Evening star., 1949-10-30

architectural photography?
Must my camera lens and shut
ter be fast enough to stop action
and II so, how fast? What is the
sum total of my present knowl-
edge Of the principals Of pho
Biography? What do I know of
the mechanics involved? And how
much can I afford to spend on a
camera and other Photographic
equipment? What are the types
and prices Of available cameras?
The answers to these and sew
eral other questions that may
occur to you will provide you with
a clue to the type Of camera to
look for. With the foregoing in
mind we shall attempt today to
pass on a few pointers which may
help you reach q reasonable and
sound decision.
Precision Requirements.
As . starter, let's take up the
question which is. perhaps. the
most important Of all. What is
your reason for buying q camera
at all? II you are the man who
is only interested in taking an
occasional snapshot. then you
will be best served by a very mex
pensive and simple box camera or
one Of similar type. There will
be no point in buying q precision
instrument that has been designed
for the advanced amateur and
professional photographer.
You will be surprised to dis
cover that your box camera will
do extraordinarily fine work for
you II you are careful to follow
directions for operation supplied
by the manufacturer. You cannot
rely on it to stop motion or take
really good clear shots, but 1t is
first rate for the purpose for
which it was designed-taking
snapshots. You can use it to take
pictures outdoors under almost all
conditions with q fast film, and
1t can also be used indoors with
flash or floodlights.
The prospective photograp pher
who plans to 60 q bit further with
his new hobby may well decide
to invest in a more complex and
consequently more expensive
camera. This next group will in
clude the folding cameras, twin
lens reflex cameras and those In
the 35-mm. field sometimes de-
scribed as candid cameras" In
this group will be found lenses
that are medium fast to very fast
and shutters Of similar qualifica-
tions. Prices will range, in con-
trast to the very inexpensive box
camera. from about $25 to several
hundred dollars.
The 35-mm. camera, smallest
Tor practical use, continues to be
quite popular among amateur
photographers and for good
reasons. 1t is small, compact and
light OF weight. is inconspicuous
and can be carried suspended from
the neck or shoulder by a strap
or IN a coat pocket. The cost of
operation is very small as the
35-mm. film is only about 1xlb
inches. A large number of Aims
are on each roll, enabling the
photographer to take an uninter-
rupted series of shots without con-
stantly reloading. If equipped
with a lens-coupled range finder
this camera is easily focused. The
individual films are small in size
and can be quickly advanced so
that there need not be q long
interval between shots.
Problem Of Grain.
But there are a few conditions
that loom as distinct disadvan-
tages to photographers who intend
to go in for portrait photography
or who favor large size pictures.
In portraiture it has been recog-
nlzed for many years that a GER
tain amount of retouching is
necessary to please the subject
The very small size of the 35-mm.
negative would preclude the DOS
sibility of this sort of work. En-
largements of any great size from
35-mm. will show a considerable
amount Of grain which constitutes
an undesirable condition to some
cameramen. On enlarging, anyl
air bells incurred during process
ing or specks of dust will show upI
badly on prints.
The folding and reflex cameras
are well suited to photographers
because OF their larger film size
speedier lens and shutter combi-
nations and other special features
that are included at greater cost
The usual t1lm size is 2Ax2A
inches. with a few others at|
2Ax3A, etc. Pictures this size
may be retouched to some degree
without great effort and are suit
able for enlarging to any reason
able size. All these cameras are
light enough to be strap-cawied
and present no great problems
OF bulk. Some, in the lower
price brackets. are almost as
simple to operate as a box camera
while others with gadgets of va
rious kinds require a more care
full study.
CHRISTMAS