American cinematographer (Jan-Dec 1946)

DuPont Perfects Film for Television A new motion picture film which greatly facilitates the telecasting of pub¬ lic events within a few hours of their oc¬ currence and produces improved televi¬ sion images was introduced to a New York television audience recently in a joint Du Pont-NBC demonstration over station WNBT. Newscameramen from the National Broadcasting Company used the new “Telefilm” to make pictures of a full dress parade and presidential color cere¬ mony in Washington that afternoon. Im¬ mediately after the Washington cere¬ mony the exposed stock was developed, flown to New York, and used in nega¬ tive form with the WNBT television film camera reversing the image electrically to its positive form. Pictures of the event were broadcast just a few hours after coverage had been completed. Similar telecasts of newsworthy events have not always been feasible, according to television engineers, because lack of time or complications in setting up heavy television equipment did not permit di¬ rect broadcast. The new film, used in an ordinary movie camera, is designed to cope with such conditions. It makes a news-reel available for broadcast as soon as it has been developed. The film can be broadcast either as a positive or negative. When used as a negative, it is reversed electrically and broadcast for normal reception. This eliminates one processing step and in cases of sudden news breaks where speed is essential, television stations are able to present negative film without the de¬ lay involved in making positive prints. The method of using negative film to broadcast a positive picture was describ¬ ed as a relatively simple process. NBC engineers explained that at each stage of signal amplification in the television sys¬ tem the picture is reversed either from negative to positive or positive to nega¬ tive as it passes through an amplifier tube. If a negative film is being televis¬ ed, modification of one amplifier stage in the system results in a positive picture in the receiving tube. On a number of previous occasions negative motion pic¬ ture film has been broadcast by station WNBT. The new film, however, brings much more satisfactory results, engi¬ neers said. This film carries a special emulsion to pick up detail in both highlights and shadows of outdoor scenes,, according to Du Pont film technicians. This emulsion was developed as a result of intensive re¬ search at the Du Pont film laboratories in Parlin, New Jersey. The importance of additional detail to television is great. In telecasting any motion picture film there is some loss in gradation of tones on receiving screens. By providing a greater latitude in light range, the new film will permit more de¬ tail in outdoor action, which in turn will give television images with more clarity. Microfilm Division of Pathe for Bell 6 Howell Bell & Howell Company has acquired the physical assets and patents of the Microfilm Division of Pathe Industries; according to announcement of J. H. McNabb, president of B & H. He added that a complete microfilm division had been organized at the company’s Lincolnwood plants, to include engineering, produc¬ tion, sales, and service. F. L. Rogers has been appointed to direct sales and service operations. Royal Photographic Society Honors George Pearson George Pearson, British film pioneer, has been awarded Honorary Fellowship in the Royal Photographic Society. As early as 1918, he joined in formation of Welsh-Pearson Film, Ltd., and is still making films as director-in-chief of the British Government’s Colonial Films unit. During more than 30 years in the film business, Pearson has directed more than 300 pictures, including in excess of 30 sound films; written 38 originals, 118 scenarios and produced 25 films. ...the image on the screen . . . The goal of all motion picture photography is the image projected on the screen. The quality of image produced by Baltar — both in color and black-andwhite — has won quick acclaim from those who have tried this superb series. Eight focal lengths, 152mm, /: 2.7; 100mm, 75mm, 50mm, 40mm, 35mm, 30mm, and 2 5mm,/:2.3, all Balcote anti-reflection coated for in¬ creased transmission and elimination of flare. Bausch & Lomb Optical Co., 597 Smith St., Rochester 2, N. Y. Baltars are available through manufac¬ turers of professional camera equipment. BAUSCH 6 LOMB ESTABLISHED 1853 American Cinematographer • September, 1946 325