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Ancient Magic Art Tools^TM

Check out my other items! Like my other Camera Obscuras and Camera Lucidas

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What is a Camera Obscura?:

Forms of the Camera Obscura have been recorded as far back as 500 BC by great thinkers from Aristotle to Leonardo Da Vinci And today it 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 clear full color moving image of what is in front of it onto the ground glass screen making it look like a TV screen that you can draw on. The light from any object comes through the lens bounces off of the mirror and up through the ground glass or paper for you to trace or just view (diagram and picture of image below). 

 

In the 17^th, 18^th and 19^th 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.  

Here is an article about David Hockey’s research on how the Old Masters used Camera Lucidas and Camera Obscuras to create their masterpieces.

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About the Box Camera Obscura:

This is a solid mahogany replica of a portable box Camera Obscura made with top quality optics. This type of Camera Obscura has been used to make beautiful masterpieces for hundreds of years. 

·        Has a One Year Warranty and No Hassle Money Back Guarantee (details below)

·        Fully functional art tool and a hard to find collectible

·        Has a high quality front-surface mirror, a high quality lens made with optical quality BK7 glass (uncoated), real hand ground glass screen  and a removable acrylic Fresnel lens (see picture below)

·        Handcrafted with expert craftsmanship in the USA out of solid mahogany hardwood with beautiful protective authentic oil finish

·        Solid Brass Lens tube moves in and out to focus on objects about one foot away to infinitely into the distance.

·        Removable shade moves up and down for easy storage or can be taken off.

·        Comes with a standard (1/4-20) tripod mount, so you can set it on a table or attach it to your tripod.

·        Perfect historical teaching aide for students of all ages

·        Sturdy and durable for the class room.

·        No special paper or film needed

International Buyers – Please Note:

·         Import duties, taxes and charges are not included in the item price or shipping charges. These charges are the buyer's responsibility. But I lowered all my international shipping prices at my own expense to help offset the cost. 

·        Projection screen is 5in(12.7cm) x 5in(12.7cm)

·        Helpful instructions included

 Dimensions:

About 7 in (17.7cm) wide x 6 1/2in (16.5cm) high x 6 in (15cm) long

This Camera Obscura focuses on near and far objects and can be used to easily render anything: portraits, still-lifes, landscapes, or anything else you come by. The included instructions teach you how to use the ground and clear Fresnel lens and make art the same way artist have been doing for centuries.

Don’t be fooled by the low price—this is an awesome little obscura: compact with top quality optics, solid and durable, and beautiful while fully functional.

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Artistic uses: 

There are two main ways to create art with this kind of Camera Obscura. One is to observe the image and paint on a separate canvas or you can draw directly on the image.

The image projected by a Camera Obscura is like no other image you will ever see. From the pictures of the image you can get a good idea what the image will look like, but it is impossible for my digital camera to clearly capture every thing that it is.  It is, of course, a full color moving image of your surroundings, but it is much more then that. Every electronically generated images that we see today, when you get close enough (even with HDTV) you can see the graininess and it turns in to a blur, but with a Camera Obscura the image seems to be infinitely clear (up really close you can see tiny imperfections in the ground glass, but this does not disturb the image)—you can see every detail just as if you were looking right at it: it looks like you can reach out and grab it. Plus it sees the same way we see with our eyes. When you look at an object it is sharp in focus and everything else softens into the background, but as soon as you look to see the soft background it become the sharp foreground.  But with this Camera Obscura you can observe a scene the way your eye sees it without your eye’s constant refocusing.  Observing the camera Obscura’s image will teach you how to paint the way you see, which will add untold depth to your work. 

Why and How did Vermeer Employ the Camera Obscura (part 3 of a 3 part series).

It is said that Jan Vermeer used a Camera Obscura, much like this one, to observe the subjects that he painted. He did this both for the reason stated in the previous paragraph and because paintings by observing a two-dimensional image projected onto ground glass, rather than drawing from life, is easier than drawing from a live three-dimensional field: in the same way it is easier to copy a picture then paint En plein air or in the open air. 

Or you can draw directly on the image; either by placing a piece of clear plastic over the ground glass and drawing on that, or use the Fresnel lens with a piece of tracing paper over it.  The image will project right onto your paper and look like a TV screen that you can draw on.

But remember that the screen is only 5in (12.7cm) x 5in(12.7cm), so if you use the tracing method your drawing can only be a s big as the screen. If you are interested in a art tool to help with larger drawings, then check out my camera lucida!

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One Year Warranty:

This product is covered by a one year warranty against defective material or workmanship. Necessary parts and labor to repair or replace any failed component will be provided without cost to buyer for one year.

Excluded from this warranty are the cosmetic damages, brakeage of real glass, scratches on acrylic glass or conditions arising from abuse, misuse, normal wear.

After year warranty is expired the Camera Obscura/Lucida Shop will provide necessary parts and labor to repair or replace any failed component at fair low cost prices.

30 Day No Hassle Money Back Guarantee:

If this item is not as described or you are unhappy with it for any reason, then return it within 30 days to get you Money Back, a replacement, exchange. Do Not Ship Any Item Back With Out Contacting us First. Full details at bottom of page.

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Historical teaching aid and collectible:

The Camera Obscura later became the beginning for modern Cameras and today they are a hard to find collectible; as well as, a fun and practical drawing tool.  The great thing about this one is that it is not only a beautiful replica of a 18th or 19th century Camera Obscura, but it is fully functional and can be used 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.

If you plan on using this with small children, then you can have the real ground glass exchanged for shatter proof plexi-glass upon request.

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About us:

We are an innovative manufacturer and distributor of high quality art tools. Because of our low overhead and low mark-ups we offer an unquestionably far superior product at a much lower price with great friendly service.

We try our hardest to be completely honest in all we do, provide the best product and the lowest price and do all we can to keep our customers happy—that’s why we have 100% positive feedback from artists, teachers and collectors from around the globe.

I have been using, building and selling Camera Obscura and Camera Lucidas for years, so feel free to ask any questions before and/or after you buy.  (916-412-1766).

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Shipping:

Calculated shipping to the USA.  Worldwide shipping at discounted prices.     

      I sell a high percentage of my products over seas, so international shipping is not a problem.  I understand that international shipping prices can be expensive, so I lowered all my international shipping prices at my own expense.  Plus with the weak dollar, buying from the USA is a great deal right now.

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 Here is a review from a teacher who used one of my Camera Obscuras in her classrooms:

 “As a Junior High photography teacher and professional

photographer, I am constantly looking for ways to share my passion

and excite my students about the art of photography.  Photography

in itself is such a technical subject, but with the right approach,

it can seem like magic.  I was able to bring a bit of magic into my

classroom with the use of this wonderful camera obscura.  The

students watched in wonder as moving image was replicated on the

ground glass.  They just simply could not believe how such a simple

contraption could capture a moving picture.  With the basic

understanding of how a camera obscura works, my students were able

to create their own pinhole cameras. Their amazement was contagious

as they developed their first images.  My students can now explain

with the utmost authority, how a camera obscura is the basis of

photography, and how the modern camera, with all its bells and

whistles, is really not that different from this wondrous little

invention that captures light, movement, and magic.  Thanks for

keeping the art of wonder alive!

 Sincerely,

 Karla Scarff

 Powell Jr. High Art Department Head

 Professional Photographer

 http://www.KarlaScarff.com

 Mesa, AZ”