Camera Mechanism, Ancient and Modern

My task cannot be completed in the space at my disposal, nor could it properly be accomplished in six times the space. I propose therefore to confine myself to dealing with the essentials of present day cameras, i. e., the feed and take-up sprockets, the take-up tension, and the intermittent motion. To these points I shall particularly direct your attention. The present day camera, with its reversing gear, method of focussing, changing of lenses, diaphragms, fades—hand and mechanical—high speed fittings, speed indicators, air drives, etc., has now become so complicated an instrument, that a book could be written on any one of its features. In the first days of the industry the progress of the moving picture was much handicapped by the want of accurately perforated film, nevertheless the pictures, unsteady and flickering, were, on their introduction, so much of a surprise to the public, that the production of pictures of any kind was considered of more importance than the production of good pictures. Money could be made quickly by those in the know, and much more attention was paid to the money-making side of the business than to the technical problems involved in the improvement of the product. I am sorry that after thirty years of work, in many corners here today, the taint still remains. We, in this country, have suffered badly in consequence. Neglect of the technical side was the direct cause of a great portion of the trade going away from this country. May I express the fervent hope that the establishment of this Section of the Society may be an important factor tending to remedy this defect.

Print ISSN

0097-5834

Published

1930-05

Content type

Original Research

DOI

10.5594/J13064