24 PHOTOGRAPHY FOR NATURALISTS. 



stand camera. With a hand camera, however, a good 

 one is essential. The main desiderata in a finder are 

 that it shall show neither more nor less than is 

 included on the plate, that the image shall not be 

 reversed, and that it shall be of such a size as to be 

 easily seen without the necessity of stooping the head. 

 There are several on the market fulfilling these require- 

 ments. They are high-priced, but a good investment. 



A consideration of the above list may show a ten- 

 dency to what is sometimes termed reckless economy. 

 It must not, however, be assumed that high-priced 

 lenses and so forth are not well worth the money spent 

 to those who can afford them, and have some know- 

 ledge of optics. There is a certain analogy between 

 the camera and the microscope, in that it is usual in 

 the employment of the latter to master the use of the 

 half inch objective before employing the one-twelfth 

 inch. It is probably true that as much bad work is 

 being produced with first-rate lenses as with inferior 

 ones ; it is probably also true that as much good work 

 has been produced with inferior lenses as with first-rate 

 ones. It is not unreasonable to conclude that it is 

 easiest to do good work with a good lens, if the worker 

 understands the advantages of a good lens, and how to 

 utilise those advantages, but that it is not impossible to 

 do good work with an inferior lens if the worker under- 

 stands the disadvantages of an inferior lens, and how 

 to minimise those disadvantages. To put it briefly, the 

 intelligence behind the lens has a greater effect on the 

 finished result than the lens itself. 



