A Fingerprint Camera
| Date | 01 March 1962 |
| Author | R. D. Ostler |
| Published date | 01 March 1962 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0032258X6203500207 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
POLICE
CONSTABLE
R.
D.
OSTLER
Photographic and Fingerprint Branch,
Portsmouth City Police
A
Fingerprint
Camera
Improvising
MUCH
OF THE equipment used in police photographic units is
designed and constructed by the photographers themselves, for many
unique problems are encountered in this field
of
duty and no suitable
equipment is available on the market. Occasionally an ambitious
firm produces afingerprint camera, but the price is usually in the
region of £100. Such cameras are often
not
readily adaptable to the
tasks for which they are required, and the price reflects not the true
value
of
the camera but the minimum economic charge, taking into
account the fact
that
the market is severely restricted. With limited
financial resources many police photographers are reluctant to
recommend to their chief constables the purchase of such unreason-
ably expensive cameras and thus the seed of improvisation is sown.
Old Style
For
many years a rather bulky home-made fingerprint camera
was in use in the writer's force, and although it gave satisfactory
results it had two serious shortcomings. The lighting
of
the finger-
print to be photographed was provided by two built-in 60 watt
strip lights, and this required a mains electricity supply and an
exposure
of
about two minutes. Consequently, the use
of
atripod
could not be avoided. The nightmare ritual of seeking an electric
point, then dragging yards of cable across factory premises and over
shop roofs was the main obstacle and often it could not be overcome.
Having got so far, if the camera could not be supported in the
required position by a tripod often propped up on boxes and bricks,
then the fingerprint could not be photographed.
If
stripping could
not be achieved then the mark was lost, and the criminal had won
another round. Photographs
of
marks on drain pipes and outside
windows above ground level could not be attempted.
A New Model
Much thought was given to this problem and eventually another
camera was designed involving the adaption
of
a9cm. X12cm.
Voigtlander plate camera with an
/4'5
lens, and a Compur shutter
synchronized for flash.
From
experience it was realized
that
most
fingerprints are found on reasonably flat surfaces, and consequently
the camera was mounted on a bracket and the focus fixed. The
122
March-April /962
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