Three vignettes demonstrating light projection apparatus. Johann Zahn (1641-1707), German monk and author of Oculus Artificialis Teledioptricus Sive Telescopium (1685) which contains descriptions and diagrams of both the camera obscura and magic lantern, along with various other lanterns, slides, projection types, peepshow boxes, microscopes, telescopes, reflectors, and lenses. The first camera that was small and portable enough to be practical for photography was envisioned by Zahn in 1685, but it would be almost 150 years before it was possible to build it. He also illustrated a large workshop camera obscura for solar observations using the telescope and scioptric ball. He also designed several portable camera obscuras, and demonstrated the use of mirrors and lenses to erect the image, enlarge and focus it. |