THE APPARATUS 



found the one-speed shutter, which usually works at about 

 1/25 of a second, to answer all our requirements. If the 

 form of release lends itself to the adoption of such a method, 

 we recommend a length of cotton or thread as the best 

 means of making exposures from a distance. Certainly 

 it has the great virtue of cheapness. 



The bird-photographer, especially, should be careful to 

 choose a camera with strong bellows, and should 

 examine them frequently for traces of pinholes which 

 are liable to make their appearance at the corners. 

 If these pinholes occur, and are not remedied, they 

 are almost certain, on account of the length of 

 time for which the camera is usually exposed in strong 

 light, to result in the appearance of peculiar curved 

 markings on the negative. Following the invariable 

 course of all defects, these markings are certain to place 

 themselves in the most noticeable positions. For a con- 

 siderable time, a few years ago, almost every negative we 

 developed was affected in this way to a greater or less 

 degree. Many fine series of pictures were spoiled before 

 the defect was discovered. Our disappointment in some 

 of these cases was so keen that we go so far as to repro- 

 duce one of the spoiled pictures here for the sole purpose 

 of enabling a beginner to at once put his finger on the 

 trouble should similar defects at any time occur in his 

 negatives. 



Of the camera itself, there appears little more to say 

 except that its general build should incline towards strength 

 rather than towards elegance. The necessity for strength 

 will be realised when the reader learns that our apparatus 

 have many times been exposed in the rain and even left 

 standing an inch deep in water, besides having received a 

 full measure of the falls which are almost unavoidable 

 when one is working in windy weather. 



With all focussing cameras it is necessary to have dark 

 slides or carriers for the plates. These should be care- 

 fully tested with a view to ensuring that they are as light- 

 tight as possible when fitted in the camera, and the cover 

 withdrawn. The length of time during which the slide 

 necessarily remains exposed in the glaring sunlight, fre- 

 quently deprived by the wind of the protection afforded by 

 the focussing cloth, is a severe test on the closest-fitting 

 slide. With this fact in mind, it is as well to provide 



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