The Cine Technician (1935-1937)

40 The Joitnicil of the Association of Ciiie-Techniciajis August, 1935 Royal Photographic Society The Annual Exhibition — A.C.T. Members asked to co-operate. Arrangements are now in hand for this year's Exhibition of Kinematography, at the Royal Photographic Society, which is to be held from November 9th to 30th. The A.C.T. has, as before, been asked to co-operate in some of the lectures, which members will recall presented last year a programme of technical interest never before ecj nailed outside America. It is premature as yet to mention any of the subjects to be dealt with, but every technical interest will no doubt be covered. Full particulars of programmes will, in due course, be available to A.C.T. members. Many studio workers enjoy a busman's holiday by running a sub-standard camera in their leisure moments. Such enthusiasts will be particularly interested in the Sub-standard Film Competition which is again being run on similar hnes to last year, when the standard of entries was very high. The closing date is October 1st. There are three classes of entries, as follows : — Class L (Open) — Any kind of film {e.g. personal, travel, story, cartoon, advertising, etc.). Class n. (Open) — Restricted to Scientific films [e.g., X-ray, medical, natural history, photomicrography, etc.). In both these sections, films must not exceed IS minutes' running time. Class III. is limited to amateur films, and will not therefore be open to professional workers. In each section a plaque may be awarded at the discretion of the judges, and a certificate is awarded to every film accepted. Films may be entered by members or non-members of the R.P.S., and there is no entrance fee. Entry-forms may be obtained from the Secretary, 35 Russell Square, W.C.I. It is particularly hoped to attract a large professional entry this year, and in this connection it may be pointed out that advertising films, many of which are reduced to IGmm., are eligible. Incidentally, any professional worker who may feel that it is infra dig. to meet in competition with amateurs may be assured that there is nothing amateurish about films entered for R.P.S. competitions. The Judges include both amateur and professional workers. The Kine Group Committee of the R.P.S. also proposes to stage a first-class wall display of stills of latest films, and production and other photographs of technical interest. It is hoped to have a representative show of stills, illustrating the progress of the film from the manufacture of the raw stock to its exhibition in the kinema. A number of studios will be receiving requests for such stills in due course ; in which connection one may suggest that in order to maintain the prestige of the Trade in the Societ\-, tlu' stills selected siiould be of the highest ])hotograi)hic quality, such as our still men can turn out, given the opportunity. There will also be a trade exhibition of the latest apparatus, chiefly sub-standard, although our leading manufacturers of studio and laboratory e(]uipinc'ut will also be represented. The fact that the world's leading Photographic Society is taking this interest in the latest offsjuing of photography, and has invited the co-operation of our own Association, is sufficient reason for every one of our members to participate in some way or anotlier in the Exhibition. International Film Congress Over 2000 members of the cinematograph world, from almost every film-producing and consuming nation, attended the Berlin International Congress in April last, and it is believed that its work marks the beginning of a new era of international co-operation in all fields of cinematography. The 'Tnternational Association of Film Artists" was spontaneously founded during the Congress and comprises the film workers of Austria, Czecho-Slovakia and Germany. The representatives of these three national organisations have issued an appeal to their fellow-artists in the other countries to join the new organisation. The British Film Institute. (A.C.T. is considering affihation to the International Association of Film Artists and discussing the possibilitv of sending a delegate to the forthcoming Congress to be held in Venice). Eyemo Chosen for Stratosphere Flight Portable Camera with Studio Refinements In connection with the announcement that the National Geographic Society and the Army Air Corps, U.S.A., are planning a second stratosphere flight, to take place this summer, comes word that a Bell & Howell Eyemo 35mm. Camera has been selected for taking motion pictures during the flight. The purpose of the pictures is to show the appearance of the earth at different altitudes and to indicate the manner in which the stratosphere balloon rotates as it ascends. The Eyemo is a turret model with a 6-incli lens. In order to cut through the tremendous depth of atmosphere at extreme heights and record the surface of the earth from the balloon gondola, heavy red filters and film sensitized to red will be used. A piece of specially-selected, optically flat glass will be mounted in the gondola, forming a porthole through which the camera will point. The camera will be operated automatically to permit the operator to attend to other matters. New Camera Design Vinten's Model "H" Cameras having proved a great success, both in English and Foreign Studios, during the past three yeafrs, they have adopted a new design in their camera for rapid lens change. This new piece of apparatus is of i)articular interest to news-reel cameramen, as it permits long-focus lenses to remain attached to the camera whilst short-focus lenses are being used. The camera body is still standard, but the front panel and lens turret are set at an angle of 6' from the focal plane of the film. This will allow the use of 40mm. -75mm. 9" by 12" lenses or, alternatively, 2", 4", 9" and 17" lenses to be mounted on the tinret. .\n\ one of these lenses can be brought into the taking position by turning the turret, thus obviating lenses being removed and dropped to the ground when a quick change is necessary. Vinten's are now engaged on the production of a "Zoom" type view-finder, which will give a correct framing for the various lenses without tiie use of matts— a very difficult optical feat, which will be unixersally welcomed bv newsreel camera aces. II