Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2005/03/31
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Brightbytes gives a lot earlier dates that Leonardo: The earliest mention of this type of device was by the Chinese philosopher Mo-Ti (5th century BC). He formally recorded the creation of an inverted image formed by light rays passing through a pinhole into a darkened room. He called this darkened room a "collecting place" or the "locked treasure room." Aristotle (384-322 BC) understood the optical principle of the camera obscura. He viewed the crescent shape of a partially eclipsed sun projected on the ground through the holes in a sieve, and the gaps between leaves of a plane tree. The Islamic scholar and scientist Alhazen (Abu Ali al-Hasan Ibn al-Haitham) (c.965 - 1039) gave a full account of the principle including experiments with five lanterns outside a room with a small hole. Imagine what fun these old guys must have had without all our modern gadgets! What clever guys! john h > In a message dated 3/30/2005 11:25:50 P.M. Central Standard Time, > pwerner@bluewin.ch writes: > The earliest record of the uses of a camera obscura can be found in > the > writings of Leonardo da Vinci (1452-1519). At about the same period > Daniel Barbaro, a Venetian, recommended the camera as an aid to > drawing > and perspective. > > For more details about the camera obscura see > > http://www.rleggat.com/photohistory/history/cameraob.htm > http://brightbytes.com/cosite/what.html > http://www.grand-illusions.com/vermeer/vermeer1.htm