May 1933 * 5 American Cinematographer Editorial Testing Committee Rejects Inferior Equipment mittee were fundamental; in some instances re¬ quiring a basic change, in others calling for only a minor change or adjustment that would bring the article up to standard. D It is found this is eliminating much waste in both the studios and plants of the manufacturer. URING its three months of testing, many Studio executives may be induced to make pieces of equipment have been submitted purchases because of recommendations made by to the committee of the American Society those who have not the basic knowledge and wide of Cinematographers. While several items have experience of the Cinematographer only to find been found worthy of their stamp of approval that the article bought will not fully meet the others have been rejected. requirements of the cameraman. These purchases Where this service has proved of inestimable worth to the manufacturer is in the case of a have encouraged the manufacturer to go into the making of the article on an ambitious scale only to discover that his product is not marketable. piece of equipment in its first model that has seemed to meet all of the requirements of the Cinematographer, but under the careful scrutiny Because of this constructive move on the part of the American Society of Cinematographers of studios are consulting the testing committee be¬ this committee with their very intimate knowledge of studio conditions has been found fore purchasing new and untried equipment. wanting in the final analysis in spite of the fact the case of the 16 mm. industry the tendency on that mechanically the equipment might be con¬ the part of the dealer is also leaning in that direc¬ tion. sidered a perfect achievement. In several instances, in the past several months, In apparatus has been submitted to the Society after While some may feel that the withholding of an approval by the society on a product which other organizations have given it their approval others have passed upon as being suitable for use, only to find that in the final acid test of the is a hardship, still, the more progressive and con¬ Cinematographer's requirements it could not pass structive manufacturers and distributors realize every condition that is familiar to the cameraman tha4 this action will mean less servicing and less trouble in the long run. only. The use of an inferior article usually gives it a reputation that gen¬ These other tests had led the manufacturer to erally takes years to live down and the improved believe he had a marketable product. He planned and approved model must overcome all of the to go forward on a big scale in the manufacture prejudices of the inferior predecessor. of this item, but realized that the fair report given him by the Testing Committee of the Amer¬ ican Society of Cinematographers showed the This service of the American Society of Cine¬ matographers has been given freely to the indus¬ product still lacked some essential refinements try and to the manufacturer as a constructive to make it meet the present day studio condi¬ tions. The recommendations given by this com¬ and progressive move in the improving of the craft and art of the Cameraman.