Kinematograph Year Book 1942 (1942)

284 The Kinematograph Year Book James A. Sinclair & Co., Ltd. — The demand for the "N.S." Auto Kine. cameras has vastly exceeded the works' output in the current year, for it has now been abundantly realised that this range of cameras is particularly suitable and useful for topical, news-reel, documentary and like work. The Model E is the latest development, and allows the fitting of lenses of focal length from 1 in. upwards, automatic lock of the film at the conclusion of a shot, and an improved releasing device for the mechanism. Each lens on the Model E is mounted on a separate panel, easily and expeditiously removable ; whilst the focussing sight, which shows the full frame the right way up and the right way round, is now built in with the eye-piece brought ud to a convenient point on the camera side. It is anticipated that the Model E and the Model D will be the staple output. The latter is the Turret type, carrying four lenses, and with the unusual feature that the turret can be rotated without removing the 1 in. lens. At the moment, only priority orders can be accepted and even then delay in delivery is inevitable. W. Vinten, Ltd. — Notwithstanding that the main resources of the company are concentrated upon the war effort, they still do not neglect the requirements of both studio and laboratory departments of the Industry. Many cameras and instruments; both special prototypes and standard, are being produced in the Vinten workshops, but their further development obviously cannot be proceeded with at the present moment. This applies, of course, to the new studio camera upon which W. Vinten have been working, which cannot yet be put into production. Considerable interest, however, is being evinced in the design, which incorporates several entirely new features, including reflex shutter. The year has shown no decrease in the popularity of their well-tried Model " H " camera, which particularly is in demand by the Services and in the Indian market. The requirements of war research have naturally also witnessed an increased demand for the firm's high-speed cameras — -the 3,000 p.p.s. and 300 p.p.s. — both of which have been considerably improved. The former, which runs 400 ft. of films at full speed, has been employed for the solution of many interesting problems involving high-speed machinery. A feature of the latter camera, of course, is the comparatively lengthy shots available at high speeds — i.e., 10 seconds at 275 p. p.m. Meanwhile, Vinten's friends in the trade are assured that their service is as efficient and, as far as possible, as expedient as at any time in the past. STUDIO ILLUMINATION. LIGHT technique has a tendency to run in cycles, following closely, as would be expected, changes and improvements in negative stock. Previous cycles include the introduction of large-wattage bulbs to meet the needs of the early panchromatic stock and the improved and silent arcs which followed the new three-colour Technicolor. As sensitivity of emulsions made great strides, the size of the lighting unit proportionally decreased until the revolutionary 150-watt Frensel lens unit made its appearance. This first found use in Hollywood for studio portraits at the Warner plant. Coated lenses with their increased depth of focus again changed lighting technique, due entirely to the impossibility of using diffusing media on the camera — as its use reverted the lens to its /. stop prior to the application of the Fluoride coating — and new lighting methods had to be evolved. This unexpected snag was overcome either by increasing the amount of diffusion of the lighting units or using smaller units controlled by small resistances, a method now in general use both here and in Hollywood. Fluorescent lamps have also undergone development, and many of the newer forms have found increasing use in the production field, chiefly in the make-up and art departments. Several, however, are of beneficial use in Technicolor production and have been used both for close-up work, due to