Photography reference
Ensign handbook of photography — part 1 Product booklet
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The
..ENSIGN''
HANDBOOK
of Photography.
I n a F o r e w o r d
and Tett, Cltapters.
B Y
w. L. F. WASTELL, F.R.P.S.
and PERCY G. R. WRIGHT.
PRICE: TWOPENCE.
( Post -Free, Threelcnce.)View original page 3Page 5 · Read text
The Simplicity
of Photography.
A -foreutot'tl shozuing horu easy
it zs to ntake good pi,ctures.
IGHT away back, in the beginning of things when R
lL the cave dweller first hacked out pictures on the
rough stone slabs surrounding his rneagre resi_
dence, his adrniring friends and relations used to gather
rclund hin and lvonder hor,v on earth he managecl to do
'flrey
it. didrr't express their rvorrder verbally. Oh no,
thev rvere far too cute for that, but they gathered rouncl
and rvondered all the same. And so it has been all
through tl" that succeedecl. The r-nan tr,ho turns "g",
out pictures, be thet'ever so cnrde, is nel,er rvithout the
unversed spectators rvho, in their heart of hearts, are
jealous of that nan's skill and n'ish that it 'rvas in their
polver to emulate his efforts. No,w-a-c1a1's,tharrks to
the progress of science ancl the pultlic-spirited competition
of rnanufacturers (it isn't really'public spirit that actuates
thenr, but thev preteud it is) a n(i\\' po\ve r iras lreen placecl
in the hands of the rvouid-be picture. rnrllir:r. T'irat porver
is photography, and it is thi: intention,rf this little book
to shon' horv absurclly simple that fasciriating pursuit
really is.
Ever so many people rvho have, at one time or other,
ventured to conmence photography, have been told that
it is an expensive hobby and one in which expenses are
continualll' recurring. \\rell don't you believe them.View original page 5Page 6 · Read text
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N O T X P E N S T V E 4
Photography catt bt practisecl, attd practisccl sltcccrssftllly,
too, just as cheapl)' o:lc's p.lrs: demands. Still, sttch
"= of the fascinating ai-t. that yortare the enorlltr)usrcs()llrccs
Can SpCnclptractiCallv att\" atnOttttt of trtt)llCv crit it, aticl
if V<lUr titrt.r il:ril ilit',..rttteperttrit, \'otl IiIfV spond \'()ur
l'holc life taliing artcl ft
g pltotograpirs a li i n nr
ollce rvislt- ;{'fr ever u'ithout
irrg, rvith Alexander, that
thcre \\'erc other rvorlcls
to conqtier. Ancther
grcat point is that photo-
graphv is ncvcr out of
scason. Wirttcr aucl stttn-
nrt'r, arrttttn:r ancl spring,
irr the tropit's, or irr the
ar-ctic rcgioris cithcr: lri'
c1e1' or t,i' night, thcre
is alrt'a-t's sotnething
that car] be donc. I f
moile\- is a consideration,
)'ou carr but'a cAinrrra for 7s. 6c1 that rvill talie jr-rst as
good photographs as one that costs fiitv pounds. Of
cotlrse, you \yoLllcln'i be ablc to talic quitc srtch a u'ide
raltge of subjects, brrt then thc man rvho irxJ-s fift1' prtuncls
for a canl'ra rn'-rstheve sorrle points tiiat iic c-r r bc prorrcl
of, 1-r:'siclcsbeing able to gloat over al I thc' beautilul trttings
'Ihe't'attd d'iclges that his carncra woulci bc fittcd u'ith.
rt'ould ltoth havc ti-i usc cxactlr' thc samc meterials
and therc thc cconomist rvorrld score bccarrsc qrrarter-View original page 6Page 7 · Read text
A B I T O F A D V I C E
plates cost fiftecn pence a dcrzcn anyrvhere. They are
the best plates in the market, too, ancl there isn't a
superior variety for the Supenor camera. No, the
question of expense in photographv is purely a personal
one. ()ne photo3-raphcr s'iil purcrhase the absoltrtely
tlecessaryapparattts attcl tDate'rial urrcl tnrn orrt ercellent
photographs l'hich rvill not co:t hi'r more than one ancl
nlne pence
a d o z e n
(or if he
only rvants
*nall ones
they u'ill
cost about
half that
p r i c e ) n
while arl-
rther oite
tvill briv er'€ry rle\v fangled doclg'c that is put on the
nrarket ancl his pr:ints n'ill cost him trvo or three shillings
caclr. The-r $'or1't be ar-rr-better photographs though.
Th:n there is another bit of advice that the r,vould-be
photographer n'ill receive fronr somebody )r other
rviro has triecl photography ancl failed. The aclvice
rviir be " Don't." There are some people who always
rail and just because these people hate to see cilrers
SUoc€r;C,they u'iil do their level best to prevent others
tr:ying. Norv l'ith photograpirl,', like a goocl many other
things there are aln'a)'s sorne people rvho will not follow
the nrles of the ganre.View original page 7Page 8 · Read text
iI www.orphancameras.com
{ F O T . L O W T H E R U L E S
If a man tries to take a photograph without reading I
tlre brtoklet that ar:compatries his camera he is just
courtirrg clisasterr. It's br.ntnd to come. When pltr I
doctor gives you a brittle of medicine and directs you
to take a teaspoonful three times tlaily, you don't rub
it on vour back ancl therr expect tr-r get well. You
n'olrldrt't gct w'ell attcl n,itticl prubal-rly cornplain that
the rnecli-
e n l e w a s
Ito good or
the ckrctor
trvas a fool,
all because T
yorr clidn't
{ o l l o r v
h i s i n -
st;uct ions.
Pcople do
things quite es m:l<l as this irt c.otttntencing photograpiry.
Thcv buy & c?frx:ra attd leavc the accornpairl:i1'g boohlet
in the box. Then the;' play about rvith the instrument
as if it were a doll's house or a musical box ; they open
it and shuL it and set off all the things tl-rat click or sLap
ancl think they havc found out all there is to kncw,
'lhe book will probabl-v tcll thetn that " snap-sfiols "-
it's a horrid n'ord but one must use it-must onll' br
attempted orl a bright sunny da)' in the open. But
they don't looir at the poor book and they snap arval' at
anything, anvwhere, indoors, out of doors, in churches,
under the trees and in darl< streets cxpecting to obtainView original page 8Page 9 · Read text
S N A P S H O T S I N A C H U R C T T . a good result from each exposure. Well they don't and rvhat happens ? The catnera is blamed, the platcs or films were bad, in fact everything is wrong except the fatuous photographer, who after a ferv similar experi- nrents gives it up and tells people that " Photography is rotten, it's atr absolute tnug's game. I've tried ald I knotv." W e l l tlrc'rc .rre peoplervho Iare grttc(L rvith a ctlir.- s i c l e r a b l c atnottttt o f ffi C O I I I I I I ( ) T I s c lI S C it t t d i t i s t o t h e s e p c 0 p l e that this booli is a,,ltlrcsscc[, Photograpliy rvill dcr 1l,:lt 9f tftilgs |ut it \\'oll'1 11',rrk ttriracles arrd uothing slrort of a utiracle rvill give a lllalt at gotld restrlt from a " snal)-sltot " irr a clar:k chttrc',h' \'et httnclreds and lrrrrrrlretls of llcople have tried to clo it. J ust thinl< u'hat it IneatIS. I'hc arctir-rtrof :.t shtttter oll a Catnera pernrits tr ray of light to enter for a fractiorl of a second and in that tiny portion of titne the plate or film has tr-r " See " attcl rcceive an itnpreSsiorr of what is in front of tlr,e lens. Now in a church or a dark interior, the light rvarrts to soak itr and the impression cannot be receivedView original page 9
Page 10 · Read text
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A C O A L C E L L A R E X P E R I M E N T .
instantaneousl)'. Suppose you go into a coal cellar or
some dark place rvhich has only a very small rvindorv.
Go in rvith your eyes shut and tvhen you are safely
inside, open and shut your eyes just as fast as ever
you can do it. What rvould you see ? Probably nothing
at all. If you were facing the rvindorv you might see
just cne patch c-f light, but that's all. Nolv repeat the
expcritncnt otit in the open air irl the sunshine and in
that frac':ion of tinre rvhen your e1 es lvere open .vour
brain rvould have received an itnpressiou of everything
in the angle of vision. If 1'ou rerneruber that the e1'c
o f t h e
C a m e r a ,
rvhich i s
the lerts,
1 S V e r y
much lilie
)'our o\\rl]
€ Y e , y o u
rvil l Lrave
l e a i n e c l
a g o o d
dcal m.ore
about photugraphy tharr tirc illerl rvho attempts the
impossible.
When ]-rru want ti-i talie phutograpirs in a roc)ln or'
solnc fairiv rlarli place vou rnust give the lens a chancc
'finle ancl therefc-rrc you han,e to gir,-e urhat is callecl a " "
csposure rvhich lear.'es thc " eyc " opell for u strlheierrt
t'ime to record what is iir front of it. After all, thisView original page 10Page 11 · Read text
R t r . t r N J O Y H O L l D A Y S reasoning is onl,v CCmmot] SCI^Seand if Ccmmon sense is appliecl to photographl' thcre rt i11 be no cliffrculties in it. Ancl rvhat a rvonCr rftil l:cbbv photography is. Harreri't r-ou fclt jcalrltls scnretjttrcs u'ltctr a friend has brought out a little illbrtnr of prints arld pointed out ail tlte belrr.rtiful plac€s he visitcd on iris holidarr-s. Horv his r-iervs havc gir-crl evervolle a tastc of tlic pleasttrcs he has expcricttccd ancl \'ou liavc stood in the group ancl longccl to irave bccn able to take photographs of the things J'ct,'t', seen. Wltcn J'our hollc-iavs arc o\-cr )'t.lu lttav retnrrnbcr theur r',tttrsclf, br-rt vou catt't teli PcoPie ex:rctlv horv jollf it ail rvas ; besiclcs theY probably s-cluldtr't rvaut to hcar about t hcut tttrlcss )-o tl ct.tilJ shott' sollle photograpiis as rvcll. Yort carttr<tt evelr re- rrrernber all the little cletails of your holi- davs 1'ururself, if You han'c IIO aicl ttr rirelrrory in thc sltapc crI notes or a Catnera, atid in a icar ci t'ii"; ,l'c'"i 1vill forget all about the holiday csccpt pcrhaps onc or t\\to of tlic lcacling fc:ttttrt's liut urhelr you har-e a collection of photographs tcr rcrrtind you of all the little incicletrtsView original page 11
Page 12 · Read text
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F O R G E T T I N G F R I E N D S .
that made things so enjovable, your holidays remain as
fresh and as interesting as they seemed the day you
rctunred. What a pleasure it is to look through your
prints again and again. What friendships you have
missed because you had nothing to brirrg yc-ru in con+act
n'ith some of those charming people you rnet. Think $^I
horv everyone rvould have appreciatecl a ferv prints of
that picnic party rvhere you all had such a good tinre
arrcl hcxv glacl you would have been to hear from therrr
again. If you had a
Camera you rvould
be justified in rvriting
to them and sending
sorne prints along,
but as you hadn't,
you had rrothing
special to l'ritc atrout
and probably misscd
rvlimt rnight hatvc
b e c n ' a l i f e - l o t r g
fricn clsliip.
T l i i s b o o k i s
cspccially addrcssecl
to thosc rvho rnight
bc photographcrs arrd
\vc rvant to puli
dorvn that fence of
mystery that has gradually bcen buiit up round the
trtarripuiatir:rrsof the Camera. Ileally there is rro
nrystery at all ; it is sirrrply the want of explanation
vul.View original page 12Page 13 · Read text
T H E M Y S T E R Y I M P R E S S I O N
that has created the mvstery intpression. \A/e will
suppose that )ron have purchasecl a Camera and rvant
to take a vierv for the first tirne. If it is a hand
Camera, that is, one that is carried in the hand anrl
is not placed on a tripod, you will first oL all reacl
'I'histhe little booklet rvhich accompanies it. will
cxplain horv to load it and teach you all thc rrril:g-
r n e n t s ,
rvliich arc
usualll'as
simple as
'\. B.C
I h c r - r
]'o rt g ()
out aricl
arc rcady
to start
r i g h t a -
\\'av.
Pcrhaps it is best to malic all the nilovetnents of taking
a photograph before yoll prit thc scnsitivc platcs jn l-.rut
tht: boolilct l'ill tcli yotr that etnd wc rvill assurrre that
\-ott kttotv rvhich buttorr to prcss and rvhich lirrob to ttrrrt
for cacrh opcratirtn. Flarrd Canteras are lrll fitted rvith
littlc reflecting openings called " finclers " arrcl a sinrilerr
vierv to the onc you sec on your finder will be trans-
tnitted through the lens to your sensitive plate when
)-ou open yorlr shutter. All you have to clo thr:rcfore
is to be careful that the finder contains everything yotr
rvant on the plate. If you are takirig a lull trengthView original page 13Page 14 · Read text
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B E C A R E I I U L
portrait, for instarc€1 and you clo not see the feet of
)/our model in tlte fi.nder, ,vou m'rst go a little further
back until )-ou c1o. Tiren vou nrtist be cart.ful tc sce
that the branchcs of a trcc or the con er of a house, or
anything else that 1'ou clon't \-,-ant, cloes not poke obtru-
sively into your picture. A tiny ic;rf close to the camera ? \
that is hardly noticeable or] thc 11ndcr nlay make an
ugly blurr on the piatc but if y'ou are crrcfrrl you rvill
never have to rvorry about rvhat the result rvill be like ;
you can be sure that nothing is wrong. When every-
thing is settled to )our satisfaction just press the catch
rvhich releases thc shutter, and your pl of rgraph is
taken. Notv vou rn'.rst change the plate so that therc
may be no doubts afterrvards as to s'hether you ciranged
it c-rrnot. Directly tire plate has gone dorvn (or if it is
a lilm Camera you see a new number has appeared), you
ktrorv everything is readv for another exposure and you
can go on
m a k i n g
p i c t u r e s
uniil all
thc plates
.arc used.
N o r v
c o n l e s
w h a t
n l o s ' c
p e o p l e
tliink is the nrv,te.-ior.rspart, the rvork in thc clarii.iootir..
Thc plates or films you have been usirrg are very sensitiveView original page 14Page 15 · Read text
II
S H E S A T I N T H E S I J N .
to light and great care must be taken to respect that
sensitiveness. When ) ou buy a box of platcs you
will see all sorts oi cautions on it, " Ouly to be opencd
in the darli-roonr " aud so on and you must take
those instructions to heart. They are put on the box
rvith a purpose ar:.d not for fun. Once let any white
light get
to your *I'u
p l a t e s
b e f o r e
they are
developed
and you
l T l a y
t h r o w
t h e m
away at
oilcc. \\'c orrce heard of a lvould-be photographer who
opcncd hcr bos of plates nost carefully in a dark-room
artcl rvhen she liad rernoved all the plates she took them
out into the garden and sat on a seat in the sunlight t<-r
load her Carnera. Then she saicl she rvas sure the plates
must have been bad because they rvent black all over
as soon as she clevelopcd thern. WeIl, that sort of thing
is silll'. The plates must be taken out carefully in the
dark-rclorn by the light of a recl latnp arrd put into the
Catnera one by one until all the sheaths are full. Then
the Carnera is closed and must on no account bc c'pctrcd
again until you are back in -vottr dark-rootn. Iiilm
Carrteras carl bc loadecl in daylight atrcl althoughView original page 15Page 16 · Read text
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W H A T I T T E L L S .
reduce the time in the dark-room to a minimum. It
depends on the material you use.
Norv this is just a sort of outlinc of ri'irat v-ou do in
photography. The " Ensign " Flandbook erplains dctails
more fully, and the explanations i'ial.c bcen mac'le as
simplc as possible. Thef irave bccn u'ritten for those
who linorv nothing to start rvith. but rvho rvill har.c a
sound practical linorvlcdge of phot,rgraphy after they have
s t u d i c d
them. All
the expla-
n a t i o n s ,
and hints,
and advice
a r c t i r e
w c t r k o t
a ph ., t tt-
g r a p l i e r
l v h o n o t
orrlyknorvs
about photogrqphy, but knorvs horv to tcll others about
it in very cleai ancl sirnple language. If vou follow his
advice you rvill bg surprised to find horv much better
your photcrgraphic rvork is, el'en at the very beginning,
ithan what votr have seell other begirtners produce.
PercyG.It.lVrigltt.View original page 16Page 17 · Read text
A BRIEF DXPLANATION 'IERMSOF SO\IE OF THE ]'ECHNICAL USED
IN . RELJ\.TION TO A CATIERA.
THE CAMERA ITSELF.
Camera. A box or bc.lolvs fitted to two frames hoidrng the lens
at one end, and.the d,ry plate or film at the other. Its rrse irt'n pie"e"i
an,'llgnt reacirrrrg the plate except that passing through the^lcns.
., Box-F-ornr Nlagazine Camera. A Camera'' rvhich" .o"tai"r-'in
rticll a set ol six or twelve plates, each 6tting iuto a rrretal fr.errrer,i
shea1h.. By rneans of the changirrg. arrangem"ent "picture. eactr'piiie'i;^;;;; can be bro.ught into tc ieceive its llas't. b. l;;ii;ii -positi,,n or enrutied in a Dark- Roorn.
. Foldirrf .Plete Camera.- A light bellows Camera intendecl for use
rrr lne llincl or on a sta_nd. uses plates or flat films in Dark Slitles
or DayligLrt Loading Adapters.
. Bo,x-Iiorm Film Carnela. A Camera like a box, which can be
loaded in Dayiight rvith Roll Films. Very simple ;;;ji
tc use, ";'d "fi.;y,
l.olding Film Camera. A light bellows Camera that folds uo
vcry r.ompactly..for the.pocket. Loads rn Daylight witn nojf Fifmd. )ome nroocls plates wrll USe and adanters -fitted also -Camera A Camera. sc _ Itellex wrth an internal mirror
tl]a.i-tir,e prctrrre m.ay be.iocusseC and seen on g.orrnd g[r.;;;;;;
\\hrle the pirte is irr po_sition, rrsht up to thc mdment" of.-exposure.--
field Carnera. A Carncra fittcd \.\..ith bellows ana ouy i'"ie"ciea
[o be used on a stand.
THE LENS AND ITS TYPES.
optrcal part of the aoparatus, for condensing the . I-cns. - The. tttrage. of the thing photographed to be plate. cn to the It consists
S.tt1s1tnra. of one prece oi curved glass, and sometirnes of trvo
or more placed ia a brass tube, called the rnounr..
pttotagraphic, Nlcnisc.trs,-lens,Singlecomposedor I.anscapeof trvo Lens.simple lensesThe cernentedsimplest typet6letircrof
to h)ok lil'e one.
_- R.Il. Lens. Known as a " Rapicl Rectilinear," " Aplanat " or
Syrnrnetrical Lens. Consists of tlvo'Landscape I-cnses, oie mounte.l
at each end of a brass tube. Is {aster than-the X.lenrscus Lens ancl
is a 5 od universal Lens.
Anastir;n at Lenn. A very perfect fine and tvpe of Lens, com- ,. groatol-.:pced, blning rnct givin:1' of shdrper than the fo\...or lrictures the_ chrx[,er liinds. It renders possrble vcry short'expojures on
dull davs.
. I,orirait Atrachment. A len: to oe slippecl in ironi of the lens
tn, a notr-focussing Camera, cnall,ng portraits or near objects to be
1.rl(en .
\-1il(, Sf"fln lttt or.lrglrt.I.)iaphra(m.lasseq into A the_mcinsLt'nsof snr.trlclrnaking orthelarqer.openingSorrretinrcsthrough
tl'is is a rt'r'olving flate of 'retal rviin oificrc't sized holes in it. or
an arrangcment of little lcaves rnade of vulcanite or copper wliich
catr bc nradc 'l'hercto clnse 1p or orrel o,tt.
_ Focus. is c.ne posi:it,n for the rrlate in relation to the
I.er,s that eive tire shai.pest image of th'e subjecf pn"t"gr"pnea. _will .'l'his is callcd the For,us."-View original page 17Page 18 · Read text
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G L O S S A R Y
I)ust Cover. A rnetal plate moving in front of the lens to prt-'-
tect it fi-orrr dirt or injury,'A Fitted to Box Cameras.
Isochromatic Screen. yellow 6llass disc fitted into a metal
ring, eu:ri:rling- it to be placed-Films in front of the lerrs. For use rvith
Isoihrornatrr: l)lates or to secure brighter plctures.
l IIE SHUTTER AND ITS FITTINGS.
Shutter. A delicate piece of mechanism for opening and closing
the l-ens, cither rapidly br slorvly, so permitting the light to reach
the plate, rvhert a photograph is taken. A shutter that does not need
to be sei betwee,ri cach" eioo.u.e is called an " Everset " shutter.
Release. The rneans 6y which the shutter of the Camera is
worked when rnaking an exposure,
Tri€Ser or Fingei Release. A release operated by sliding or
pressing rvith tlre fingcr.
Pneumatic Release or Ball and Tube A means of pumping air
into a littlr: piston rvhich fires off the shutter.
[n1in.'us Release. A flexible rvire, the sliding end of rvhich,
rvhen presse,d, operates the shutter.
PLATE AND FILM HOLDERS.
Dark Slides. A little case to protect the plate from light until it
is in positiorr in the camera for iecciving the picture. Dark Slides are
of mt:t:rl to hold orre platc only, or of rvood to holcl tl'l'o plates.
Sheaths. Shallorv mctal framcs for holdirg one plate or flat
film. Used in box or X'Iagaz-ine Camerirs.
ChanginA Arranfement. A rnechanical contrivance fixed to a
box carnt'ra to allow the pl,rtcs after cxpo:ure to be rrtoved out o{ the
w:rv to l,crrrrit the nr:xt 1:1atc to rect'ivc its picture.
Adapt.r. A clcvit'c for cxptx;ing p'l:ttes contained in light-tight
paper errvelol;es or Iilat Filnrs irt Paclis.
OTIITJR PAITI'S OF' A CAMERA.
Ilack snd Pinion Focussing, A means of moving the 'lens t- -r
{ronr the pl:rtc, to sectrre the right focus.
{nfinitv (iatch. A catch fiiecl to the basebcard of a Camera,
hold,ing the front in p<'sitiorr rvhen the lens is in {or:tis for all objects
furthcr away than about 25 vards.
l)ouble Iixtensi,rn. A sliding fraurervork which rnal' be extended
beyond the norrnll b;iserboaril, so permitting a greater separatlon
betrveen thc krns and the 1,late. This is required when photograplt-
ing objects very riear to the camer:r, and lvhich are wanted big ia
the pici-urc, or for using a longer focus lens.
Tripod Screrr'. A hrrss screw rvith a but-terfly shaped 5631i, for
frxrng the carnera tr: a tripod or stand.
Bushes. Arc :;urrk bia:s sockets into rvhich the tripod screl is
insertecl to hold the Camera on to its stand.
l,evels. Small spirit levels to prevent the camera being held
crooke, ll1 .
Finder. A sort of little Camera, showing, on a small scale, the
approximate pictu|e that will appear in the finished photograph'
Focussin{ Screcn. A piece of €{lass, ground or etched on one
side and fitted into a frame at the back oI a Camera. It is used for
viewing the picture produced by the Lens and perrnitting it to be
focussed and arranged. Not used rvith Roll Film Cameras.View original page 18Page 19 · Read text
Chanter I. !fi
WllIChoosing the Camera.
vou make up vour mind to commenceT-IIRECTLY
r--, photography you wonder what cambra you had
better bry ; and, of course, this is an important
question. But there is no answer to the question that
would suit everybody. Some have a fancy for one
type of camera, and others for another.
To begin with it is not wise for the beginner to buy
an expensive and complicated instrument. A simple
one rvill be easier to use, and will do all that is required for
some time to come. Later on you may begin to wish
that your camera would do something that it is not
adapted for; and by that time you will have gained
some experience, you will know just what you want, and
you can select the verv camera that will exactly suit you.
Do not imagine that the quality of your v.ork depends
on the possession of a costly camera ; it depends almost
entirely on the care and thought you give it. If you
learn to do clean, pleasing rvork with tvhatever ca*1era
you buy, you will be able, later on, to do full justr_e to
the extra power placed in your hands by a better one.
Some cameras are specially made for use on a stand,
and these are not suitable for holding in the hand while
a photograph is taken. You are almost sure to prefer
a camera that can be held in the hand, and that is con-
venient for taking what are generally called, ,,snap-shots."
As a matter of fact such a camera can be used on a
stand (or tripod) just as well, when it is necessary ro
.give such a long exposure that you could. not hold theView original page 19Page 20 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
K I N D S O F C A M E R A S
camera perfectly still. Some cameras are called " hand
and stand " cameras, because they are equally suitable
for taking snap-shots in the hand or for putting on a
tripod for slower r,vork.
If you do
r r u t v t a n t
a carnera
t h a t w i l l
f o l d u p
very small,
p e r h a p s
s m a I I
enough to
s l i p i n t o
your poc-
ket, you might like a box-form magazine camera of the
" Klito " type. You rvill see that it is a sort of leather-
covered box ; and although not so compact as other
patterns, it is light and alrvays ready for use. It is
called a " rrtagazine " camera, because it contains a
store of plates-generally a flsygn-which can be exposed
and changed quite easily. There is no other sort of camera
that is easier to use. It wilt not do everything, but it
is splendid for all-round hand-camera work, and is a
capital camera to carry during a walk in the country
or a ramble by the sea.
The " Folding Klito " is fitted with bellows, so that
it will close up nice and small; but the plates are not
carried in a magazine in the camera, but separately in
ones or twos. Then there is the " Folding Ensign," a
lorv-price camera for roll films, whic,h also packs up quiteView original page 20Page 21 · Read text
M O R E K I N D S small; and there is the " Flush - Back Ensign," a better model, rvhich is also used for roll fi,lms. We rvill talk Presentl5' about the different Parts of a camera, and rvhat they are used for, aud you rvill then knorv n'hat you get and rvhat you do not get in any particular pattern of camera. Perhaps you hal'e heard a photographer S ? ! , " I o n l y l v i s h I h a d had my camerawith me," rvhen he has come unex- pectedly upon a good subject for a snap-shot, and has had to miss it. Of course, vou cannot ahvays carry about rvith vou a box-fortn camera' and even a folcling one may be too mltch to keep regularly in the pocket. But a little camera like the " Ensignette" is a real pocket companion. It is ready for use in a few rnoments, ancl hund.reds of capital pictures have been securecl rvith it by photographers rvho hat'e kept it handy in their pocket. Although the pictures it takes are rather small they can be enlarged easily jnto picture post- cards, or even into prints suitable for framing and hang- ing on the rvalls. If you can afford it you rvill fi.nd the "Ensignette" a jolly little camera to carry in your pocket even when you have a larger camera lvith you as well.View original page 21
Page 22 · Read text
www.orphancameras.com
C A R E O F C A M E R A
When you have become a really first-rate photo-
grapher, and are satisfied only with the very best results,
and want to attempt all sorts of diffi.cult subjects, you
will most likely want a " Reflex " camera. This has a
mirror inside it, so that you can see just rvhat you are
taking, and the rvhole camera is designed for dealing
with subjects that are very diffrcult lvith other cameras.
But at first you rvill want something much simpler and
easier to use.
Now lvhatever camera you buy to begin your
photography with, you should make up your mind that
you rvill thoroughly understand it, and learn to use it
rvell. Even if it costs only a few shillings you can do
good work rvith it if you use it properly. And take care
o f y o u r
c a m e r a .
K e e p i t
d r y a n d
free from
d u s t ,
handle it
gently,ancl
be on the
rvatch to
s e e t h a t
a l l i t s
working parts are in good order. lVhen you rvant to
change to another camera it wili be an advantage to
have your own in excellent condition, as you can then
sell it for a good price and so recover part of the cost
of vour new one.View original page 22Page 23 · Read text
Chapter II.
Parts of the
Camera.
fittings and adjustments the camera\I/HATEVER
V V mav have vou should understand the use and
purpose of them ail. So we will simply explain those
likely to be found.
Every camera has a lens, and although you need not
trouble about the particular name given it, there are
some points about it you must know. For every lens
there is an exact spot somewhere behind it where the
plate must be placed to receive a sharp and clear image
of what is in front of the lens. The distance from the
plate to the lens gives what is called the focus of the lens.
Thus, if the plate is 5 inches from the lens when it gives
a sharp image of distant objects we say the lens has a
focus of 5 inches. The longer the focus of the lens the
larger is the image of any given object. Suppose we
photographed a man with a lens of 4 inch focus, and his
image is r inch high ; then if we used a lens of 8 inch
focus his image would be z inches high.
If you examine the lens in your camera you will see
that the light not only has to pass through the glasses
of the lens, but also through a round hole. This hole
you may call a stop. You will find, too, that there is
some anangement for altering the size of this stop.
You must pay particular attention to this matter. The
smaller you make the stop the better will be the definition
of the image thrown by the lens. It will be very sharpView original page 23Related documents and language editions
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