Amateur Photographer & Cinematographer (1933)

November 8th, 1933 Tw AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER p 6 CINEMATOGRAPHER o A New Drem Meter. Another of those handy little exposure meters which the Drem undertaking have introduced in late years has ar¬ rived in the form of the " Contaxcop ” (Drem Products, Ltd., 37, Bedford Street, Strand, W.C.2). Primarily it is intended for use with the delightful little Contax camera of the Zeiss Ikon firm, and its diaphragm markings have been arranged to coincide with the apertures of the Zeiss lenses fitted to the Contax, •with the addition of an aperture of f/i, which I have not yet met in a lens for hand cameras, but may do some day ! Though designed to go with the Contax, the new meter is equally serviceable with any other camera which has stops and a shutter with variable speeds — in fact, I have used it for my 16-mm. cine exposures. Like the other Drem meters, beginning with the original Justophot, and right up to the most modem, it is a tubular meter of the extinction tvpe. It has two discs inside it, one white and the other pale green, and the exposure is calculated by the extinction of the figure on the green disc. The film and plate speed scale is in Scheiner degrees, and there is an adjustment to take into account the strength of a filter up to one of eight times density. I am one of those who believe that we are still waiting for the absolutely ideal meter which will distinguish be¬ tween the sensitivity of "ordinary” plates and films, and the sensitivity of “ pan ” plates and films, especially in a yellowish light ; but till I see such an article in sight (and there is not yet one on the market) I shall still find these extinction meters, when properly used, one of the best aids to good photography we have. The “ Contaxcop ” cost 30s., and as it is less than three inches long will go comfortably into anv ordinarv pocket. Mickey Mouse in the Home. The lantern in the home needs slides, and (whisper it gently) the family may in time get weary of seeing nothing but father’s own slides. Any father who shows slides to his young family and their friends has cause to be grateful to Ensign, Ltd., for bringing Mickey Mouse, that fascinating little American, to his aid. First there are the Mickey Mouse " J.L.” slides of standard size — packets of eight “ stills ” from Mickey’s thrilling adventures, which cost 2s. 6d. for the packet of eight. There are eleven sets already of these slides which can be shown in an ordinary lantern. They are based on the " Mickey Mouse Movie Stories,” a book which is selling faster than hot cakes. Father can read the story from the book or from the script that goes with each set of eight slides. If father hasn’t a lantern yet, he can get a simple, serviceable home lantern for these slides known as the " Mickey Mouse ” Lantern, for 27s. 6d., plus 2s. id. for the lamp, which will give him a bright picture 4 ft. square, in which also he can show his own standard size slides. It is just plugged in to an ordinary house circuit. This lantern is supplied with one set of " Mickey Mouse ” slides included in the price, but no lamp. But this is not all. Mickey, always hard-working, is to work still harder to amuse British children this winter. Toy lantern sets of eight pictures in miniature size are supplied for a toy lantern, each set with reading matter written simply. These will give the youngsters a feast of fun. The sets of miniature slides cost only sixpence the set, reading matter included. The “ Mickey Mouse ” Toy Lantern is a joy in itself. It is a kind of pocket torch with battery and bulb which looks at first like an inexpensive cycle lamp. The slides slip into a slot, four pictures on each slide, and the young¬ ster, holding the toy lantern in his hand, can project the " Mickey Mouse ” story on the wall, or on a screen. Even as he lies in bed he can project the pictures on the ceiling. There will be thousands of the children of amateur photo¬ graphers who will get presents of these “ Mickey Mouse slides this Christmas. A Film for Dull Days. “ Faster and faster still ” appears to be the slogan of the film-maker, and there is apparently no limit in sight to which the speed of modern emulsions can be pushed. The new Agfa " Isochrom ” film is a case in point. Already the Agfa firm has produced panchromatic roll and pack films of remarkable speed and quality. The new “ Iso¬ chrom ” claims a rating of 26° Scheiner, or H. & D. 2700. Tests have demonstrated that this claim can be taken seriously, as its speed to daylight is extraordinary. For dull and rainy days during the winter months it should be ideal, as well-exposed snapshots can be secured in the late afternoon, when an ordinarv film would be hopelessly under-exposed. Indoor photographv and night work with artificial-light illumination become easy with a film of this speed. In addition to its speed quality the “ Isochrom ” shows a latitude and range of gradation unusual in emulsions of this character. It has a fine grain which fits it admirably for the modern miniature camera, and a colour-sensitiveness almost panchromatic in character. The backing is in¬ corporated in the film, which gives a marked freedom from halation. It has been put on the market in roll and pack forms, and, if difficult to obtain from any dealer, can be secured direct from Agfa, Ltd., 1-4, Lawrence Street, High Street, London, W.C.2. 436 2i