The Cine Technician (1953-1956)

October, 1953 THE CINE-TECHNICIAN 129 culator for the use of technicians engaged in the photography of 3-D films. The Calculator is in the form of a circular " slide-rule " about 4in. in diameter. The calculator gives : (a) The relationship between lens focal length, distance to plane of convergence and lens separation. (b) Maximum distance which can be included in a shot without having background points diverge too widely. (c) Safe distances which action can come towards camera from plane of convergence without undue strain on the eyes. (d) Recommended lens separations for medium shots and close-ups for different focal length of lenses. (e) Relationships between all these values so that the best settings for any situation can be obtained. (American Cine, August 1953). The Ilford high-speed emulsion HPS, daylight speed 400 ASA, is now being coated on to 35mm. base for use in motion picture cameras. However, availability is restricted. A few years ago " Cinetechnician " reviewed a new film splicer, British invented and British made, called the Robot. There is now a new and improved model on the market, the Robot II. We understand from Cine Television Equipment Ltd., that a 16mm. version is coming shortly and we look forward to giving full details of it when they are available. ^S An improved model of the well known Norwood Director exposure meter featuring the " ColorMatic " control for simplified direct reading has been produced. The " Color-Matic " control is a perforated metal tab inserted in the meter behind the hemispherical light collector. In use the photosphere or light collector is pointed at the camera; the meter then gives a direct reading in f. stops. The British Standards Institution have issued the following new and revised Standards which can be obtained at British Standards House, 2 Park Street, London, W.l. 2013:1953 Projector spools for 8mm. cinematograph film. 3/-. Covers four sizes of spools from 50ft. to 400ft. capacity. Specifies the essential dimensions, including outside and core diameters, widths, spindle mounting and drive, and accuracy of running. Requirements are specified for the attachment of the flanges to the hub and the accuracy of assembly, ribbing of flanges, spindle clamping face, method of film attachment, finger access holes, lighting holes, and general finish. 2014:1953 Projector spools for 16mm. graph film up to 2,000ft. capacity. 3/ cinemato Raymond Spottiswoode with the new Stereo-Techniques' Spacemaster 3-D camera, showing the twin heads, with the film magazines in position. Units of two Came flex cameras are incorporated in the new 3-D camera. (Courtesy, " Cinema News " and Stereo Techniques). Covers seven sizes of spools from 50ft. to 2,000ft. capacity. Specifies the essential dimensions, including outside and core diameters, widths, spindle mounting and drive, accuracy of running, and, in the larger sizes, the maximum weight. Requirements are specified for the attachment of the flanges to the hub and for the accuracy of assembly, ribbing of the flanges, spindle clamping face, method of film attachment, finger access holes, lightening holes, and general finish. The material is not specified; the standard is intended to apply to metal spools and spools of non-metallic materials such as plastics. 1406:1953 Sizes of sensitised photographic plates. 3/-. Supersedes the 1947 edition and specifies a few additional sizes, particularly the 4in. x 5in. size, and some for photomechanical purposes. The dimensions now specified for the 2in. x 2in. plate ensure compliance with the requirements for miniature lantern slides in B.S. 1917, ' Film strip and lantern slides.' The tolerance on cutting sizes for some of the larger plates have been reduced, and a gauging procedure for checking the dimensions of plates has been introduced, as specified in the Appendix.