Evening star., 1952-12-07
Camera Angles

Christmas. take a look at the
Photographic department Of
your favorite store and your
troubles will vanish. There's
something for every one in the
family from the age of Z on
and you can be sure no one
will be disappointed with a
camera or an accessory.
You will be sure to find some
thing within your means, for
even cameras are selling for
as little as about SO. That may
be hard to believe in these days
of the inflated dollar, but it's
true. You can go in for hun
dreds of dollars if you wish, but
the price range is wide. This is
also true in the case of camera
accessories. darkroom supplies,
gadgets. hoto-chemicals, movie
equipment, and so on.
If you are a photographer
yourself. you will probably have
good idea what to buy for any
individual on your list. You
will know that a young child
will be able to get immediate
results with a simple camera
that requires no focusing or
other adjusting. Give him a
costly instrument and 1t will
more than likely discourage
him right at the start, for it
takes more than a little "know-
how" to operate some Of the
cameras now on the market.
Reflex Type Has Advantage
For around So you can get a
basic flash camera In the same
class as the one mentioned
above. It is a foolproof type
that iS In focus from 6 feet to
tnf1nity and any one can take
good snapshots with it. For
about SIS to $25 you can move
UP a notch into the ref1ex-type
field and give a camera that
has a brilliant finder that shows
the scene at the instant of ex-
posure and in the size of the
f1lm. These models are equipped
for flash shots-the fashholders
running about So extra.
II some one on your list is
past the beginners stage you
can move into the next bracket
and give one of the folding cam
eras or a true reflex. Prices
start going up here. A folding
camera for the more advanced
photographer will cost some
where between $35 to 5000, de-
pending largely on the built-in
features, such as automatic
range and view finders, focusing
features standard on all of
these). quality of lens, high
shutter speeds, etc. Don't be
fooled about lenses. Few anna
teur photographers will need a
lens faster than f:4.5.
The reflex cameras with
ground-glass viewing screens
make fine gifts for an expert
enced photographer. Most are
built to precision standards,
will accept all the gadgets or
have them built in and, of
course, are more expensive.
Prices range from the neighbor-
hood Of 500 up into the hun
dreds. Press cameras start
(214 by 3A) at about $110
stripped down, and the price
goes up, depending on size, lens,
accessories, etc. The press cam
era Is usually too bulky to suit
the average operator, but may
find favor with those who take
photography seriously.
Movie Equipment Field
If you are in a generous mood
this Christmas, amateur movie
equipment may be indicated We
say generous because you can't
start off person in cinematog-
raphy without parting with a
good amount of cash. Movie
cameras and projectors still
come high, even though low
priced equipment Of good quail
ty has reached the market. For
example in the 8-mm. field, a
movie camera comparable to the
box-type still camera (no focus
ing or speed adjustments neces-
sary) will cost about $45 and
projectors start at about $65. A
movie camera without the pro-
jector Is so much wasted money.
Unless you can handle both
items we suggest that you do
not give them separately. Other
8-mm. cameras range upwards
from the price quoted above to
as much as $500 depending upon
make. number Of lenses, and de
luxe features. Projectors in this
class go up to about 5000.
The 16-mm. equipment Is d.
more expensive yet with the
cameras selling at prices from
around $50 to $500 and more.
The 16-mm. projectors start in
the neighborhood of SITS. De-
pending on whether the item Is
capable Of sound projection or
not. it can go as high as $500 or
more. An expensive gift of this
kind might very we'll be given
to a family instead of individual
presents.
Now let's get down to earth
again. There are many acces-
sories and supplies that
are comparatively inexpensive
which still and movie fans will
welcome. For the movie max
er there are titlers, film storage
reels, lights for indoor filming,
movie film, both color and
monochrome; splicers. screens
and many other items.
Accessories Are Mony
For the still photographer
you will find supplies such as
paper, film, chemicals, trays.
tanks. thermometers, timers
and the like costing very little.
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