Our Camera Obscuras are hand built in the USA with solid Walnut or Mahogany hardwood designed by master craftsman Les Cookson, who has been building, researching and designing camera obscuras and camera lucidas for years. Les has sold thousands of his camera obscuras and camera lucidas all over the world with customers including the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. and acclaimed director Rich Ragsdale.See Video
Our Camera Obscuras are fully functional, have front-surface mirror, uncoated authentic lens, real hand ground glass screen and a clear acrylic glass screen, come with a standard (1/4-20) tripod mount, so you can set it on a table or attach it to your tripod and have helpful instructions included
Built with quality 1/2 inch thick Mahogany with a beautiful finish. Solid Brass hinges with antique finish
Slides in and out to focus on objects a few feet away to far into the distance
Shade/ screen cover slides up and down to shade screen when it use and protect screen when not in uses.
No special paper or film needed
Projection size is 6 ½ in(16.5cm) x 5 in(12.7cm).
Dimensions:
Approximately 7 1/2 in (19cm) wide x 5 in (13cm) high x 12 3/4 in (32.5cm) long when collapsed and 18 1/2 in (47cm) when fully extended
It weighs approximately 5 ¾ LBS / 2.5 kg
Forms of the Camera Obscura have been recorded as far back as 1000 BC by great thinkers from Ibn Al-Haytham to Aristotle to Leonardo Da Vinci. And today the camera obscura has been added to the list of natural phenomenons, like magnets and electricity, that have been harnessed to amaze spectator and inspire innovation.
The first time you see a Camera Obscura in action you’ll get chills. It projects a captivating clear full-color moving image of what is in front of it onto its screen. The light from any object comes through the lens, is turned up-side-down and lands on the acrylic ground glass screen (See diagram and picture below).
In the 17th, 18th and 19th century many artists were aided by the use of the camera obscura: Jan Vermeer, Canaletto, Guardi and Paul Sandby are just a few who used the Camera Obscura to make their beautiful masterpieces. Find out More about Vermeer and the Camera Obscura.
The Camera Obscura was the beginning for modern cameras and today they are a hard to find collectible and perfect for hands-on demonstrations that recreate the magic of the past. Perfect for any classroom that is teaching the history of cameras or art-from kindergartners to grad students they'll all be captivated and edified.
Here is an article about David Hockey's research on how the Old Masters used Camera Lucidas and Camera Obscuras to create their masterpieces.
The Telescoping Camera Obscura is a nice little camera obscura made with solid materials, an acrylic ground glass screen and a double-convex glass lens. The beautifully printed polyester cover is highly durable, weatherproof and tear resistant.
The Telescoping Camera Obscura's screen sides in and out to focus on objects from about 1 foot (30cm) away to infinitely into the distance. The image is strong and clear and works indoors or outdoors.
Instructions are included.
NO assembly required!
Made in the USA.
Money back Guarantee!
Measures 3.5 inches (9cm) around by 6.25 inches (16cm) long and 11 inches (28cm)when fully extended. The screen is 2.75 inches (7cm) around.
The Telescoping Camera Obscura by Anciemt Magic Art toolsTM was designed and built by master craftsman Les Cookson, who has been building, researching and designing camera obscuras, camera lucidas and other optical devices for years. Les has sold thousands of his camera obscuras and camera lucidas all over the world with customers including the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC., acclaimed director Rich Ragsdale and featured in films and movies like the Lifetime movie "The Memory Keeper's Daughter"
Email with any questions. Contact us for bulk or wholesale purchasing or custom camera obscura printing.
