Rear Window iconic photo.
Dec 28, 2019 13:11:18 #
exakta56
Loc: Orford,New Hampshire
I think that if you give the limits of human anatomy another moment's thought, you may agree that whatever he is resting his camera on, cannot be HIS knee.
That Exakta model looks like my first single lens reflex, which I bought in 1956. A long time ago.
That Exakta model looks like my first single lens reflex, which I bought in 1956. A long time ago.
Dec 28, 2019 13:18:39 #
billnikon wrote:
Could be an Exacta, could also be a Miranda.
]
They do look somewhat similar, but the movie came out in 1954, the year before Miranda (Orion) made the Miranda T, their first SLR.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miranda_T_(camera)
I had a Miranda G, aka, “the poor man’s Nikon”
Not the greatest build quality, but I liked some features it has.
Dec 28, 2019 13:22:34 #
exakta56 wrote:
I think that if you give the limits of human anatomy another moment's thought, you may agree that whatever he is resting his camera on, cannot be HIS knee.
That Exakta model looks like my first single lens reflex, which I bought in 1956. A long time ago.
That Exakta model looks like my first single lens reflex, which I bought in 1956. A long time ago.
It is his knee, the pajamas he wore matched the top and his left leg was broken and in the movie you can see him placing the long lens on his right knee. Stewart is sitting in a wheelchair of some type and I know Mr. Stewart was very thin and was also in the Military Reserves (I believe he retired as a General) so you know he had to remain physically fit.
Dec 28, 2019 13:31:19 #
[quote=foathog]Dont you just love it when they put tape over the name of the camera?? I didnt think that they did that in those days. If I were the manufacturer I'd WANT my name shown. It's free advertising. They do that on cars too nowadays. Obviously greed is a factor.[/quoTE
I'll be they asked for a loaner camera from one or more companies and were turned down, so they put on the tape out of spite.
In our world, this is a different business, and I do mean business. There are folks in Hollywood that their wohle jobs is product placement. If you see so much as a can of coke ina scene, and the label is presented clearly That means the company PAID the movie company to have it there. I love going to the movies and watching how many paid placements are there.
I'll be they asked for a loaner camera from one or more companies and were turned down, so they put on the tape out of spite.
In our world, this is a different business, and I do mean business. There are folks in Hollywood that their wohle jobs is product placement. If you see so much as a can of coke ina scene, and the label is presented clearly That means the company PAID the movie company to have it there. I love going to the movies and watching how many paid placements are there.
Dec 28, 2019 13:48:25 #
colt4x5
Loc: Central Connecticut
zensu wrote:
I happened to catch a great Hitchcock movie the other night "Rear Window" with Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly. I'm going to try and attach a jpg of an iconic photo of the movie showing Jimmy Stuart holding what I think is an Exacta camera and a super telephoto lens below:
Any old photographer/old film buff like me know whether this lens is a 300mm, 400mm, or maybe 600mm?
Any old photographer/old film buff like me know whether this lens is a 300mm, 400mm, or maybe 600mm?
Here's the answer:
https://www.lookbackandhanker.com/rear-window-camera-and-lens.html
Dec 28, 2019 16:07:03 #
foathog wrote:
Dont you just love it when they put tape over the name of the camera?? I didnt think that they did that in those days. If I were the manufacturer I'd WANT my name shown. It's free advertising. They do that on cars too nowadays. Obviously greed is a factor.
That's call "placement advertising." Any company with an exposed brand would likely have to pay for it. Then there is the legalese involved. Probably not enough interest for the camera company to make it worth the while in their thinking at the time.
Dec 28, 2019 16:21:57 #
ralf wrote:
Keep in mind that Rear Window (and hence the camera) goes back to 1954. Kudos to anyone who can accurately recall a camera body or lens from 65 years ago...
My first camera was a "Kodak 35" purchased when I was in high school in 1947 or 1948. F3.5 lens, shutter from 1/10 through 1/200 of a second with a split image range finder. I recall it well, along with the Retina's and the Rollie's that followed it in my voyage through college.The Exackta was a "newby" in 1948; one of the first single lens reflex cameras available. If I recall, the Nikons and Canons came a bit later, and were brought home in the early fifties by our soldiers who had fought in Korea.
How easily the old memories are retained, while current events disappear quickly.
Dec 28, 2019 21:59:31 #
Per the studio the camera and lens that was used is an Exakta with a Kilfitt Fern-Kilar f/5.6 400mm telephoto lens. This camera and lens combination was used throughout the entire movie. They went with the Exakta as it was easy to source for the production.
Dec 28, 2019 22:10:18 #
Remember the movie well. Saw it at the movies and walked home in the dark afterwards. Quite young at the time and a bit nervous getting home. Now, I realize that there was a camera as a central character in the movie. Without it, the plot would suffer. Need to go back and watch it. Thanks for the memories.
Dec 29, 2019 04:55:44 #
WAstinkbug
Loc: Silverdale, WA, U.S.A.
Bigmike1 wrote:
Another thought....That movie was about a Peeping Tom. (:
As I recall... the camera didn't come out until he noticed some suspicious behavior across the way and needed a better look ... but maybe I'm mistaken. It's been a couple of years since I watched it (have seen it more than once). If a person who uses a camera on a regular basis for their livelihood is cooped up in an apartment with a broken leg, I'd not be surprised if they'd start studying what was going on outside their window... just to alleviate the boredom. (With or without a camera!) ;-)
Dec 29, 2019 09:20:00 #
I think it's replayed often on Public Television (PBS/PBT) here in Miami. I spotted it a short while ago, tuned in,and got completely hooked!
Dec 29, 2019 13:38:13 #
amfoto1
Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA
Bigmike1 wrote:
That lens has got to be at least 600mm....
Nope. It's a Kilfitt 400mm f/5.6 lens. Quite possibly the largest telephoto lens available for "miniature" 35mm film format back in the early 1950s when the film was made. The lens was relatively new at the time. It was intro'd in 1952, the year before the film debuted.
The camera is an Exacta VX with the pentaprism viewfinder installed (the Exacta logo is covered by black gaffer tape in the movie).
https://www.lookbackandhanker.com/rear-window-camera-and-lens.html
https://camerapedia.fandom.com/wiki/Exakta_Varex_VX
https://www.cameraquest.com/kil400.htm
Today you'd be arrested for photographing your neighbor out your rear window!
Dec 30, 2019 01:54:15 #
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