_Portable Camera for Travellers._--Your correspondent E. S. asks for a
clear description of a camera that will supersede the necessity of a dark
room. Mr. Stokes has invented one; and in the early part of the
photographic exhibition at the Society of Arts it was exhibited. The weight
of the camera is only nine pounds, including focussing-glass, lens,
shutter, &c. The shutter is so arranged that it will contain from twelve to
twenty pieces of prepared paper, each piece between separate sheets of
blotting-paper. Light and air are completely excluded, by the paper being
pressed by the front portion of the shutter. When required for use, the
first piece of paper is placed at the back of the glass. By the assistance
of a small hood, the impression is then taken; and, by removing the
millboard, the paper will fall back into its place. At the same time
another piece can be brought forward, ready for a second picture, before
focussing, and so on to the end. The hood is made of India rubber cloth,
and answers the purpose of a focussing cloth, without the trouble of
removing it from the camera throughout the day. The size of the pictures
that can be taken by it is 9½ by 12 inches. It has been tried during the
latter part of the last year, and proved most successful.