American cinematographer (Jan-Dec 1926)

Record Details:

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March, 1926 AMERICAN CINEMATOGRAPHER Nine Boyle Invents "Close-Up Long-Shot" Device qA. S. C. Member Devises Invention to Combine Tivo Standard Cameras for Two Shots of Same Subject. Record Is Put on Film in Same Photographing Operation. Bij Itlaxujell Shane Of the greatest interest to motion picture people, and also to those scientists using the motion picture camera in any way, is the announcement that John W. Boyle, A. S. C, has invented a device by which two negatives can be secured with one "set-up1' of the tripod. Experiments Cameramen who have seen the device in operation are of the opinion that it will revolutionize that process of cinematography known as "panoramism," and will also eliminate much of the time wasted at present in matching up close-shots with corresponding long shots. Simple as it may seem on description, the device fills a crying need of cinematographers, and is the result of several years of hard work on the part of Mr. Boyle. Operation Briefly, the device consists of a metal block, which is clamped to the top of an Akeley camera, and to which a Bell and Howell camera is in turn clamped by its bottom side. Both lenses, that of the Akeley and that of the Bell and Howell, are set to cover the same field. The device operates in this manner: the 1 ^'r^flHRs ^' ff\Rj ajrgB i i ^£, WmmJFmS P¥ John If . Boyle, A. S. C, explaining his dual camera device to Anna O. Nilsson, who is being featured in First National's "Her Second Chance," on which Boyle is using his invention. Akeley camera i s handcranked as usual, but the Bell and Howell is operated by a motor drive. Both cameras, in this way, revolve on the perfectly balanced Akeley tripod. Duplex This duplex arrangement makes it possible to secure at the same time not only two perfectly matched negatives, but it will also provide the director with a perfectly matched long shot and closeup at the same time, whenever desired. In order to procure the long shot and close-up simultaneously it is merely necessary to fit one camera with a wide lens for the long shot and the other camera with a long focus lens for the close-up. In this way much time is saved for the director in eliminating the necessity for retaking the same action in a far and near set-up. Principle The element of ameliorated panoramic potentiality is explained as follows: ordinarily it is necessary to use two separate camera units each on individual tripods. When a panorama of more than one hundred eighty degrees i s taken, the instruments come within photographic range of each other, thus spoiling at least one of the negatives. Mr. Boyle's method eliminates this possibility as one camera is above the other instead of alongside. It also eliminates the necessity for two camera operators, a necessity which is often impossible to comply with. Advantages With these objects in view, that of saving time, that of matching negatives perfectly, that of attaining a better panorama, that of obtaining close