International photographer (Jan-Dec 1934)

February, 1934 T 1 1 INTERNATIONAL P II 0 TOGR A Fifteen now in business for themselves — and making more mone) with their miniature camera than they did formerly in the office. Many interesting stories will in time come to light regarding this, and when they do, you will find the miniature camera in the background. The midget camera, while not a newcomer as many people believe, became popular only a few years ago. It descended upon us with a swiftness that was nothing short of miraculous. That it took the country by storm need not be mentioned — everyone knows that. But from the time of its "introduction" to the present, we haven't had much of a chance to completely understand the little stranger. There are loads of things to be tried and tested. Miniature camera clubs and individuals are working furiously with developers, fine-grain ,and other problems. Naturally this all takes time. Right now there is not a great deal that we can look upon in miniature photography as settled or final. Next week someone is bound to come forth with a new theory or a new method, and our present routine becomes obsolete. The serious worker gets a big kick out of it all, however, for this very uncertainty of it all provides something new to work with and try almost constantly. Miniature photography cannot at this time be labeled a cut and dried proposition like the more orthodox forms of photography. More can be done with the higher-priced miniature camera than with any other type of camera. The results are just as good, if not better, and the operating costs are ridiculously low. Imagine doing aero, stereo, micro, candid, portrait, pictorial, panorama, clinical, copy, sport, and night photography with but one camera ! The miniature camera does them all by merely using a lens or device designed for the particular work at hand. The several cameras which make use of standard 35 mm. motion picture film have in this respect a tremendous advantage of the roll film cameras. Many enthusiasts feel that because a battery of lenses is available for the miniature camera, they have to have them all. This is nonsense. Some of the most successful workers use but one lens, usually the so-called "standard" lens of two inch focal length. The other lenses have their purpose of course, and sometimes, in certain types of work, one or more will be demanded, but he who knows his one lens can do wonders with it. It is amazing how few amateurs really know how to handle their lens equipment. So many things can be done with the focus, depth of field, ~*r Diagram showing how the Automatic Focusing Range-Finder operates. and diaphragm stops that it is a shame that better use is not made of them. The worker limited to his one lens by no means feels handicapped if he knows and understands it. On the other hand, other workers possessing several different lenses cannot turn out a single good photograph, no matter how they try. They simply haven't thought it necessary to study their equipment a bit. The man who understands his camera is the one who produces consistently good results. This should be a strong hint for many of you who have so far failed to turn out satisfactory results. There is considerable literature now available from which the ambitious worker can secure additional informa E.Leirz.Wetzlar Looking down into the mechanism of the Leica Camera. tion about his equipment and miniature photography in general. Books include The Leica Handbook, The Leica H. D. McCarty using his Cine Kodak Special on the races. Shooting pictures from a speed-boat is no cinch. When it comes to action shots the miniature camera is right there with the goods. The Elmar 135 mm. focus lens, stopped to f:4.5 with a shutter speed of only l/200th second produced this result on Eastman Panatomic film. Photos by A. A. Chapman. Data Book, The Book of the Miniature Camera, The Miniature Negative, Its Development and Care, and Modern Photography With Modern Miniature Cameras. More titles are constantly appearing, so the old excuse of not being able to find information no longer holds good. The fact that enlarging must usually be resorted to when using the miniature camera is a decided advantage. Projection printing is today considered the standard method of making prints, regardless of the size of the negative. Enlarging permits dodging, trimming, blocking and shading, to say nothing of altering the shape and size of the picture — all without damaging the negative. Detail and atmosphere can be secured by means of the enlarger which would be utterly out of the question in a contact print. Thus the process of enlarging is an advantage, and should not be regarded as a drudge proposition belonging only to miniature photography. Come to understand the baby camera. Study it. Experiment with it. Read up on the subject in books and magazines (including THE INTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER). You will very likely be amazed at the progress you make as time goes on. If you now are "luke-warm" on the subject of the miniature camera, you will soon realize that you can never again do without it. The International Photographer was the first publication in its field to reduce its subscription rate. Please mention The International Photographer when corresponding with advertisers.