Los Angeles herald., 1910-08-07
THE BEGINNERS CAMERA

to decide what sort of a camera to buy.
Unfortunately, perhaps. there is no
Hobson's chocie. If there were, no
time nor trouble would be required, but
one would simply buy the camera and
begin his studies in the art.
Most beginners know comparatively
little about optics and few have much
art training; consequently, if one starts
in too ambitious way, he Immediately
runs into snares and pitfalls.
Much observation of first attempts
at Photographic work has led me to
believe that the cause lies largely In
the choice of a camera. One Is not only
bewildered, but also misled by the many
alluring advertisements setting forth
the merits of different cameras, and
more often than not the beginner buys
not only an expensive but also as COM
plicated an instrument as he can al
ford to select, and in his endeavors at
once to master the whole art of pho
Biography and at the same time man
age all the details of exposure, focus
ing etc. makes far more failures than
successes.
Doubtless 1 shall go against all pre-
cedent when l advise the beginner to
select for his first camera one of the
simplest makes and not to nave tne
size of the print exceed 1-4x4 IA. The
than SO. the one which | have in mind
costing only IS. This is a box cam
era with a fixed focus lens and is not
only very simple instrument but also
a thoroughly practical one for general
use when one has become an expert
picture maker. 1t has an automatic
shutter for both instantaneous and
time exposures. When one has made
an exposure the moving of the shutter
for the purpose sets it for the next
exposure thus one does not have to
think of this in picture making. IL
makes both vertical and horizontal pic
lures, has two very brilliant finders ana
two sockets for tripod work. Thls is
film camera, and though few years
ago much difficulty was experienced
bv the beginner with films, they are
now so perfected that they are as easy
for one to manipulate as are the glass
plates Then too, the films are put uP
in rolls for four exposures, so one does
not have, t. use twelve films before ne
can ascertain whether his work is sat
isfactory.
If one finds difficulty in composing
a picture in the small finders he can
have view finder the size OF the PIC
ture made by the camera htted TO MS
instrument and thus see quickly just
what objects are comprised Wlthln tne
angle of the lens. A view attachmeht
is great duuillOil " OiAS . -
even if one is expert in the manlpula-
ton of it and in composition also OF
pictures The price of new flnder Is
81 or SO and is well worth the money
The box camera is the better choice
for the beginner rather than foldlng
camera, though both may cost the same
money With folding camera one mas
always an extna bit of work to per-
form while the box camera Is ready
for instant use. The weight of the two
cameras is about the same. II any
thing. the folding camera Delng an
ounce or two heavier.
For instantaneous work the box cam
era is always ready, all that Is neces
sary to do being to turn the dial anu
to nress the button to reproduce the
scene. and with rapidly moving op-
iects this is of special advantage.
The way for the beginner to use ms
camera is first to become familiar WIFI
the movements necessary to make the
exposure before beginning.
With the simple camera just de-
scribad this is easily mastered, Where-
as with a camera which requires open
ing and adjusting to scale, setting OF
shutter. regulating of diaphragm, etc.
il takes some time to become expert III
the use of the instrument HaVlns
learned how to manage the instrument,
choose for the first pictures simple SUD
iects like short landscape views, bits
of water scenes, etc F1gure stuules'
and nOrtraits should be left until one
become more familiar with time expos
ure. composition and general arrange
ment of the scene photographed.
One need not despise his small cam
QUO a1an after he has advanced to much