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don’t give me the gears

Posted on March 26, 2021 by Robert

Toronto. A short time after moving back to Montreal, I joined the company Camera Club and offered a shutter and lens test. This was with good reason. My trusty Exakta VXIIa had shown a wavy anomaly in my fast shutter tests … Continue reading →

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