PHOTOGRAPHIC OUTFIT 5 



ceived by the plate, so that very short exposures 

 may be given with good results. All these advan- 

 tages, combined with the ease of focussing on any 

 object, whether at rest or in motion, make such a 

 camera of the greatest possible value to the photog- 

 rapher of animate nature. A bird may be caught 

 on the wing with as much ease and certainty as if it 

 were mounted. 



For flowers and many kinds of work the regular 

 long-focus camera will always be useful, but it is well 

 to remember that there is every advantage in having 

 the back focus rather than the front. The reason is 

 obvious. The back focus allows you to keep a cer- 

 tain distance between the lens and the object while 

 you move the back end of the camera until the cor- 

 rect focus is obtained, whereas, if the back is rigid 

 and the front moves, you have much trouble in get- 

 ting a sharp focus on a very near object, as the dis- 

 tance between the object and the lens changes while 

 you are trying to get the correct focus. Almost all 

 the modern cameras are fitted with convenient rever- 

 sible backs, and most necessary arrangements they are. 

 It is hard to realise that but a few years ago the 

 whole camera had to be reversed, where now only 

 the back need be moved. The swing-back is another 

 desirable feature in a camera, far more so than the 

 rising front, which is seldom wanted, except where 

 buildings are to be portrayed. The use of the swing- 



