TESTING THE VIEW FINDER.
Although in the better class of appara tus the accuracy of the finder may com monly be relied upon, it is frequently the case that the field of view included by the finder is smaller or larger than that thrown on the focussing screen. Where this is suspected, the finder should be tested in order that the defect may be remedied or allowed for. In the case of a hand-camera of the ordinary magazine type, open the door at the back and place greater brilliancy and vigour in the re sulting negative are obtainable by their use. There is a good deal of truth in this, and many prominent workers still use slow plates almost exclusively ; but it has of late come to be largely acknowledged that a greater softness and delicacy of detail, with a better and more pleasing rendering of atmosphere and tone values, are secured by the employment of rapid plates. Opinion is, however, somewhat divided on this point, and it may be safely stated that, provided the correct exposure is given, thoroughly satisfactory work may be done with either. The best
results in landscape photography are un questionably secured by the use of ortho a piece of ground glass in the position which would be occupied by the plate. It is then possible, by observing any suit able view or collection of objects, to see whether the amount of image shown on the ground glass exactly tallies with the finder. If it is found to be less, a cor responding margin should be painted out on the screen of the finder with black varnish or other opaque medium ; if it is more, the difference should be noticed, and a mental allowance made in future when exposing. If preferred, the test may be made by exposing a plate and leaving the camera undisturbed till it is developed, when the negative may be com pared with the finder.