Principles of cinematography : a handbook of motion picture technology (1953)

CHAPTER 12 16-mm CAMERAS AND ACCESSORIES General Survey Since 16-mm cinematography was originally introduced as a purely amateur hobby, it is not surprising that the majority of cameras available for use with film of this size leave something to be desired by those who wish to produce films of a more serious character. The purpose for which the various cameras are intended will be more readily appreciated if the users of such equipment are first classified into groups according to their requirements. The largest of these groups consists of those amateurs who are not attached to any organisation, such as a 'film society' or Industrial undertaking, and who merely use 16-mm cinematography in much the same way that other people use 'still' photography. As is well known, the casual user of 'still' cameras is not interested in the processes involved in obtaining a photograph and is quite content to expose a roll of film, hand it to a chemist and, in due course, to receive a set of contact prints. In much the same manner a large number of people are only interested in 16-mm cinematography as a means to secure similar casual records of events but, in this instance, to have such records in the form of a 'movie'. Since these people form a relatively large section of the total number of potential cine-camera user, it is obvious that some form of camera must be available which is simple to operate and which will, as nearly as possible, comply with the popular conception of photography, namely, 'You push the button We do the rest'. The second group of 16-mm film users may be considered to be those who have 'graduated' from the first type and, having realised some of the possibilities of such films, have taken their hobby more seriously and, in consequence, have quickly discovered 340