bmattock
Veteran
For those of us with gear lust - and for those of us who are processing our own B&W film - and for those of us who have a major Jones for vintage equipment...I have a new passion. Thought I'd share it with you...
The other day, browsing eBoy, bored to tears, I saw a book listed. Called "Photographic Facts and Formulas," written in the early 1900's, updated in 1976 by John Carroll. Dropped a low bid and got it.
Man, this book is something else! The first half of the book is incredible information about lenses, f-stops, t-stops, light transmission, why the 'circle of confusion' is bunk, how to figure actual depth-of-field, why lens coatings are good and what they do, etc. Amazing stuff, and it gives a historic perspective as well as what appears to be still accurate and up-to-date information. I mean, B&W chemistry just hasn't changed that much, plus there is all kinds of information on how to do some of the 'archaic' development, such as pyro, carbon, bromoil, and so on. I am very pleased!
The second part of the book is about various developers - what they're made of, why they work the way they do, what to expect from them, even how to mix your own developing formulas from raw chemicals (for those so inclined).
A lot of it is over my head (at present), but it is amazing information nonetheless, and I am finding that it fills in a lot of gaps in my knowledge - the 'old salts' know this stuff, and the young guys talk about it, but nobody really explains it. This does. For example, I had heard of a film's 'toe' and 'shoulder', but I didn't know what it was, really. This book had an excellent and basic explanation that made perfect sense to me. Worth looking for!
So while I was in "old book mode," I did a little checking on eBoy in the Books & Lit category (weird, I almost never stray out of Photo), and found a number of old magazines and periodicals on cameras and photography. Snatched up a bunch of "Kodakery" magazines from the 1920's. I'm still waiting for them, but they look to be interesting reading! And they're dead cheap, that's pretty cool.
Anyway, thought I'd toss that into the mix - if you've got all the Yashica Electro GSN's you can take for now, try picking up an old camera book or magazine! I'm on the prowl now - time to expand the library instead of the camera shelves for awhile!
Best Regards,
Bill Mattocks
The other day, browsing eBoy, bored to tears, I saw a book listed. Called "Photographic Facts and Formulas," written in the early 1900's, updated in 1976 by John Carroll. Dropped a low bid and got it.
Man, this book is something else! The first half of the book is incredible information about lenses, f-stops, t-stops, light transmission, why the 'circle of confusion' is bunk, how to figure actual depth-of-field, why lens coatings are good and what they do, etc. Amazing stuff, and it gives a historic perspective as well as what appears to be still accurate and up-to-date information. I mean, B&W chemistry just hasn't changed that much, plus there is all kinds of information on how to do some of the 'archaic' development, such as pyro, carbon, bromoil, and so on. I am very pleased!
The second part of the book is about various developers - what they're made of, why they work the way they do, what to expect from them, even how to mix your own developing formulas from raw chemicals (for those so inclined).
A lot of it is over my head (at present), but it is amazing information nonetheless, and I am finding that it fills in a lot of gaps in my knowledge - the 'old salts' know this stuff, and the young guys talk about it, but nobody really explains it. This does. For example, I had heard of a film's 'toe' and 'shoulder', but I didn't know what it was, really. This book had an excellent and basic explanation that made perfect sense to me. Worth looking for!
So while I was in "old book mode," I did a little checking on eBoy in the Books & Lit category (weird, I almost never stray out of Photo), and found a number of old magazines and periodicals on cameras and photography. Snatched up a bunch of "Kodakery" magazines from the 1920's. I'm still waiting for them, but they look to be interesting reading! And they're dead cheap, that's pretty cool.
Anyway, thought I'd toss that into the mix - if you've got all the Yashica Electro GSN's you can take for now, try picking up an old camera book or magazine! I'm on the prowl now - time to expand the library instead of the camera shelves for awhile!
Best Regards,
Bill Mattocks
I will have to do a search for that. I am starting to get interested in lens design. Not so much the engineering technical stuff, talk about being over my head, but more general user info and shared formulas, for example Tessars and their clones.
W
wlewisiii
Guest
The books from before 1980ish are the best - most of the photography books started getting dumbed down and prettified.
I've Sussman's "The Amature Photographer's Handbook" - 8th Edition from 1973 - that has much of that information in it. Freytag's "The Contax Way" is also much fun and my best find lately is "Graphic Graflex Photography" ed. by W. Morgan amd H. Lester. It's also the 8th edition from 1947. The lens article is by one R. Kingslake and the article about prints is by one Ansel Adams... the rest is just as good. Seriously beat up, but much good reading.
William
I've Sussman's "The Amature Photographer's Handbook" - 8th Edition from 1973 - that has much of that information in it. Freytag's "The Contax Way" is also much fun and my best find lately is "Graphic Graflex Photography" ed. by W. Morgan amd H. Lester. It's also the 8th edition from 1947. The lens article is by one R. Kingslake and the article about prints is by one Ansel Adams... the rest is just as good. Seriously beat up, but much good reading.
William
Russ
Well-known
Re: Vintage Camera Books & Magazines
Bill
I was recently given some issues of the "Photo Beacon" published in the very early 1900's. Interesting reading. Right now I'm perusing the 1902 edition.
Russ
bmattock said:
Bill
I was recently given some issues of the "Photo Beacon" published in the very early 1900's. Interesting reading. Right now I'm perusing the 1902 edition.
Russ
S
Stu :)
Guest
There's great book in Boarders titled something like "Making Your Own Cameras and Lenses". I'll get the correct title, author and ISBN if anyone's keen.
But a LARGE chunk of the book is devoted to DIY lenses, but not just pin holes, but pouring your own glass, grinding your own and planning 2-3 elements models!
Also a couple of years ago here at Auckland University, the staff at the Fine Arts Faculty and Physics Department thought it would a good idea to make the Year 1 Physics Light & Optics paper a compulsory Year 2 paper for photography students. Good idea if you ask me, but went down like a lead balloon with all the photography students. The out-cry was large for such small and quite bunch of students.
Stu
But a LARGE chunk of the book is devoted to DIY lenses, but not just pin holes, but pouring your own glass, grinding your own and planning 2-3 elements models!
Also a couple of years ago here at Auckland University, the staff at the Fine Arts Faculty and Physics Department thought it would a good idea to make the Year 1 Physics Light & Optics paper a compulsory Year 2 paper for photography students. Good idea if you ask me, but went down like a lead balloon with all the photography students. The out-cry was large for such small and quite bunch of students.
Stu
bmattock
Veteran
wlewisiii said:
Agreed - and I'm getting even more use out of camera books written before WWII! When things were still somewhat new, they took more time to explain but didn't hold back on the details - and the writing is more accessible to me. Talk about a revelation!
Best Regards,
Bill Mattocks
peter_n
Veteran
Morgan & Lester seem to have been very prolific. My favorite Leica book is Leica Manual and Data Book by W.D. Morgan & H.M. Lester 13th edition, 1955. A really great book!!wlewisiii said:
Russ
Well-known
Re: David Vestal
Re: David Vestal
Yes, the Vestal book is a good one. Also his newsletter "Grump" is very good. In the last ten years or so, I've pretty much ababdoned instructional books. I much prefer the image and the passion and vision that went into making it.
Russ
Re: David Vestal
Honu-Hugger said:
Yes, the Vestal book is a good one. Also his newsletter "Grump" is very good. In the last ten years or so, I've pretty much ababdoned instructional books. I much prefer the image and the passion and vision that went into making it.
Russ
taffer
void
I was amazed when the other day read an article about lens design and the HUGE amount of calculations that were made 'by hand' in the pre-computer era. Still more amazed when after using some of those designs you see the wonderful results they deliver !
Bill, that book sounds great, I'm finding so many great things here lately, do you know where those packs of 6 extra hours a day are sold ? I may have to get a few
Bill, that book sounds great, I'm finding so many great things here lately, do you know where those packs of 6 extra hours a day are sold ? I may have to get a few
Russ
Well-known
Hey! The latest issue of Lenswork (#56) has a great little article by Frank Van Riper.
Russ
Russ
N
nwcanonman
Guest
Russ,
Did you see the article by his step-brother, Rip Van Winkle? It put me to sleep - ~ ; - )
Did you see the article by his step-brother, Rip Van Winkle? It put me to sleep - ~ ; - )
Russ
Well-known
nwcanonman said:
Perhaps it's time to decrease your daily doses of Ridalyn...
Kiron Kid (Russ)
W
wlewisiii
Guest
Re: David Vestal
Re: David Vestal
I stopped into the St. Vincints trift shop today hoping they might have some interesting screw mount or k-mount lenses. No such luck. But I did find a copy of this in the book section and remembered reading about it here. Looks like an excellent book and I'm looking forward to reading it.
Thanks for the pointer to it.
William
Re: David Vestal
I stopped into the St. Vincints trift shop today hoping they might have some interesting screw mount or k-mount lenses. No such luck. But I did find a copy of this in the book section and remembered reading about it here. Looks like an excellent book and I'm looking forward to reading it.
Thanks for the pointer to it.
William
Honu-Hugger said:
N
nwcanonman
Guest
Am awaiting "Souvenirs From High Places" by Joe Benson to arrive. Mountain climbing and photography are passions (right Russ?). Like Galen Rowell, Ira Spring, Rick Ridgeway and of course Ansel Adams.
Russ
Well-known
Big H
Do you have the "Everest" book, from National Geopgraphic? It's the one that was made during the ill fated1996 (?) expedition, when Breshears hauled up the big IMAX movie camera.
Russ
Do you have the "Everest" book, from National Geopgraphic? It's the one that was made during the ill fated1996 (?) expedition, when Breshears hauled up the big IMAX movie camera.
Russ
N
nwcanonman
Guest
Russ,
I do have Rick's "Into Thin Air", so tragic.
A compelling story.
I do have Rick's "Into Thin Air", so tragic.
A compelling story.
W
wblanchard
Guest
Try this link guys. Should give you all the Leica a body can handle...http://www.camerabooks.com/acb/show...960386&st3=81227219&ObjectGroup_ID=22&CATID=1
N
nwcanonman
Guest
............................................Russ said:
Russ,
"Souvenirs From High Places" arrived today, so cool. I was reminded of you, they have plenty of Yosemite shots, late 1970's big wall stuff. Hard to believe Alibris had it for under $4
I'll have to bring it next time we're down.
Jeroen
Well-known
I found the 'Pocket Leica Book' in a Belgian bookstore. Though I'm not a Leica owner, I couldn't resist at a few euros.
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Russ
Well-known
nwcanonman said:............................................
Russ,
"Souvenirs From High Places" arrived today, so cool. I was reminded of you, they have plenty of Yosemite shots, late 1970's big wall stuff. Hard to believe Alibris had it for under $4
I'll have to bring it next time we're down.
H
Any pics of me cruising the Yosemite Walls? That was my life and passion for many, many years. I have a couple of slide shows that'll make you hurl your lunch!
Russ