Fixed Focus Lens

(See Lens, Fixed Focus.)

Fixing

The process of removing the unreduced silver salts from a negative or print. Sodium hyposulphite is generally employed for this purpose. (See Sodium Hyposulphite.)

Flare

A defect in a lens when the aperture of a lens shows on the focusing screen as a circular patch of light. When a plate is developed, this spot reproduces practically opaque. This defect will sometimes make its appearance when the camera is pointed in the direction of the sun. It most generally occurs with cheap or inferior lenses.

Flash-Lamp

A lamp used for igniting flash-powder or magnesium powder.

Flask

A glass vessel for holding liquids and usually so constructed as to withstand heat.

Flatness

A photographic term denoting lack of vigor or "snap" in a negative or print. Usually caused by over-exposure or overdevelopment.

Flatness of Field

The quality of a lens giving uniform definition over the entire surface of the focusing screen or sensitive plate.

Flexible or Temporary Support

(See Support, Flexible or Temporary.)

Flint Glass

(See Glass, Flint.)

Flowers

(See Floral Photography.)

Fluid Lens

(See Lens, Fluid.)

Fluorescence

An optical term signifying that objects from one point of view appear of a different color or tint from that of another.

Focal Length

(See Focus, Equivalent.)

Focal Plane Shutter

(See Shutter, Focal Plane.) Foci.

Conjugate The plural of focus. Foci

A lens has two focal points which have a definite relation, i. e., the points on both sides of the lens at which are situated the object being photographed, on the one side, and the ground-glass or sensitive plate on the other. When reproducing an object actual size, the conjugate foci is double the focal length of the lens and both the ground-glass and object will be located this distance from the center of the lens combination.

Focus

An optical term meaning a point in which any number of rays of light meet after being reflected or refracted. An image is said to be in focus when all details are sharp and well defined on the ground-glass.

Actinic Focus

The point at which the chemical rays of light are brought to a focus. (See Aberration, Chromatic.)

Back Focus

The distance between the back glass of a lens and the focusing screen, when a distant object is sharply focused upon the screen.

Chemical Focus

The point at which the actinic rays of light are concentrated distinct from the visual focus.

Depth of Focus

The power of a lens to sharply reproduce near and distant objects at the same time. A lens working at full aperture seldom renders near and distant objects perfectly clear at the same time. The use of a stop or diaphragm which will cut off certain rays of light will give greater depth of focus, but requires increased exposure.