Photography in the Studio and in the Field / A Practical Manual Designed as a Companion Alike to the Professional and the Amateur Photographer

by Edward M. Estabrooke

This Camera is focussed once for all by means of a ground glass which slides in the place to be afterwards p149 occupied by the double dry-plate holder, for objects of various distances, and the position of the focussing lever on top of the Camera is marked for each distance. After this the ground glass may be entirely dispensed with, as it is then only necessary to estimate the distance of the object to be photographed, and move the focussing lever to the mark corresponding to that distance, when the Camera will obviously be in focus.

The small lens in the upper left-hand corner serves to throw the picture on a piece of ground glass on the top of the Camera, thus showing the position of the image on the plate. When the picture appears in proper position on this ground glass, it is only necessary to touch the button on the right of the Camera, and the exposure of the plate is instantly made, its development being afterward accomplished in the ordinary manner.

The slide is then replaced in the plate-holder, which, being reversed, the shutter reset and the other slide drawn out, everything is ready for the next shot.

This Camera is made to carry in the hand, and is held against the side under the arm while exposures are made. A tripod or stand is not required. The plate-holders are carried in a small satchel, with a strap passing over the shoulder. The new sensitive paper film, however, obviates the necessity of carrying more than one holder, which will contain a band on which may be made 24 exposures, and which is of no greater weight than one of the double holders when filled with 2 glass plates.

This Camera is calculated to make pictures 3¼ by 4¼ inches in size, and they are technically called quarter plate size. p150

THE PATENT BIJOU CAMERA.

For 3¼×4¼ Plate.

This little Camera is the neatest, nattiest and altogether nicest Camera of its kind ever made. When folded it measures 5×5×3½ inches, and can readily be put in an ordinary hand-grip, or may even be carried in the overcoat pocket. It weighs only 14½ ounces, and the holders are correspondingly light and compact.

It has a sliding front, hinged ground glass, and folding bed, which is provided with a novel arrangement for fixing it in position, enabling the operator to adjust it in a few seconds. It is made of mahogany, with a new hard finish, flexible bellows and brass mountings, making a remarkably elegant little instrument.