American cinematographer (December 1933)

318 American Cinematographer • December 1933 WHEELS OF 35mm for Rolleflex • According to an announcement from Burleigh Brooks, American distributor of the popular Rolleflex camera, there is now available for that camera an attachment that makes it possible to use 35mm film. This attachment consists of only a few parts: a new back that hinges to the back of the camera in the same manner as the regular back; a film guide that snaps in place and a mask to fit in the focusing ground glass to show the correct size. The film cartridge holds sufficient 35mm motion picture film to make thir- ty-six exposures, double size frames and is loaded much in the same manner as the regular film. The film counter lo- cated on the back of the camera is then set at No. 1 and the transport of the film is effected by pressing down on the lever on the side as with the ordinary film. The perforations of the film as it passes through the camera operate the film counter. There is also a device to cut the film and remove it for develop- ing before the film is fully exposed. Rolling Tripod • Andre Debrie, Inc., announces a roll- ing tripod. This rolling tripod is said to be an improvement on the so-called “dollies” since it can be operated by the cameraman himself, steers easily like an automobile, raises and lowers and is so constructed that the legs are not in the way of the cameraman or his assist- ant. 16mm Film Laboratory • Sunny Schick, motion picture equip- ment broker and owner of the Atlas Film Company, announces the open- ing of their new DuPont Film Lab- oratories which will occupy new quar- ters in their newly constructed building at 401 W. Washington Boulevard, Fort Wayne, Indiana. The plant is of the latest type in con- struction and its capacity is the develop- ing of 500 rolls of movie film per month. The plant is fully equipped to handle reversing process of film as well as du- plicate printing and enlarging. Also the development of Leica and Contax strip film and the printing of same. Mr. R. D. Kimmel, formerly of Des Moines, Iowa, well known as a film spe- cialist is in charge of the Atlas Film Com- pany plant as supervisor. 16mm Direct Viewer • The Bell & Howell Film Editor has been improved by the application of a new picture viewing unit, the Bell & Howell Direct Viewer. With this new unit, the picture image is cast upon a translucent glass screen, 1 V 2 x 1 -1 /1 6 inches in size, where it is visible from a normal sitting position. The picture is studied with all the com- fort and freedom from strain that char- acterize actual movie projection. 16mm film is drawn through a scratch-proof channel, in the new Direct Viewer, just as in the former viewing device. The channel has upper and low- er plates which are hinged to open wide for inserting and removing film. An- other hinge permits the entire unit to be swung back behind the path of the film when rewinding. New Leica Lenses • E. Leitz, Inc., announces a new fifty millimeter lens, the Summar F:2, which possesses important characteristics This lens, due to a revolutionary optical de- sign, produces needlesharp crispness, even when used at its widest aperture. Be- cause of this, it is not to be confused with so-called “speed lenses,” according to the announcement, which sacrifice sharpness and definition for the sake of speed. It may therefore be used as an “all-purpose” lens on the Leica. When stopped down, its sharpness and depth INDUSTRY remain normal as is customary with the more normal lenses. A new 35mm Hektor lens is an- nounced with the Summar lens. This lens is identical to the Elmar lens of the same speed and focal length, but its lens design is quite different. It pos- sesses a remarkable flatness of field and color correction, hence is a valuable lens for those who require these qualities. Both the new Summar and Hektor lenses may be obtained in the regular or chromium mountings. The Summar comes in two styles, one a fixed or rigid mount- ing, the other in collapsible form like the other 50mm Leica objectives. Exposure Calculator • Burroughs Wellcome & Company an- nounce the publication of their 1934 Photographic Exposure Calculator and Handbook. This little book with its many formulas and authentic photo- graphic information together with its method of calculating exposure has been the guide for many photographers dur- ing the many years it has been published. Its novel exposure calculator based upon latitude in which the picture is be- ing taken and the speeds of the various types of film both motion picture and still has always been a very fine feature of this little book. Industrial Pictures • According to an announcement from Castle Films, sound-on-film motion pic- tures for business use in the United States and Canada will henceforth be made exclusively with RCA-Victor Pho- tophone equipment. A contract just signed by Castle Films gives this com- pany full rights to Photophone facilities for its nation-wide work in the business motion picture field. In addition to the RCA-Victor Photo- phone recording equipment, another RCA-Victor development, 16mm sound- on-film, is being employed by Castle Films. The perfection of sound pictures on 16mm film makes this medium both practical and economical for advertising and sales promotion work. With the new film, showings can be made to large audiences with equipment that can be packed in two cases that one man can handle.