Continued from What Kind of Camera is That? Part I

Variations on a theme

Subminiature: Well, why not call it a miniature camera? That’s because miniature is the name which was used for 35mm before it became a more accepted format. Hence, Subminiature cameras use a smaller film than 35mm and include Minox, Atoron, 110’s, and 16mm still cameras. Most Subminiatures use 16mm film (Minox uses their own), but vary in frame size. Subminiatures have been made as Viewfinders, Rangefinders, SLRs, TLRs, and even a Stereo Camera. Since Subminiatures, other than 110, use a specialized film size, the film either needs to be taken to a specialized lab or self developed.

Panoramic: Panoramic cameras are specialized cameras allowing a wider frame of coverage. Panoramic cameras either use a lens and film chamber combination which allows a wide shot in a single exposure or a moving lens which exposes a portion of the film frame in sequential order. This has been used in long class and military academy portraits. One side effect of those portraits is that the lens moved slow enough to allow a practical joker on one end to quickly run behind the group to the other end, thus appearing in the portrait twice.

There are few true panoramic 35mm cameras as those that are sold as such, or have a panoramic mode, just block the portion of the film frame not being used with spacers. This, however, does offer an economical way for the consumer to have panoramic prints without having to specify crop lines to the photofinisher.

Instant Camera: Edwin Land did not invent the instant camera, he developed a consumer friendly instant camera when he invented the Polaroid camera (and yes, that is why it is sometimes called the Land camera).

Early instant cameras used a film chamber in which a sheet of photographic paper was exposed, then dropped into a developing chamber which then required a developer and fixer be added. They were heavy and difficult to use. Photo booths, as seen in malls, still use this basic process, just automated.

Edwin Land, one of the most brilliant minds this industry has ever seen (my opinion), created a process by which the paper itself carried the necessary developer and fixer (in early roll film models, the fixer had to be applied separately). Polaroid cameras have seen many developments in the prints and camera technology and were one of the first to incorporate autofocus technology into their cameras. Polaroid has instant films and backs to fit most any camera format that is used in commercial photography which many of us never see.

The name Polaroid comes from Land’s development of polarizers which redirect light perpendicular to its original path (at right angles). This same technology allowed the projection of 3D movies by polarizing the right and left views, thus allowing the use of polarized glasses which allowed each eye to only see the view intended for that eye.

Stereo Camera: Stereo cameras use a dual lens configuration to allow two frames of film to be exposed simultaneously, each frame from a different perspective; right and left. The lenses are usually separated from 60-65mm to give a perspective approximate to the separation of human eyes. This additionally creates exposures on film which are separated by every other frame, thus requiring a specialized frame advance mechanism. These cameras, thusly, require special developing and mounting for the film and can only be done by a specialized lab (very few) or self developed. The exceptions to this are the Stereo Sputnik, which uses 120 roll film, and the Loreo 3D Camera mentioned below.

Although stereo cameras had their heyday in the fifties, there are models still currently produced. Loreo Asia Ltd makes the Loreo 3D Camera MK II which uses a mirror system to produce two half-frame images on one frame of film which can be developed by any photofinisher without the need for special prints. This is accomplished by the mirror system which takes the views of two separated lenses and redirects them to be exposed onto one frame of film. Other models of stereo cameras are specially built either by design or by cutting and combining two cameras, such as two Ricoh KR10M SLRs which were joined together, linking two 35-70 zooms, which would cost from $5,000 and up depending on the joined cameras.

Stereo photography is a specialized photographic discipline, and I will cover it in more detail in a separate article.

Lenticular Camera: Lenticular cameras use multiple lenses to capture several images from different perspectives. These images are then printed in a special process where they are stacked on a print under a lenticular sheet which gives a 3D effect without requiring a viewer.

Lenticular cameras for consumer use have been manufactured in 3 and 4-lens varieties, each using 3 or 4 half frames of 35mm film respectively, and are viewfinder style cameras. Nimslo, a Scottish company, developed a 4-lens model which became quite successful at the time, early eighties. Nishika then took up the cause by producing a 4-lens model of their own based on the Nimslo. Then, in the mid nineties, a company called Image Technology came out with a 3-lens model in disposable and re-loadable varieties. Kalimar also made a 3-lens model and may have made the cameras for Image Technology.

Lenticular prints can only be done with specialized equipment and there is usually only one lab which does these prints for several dollars a print for 4X6 prints. Lenticular prints cannot be done by a home developer, except, perhaps, at a great investment in materials.

Even though Lenticular cameras are not financially friendly from the perspective of having prints made, they can still be used for stereo photography by using the far right and far left frames to make a stereo pair. By using the inner frames and a close-up lens, they can also be used for close-up photography where traditional stereo cameras cannot due to the lens separation.

Parallel lines and convergence

A phenomenon which is inherent to all cameras is the relation in the position of the film plane to the subject. When the film plane is parallel to the subject, lines and perspectives of size are maintained in the resultant exposure. If the film plane is tilted in relation to the subject, then the rules change.

When the film plane is tilted, the subject will be uneven in the result. Any part of the film plane which is closer to the subject will record a larger perspective than any corresponding part of the film plane which is further from the subject. The end result is a subject which is uneven in size or which leans.

This is most notable in architectural photography where a building in a photo appears to be leaning. This is caused by the photographer having to tilt the camera in an upward position in order to capture the building. Hence, the lower portion of the film plane is closer to the building, making it appear larger; and the upper portion of the film plane is further from the building, making it appear smaller. This gives an end result of the building getting progressively smaller as it rises, thus, it appears to lean. This is known as lines of convergence.

This can be compensated for by use of a camera, such as a view camera, which allows movement of the lens separate from the film plane. Where the specific camera does not offer such an option, some bellows attachments allow limited movement, as well, a Perspective Control (PC) Lens, or Shift Lens, which allows the front lens elements to be moved in relation to the rear lens elements.

Afterward

This article has been mostly random thoughts on different types of cameras which I have learned over the past two decades. As such, being quite familiar with photographic equipment and photography, I may not always be writing in a manner which communicates to someone who is beginning to learn this field. If I had not clearly communicated a concept, please let me know and how you feel I should better be able to make my writing more novice friendly while maintaining useful information for the advanced photographer.

On a closing note, Doug is doing fine and the nervous twitch has subsided with time. Bob, however, still has a camera.