Johann Zahn (1631—1707) was the seventeenth century German author of Oculus Artificialis Teledioptricus Sive Telescopium (Würzburg, 1685). This work contains many descriptions and diagrams, illustrations and sketches of both the camera obscura and magic lantern, along with various other lanterns, slides, projection types, and peepshow boxes. As a student of light, Zahn is considered the most prolific writer and illustrator of the camera obscura. Zahn was a canon of the Premonstrate Order in Würzburg. // Events February 5 - Roger Williams emigrates to Boston. ... Events January 1 - John V is crowned King of Portugal March 26 - The Act of Union becomes law, making the separate Kingdoms of England and Scotland into one country, the Kingdom of Great Britain. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. ... Events February 6 - James Stuart, Duke of York becomes King James II of England and Ireland and King James VII of Scotland. ... For other uses see Camera obscura (disambiguation) The camera obscura (Lat. ... This page is about the archaic movie projector, for the US FBIs keystroke logger see Magic Lantern software The magic lantern or Laterna Magica was the ancestor of the modern slide projector. ... In photography, a transparency is a still, positive image created on a transparent base using photochemical means. ... The word projection can mean more than one thing. ... A peep show or peepshow is an exhibition of pictures or objects viewed through a small hole or magnifying glass. ... Prism splitting light Light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength that is visible to the eye (visible light) or, in a technical or scientific context, electromagnetic radiation of any wavelength. ... A canon (from the Latin canonicus and Greek κανωνικωσ relating to a rule) is a priest who is a member of certain bodies of the Christian clergy subject to a rule (canon). ...

The first camera that was small and portable enough to be practical for photography was built by Zahn in 1685, though it would be almost 150 years before technology caught up to the point where this was possible (see History of the camera). A camera is a device used to take pictures (usually photographs), either singly or in sequence, with or without sound recording, such as with video cameras. ... Photography is the process of making pictures by means of the action of light. ... Events February 6 - James Stuart, Duke of York becomes King James II of England and Ireland and King James VII of Scotland. ... This article is about the history of the camera. ...

In Oculus Artificialis, Zahn's comprehensive description of the magic lantern (along with twelve other different lanterns) includes some of these lanterns showing for the first time lens covers. This was a very important evolution in the history of the camera, because it meant that the screen could be kept dark while the operator changed the slide. A lens is: a part of the eye an optical device that may be used in a camera or in a telescope; see lens (optics) or Category:Lenses. ...

Zahn used the magic lantern, whose invention he credited to Athanasius Kircher, for anatomical lectures. Athanasius Kircher (sometimes spelt Kirchner) (May 2, 1601?–27 November 1680) was a 17th century German Jesuit scholar who published around 40 works, most notably in the fields of oriental studies, geology and medicine. ... Anatomical drawing of the human muscles from the Encyclopédie. ...

He also illustrated a large workshop camera obscura for solar observations using the telescope and scioptric ball. Zahn made a camera obscura that was 23 inches long. Zahn demonstrated the use of mirrors and lenses to erect the image, enlarge and focus it. Zahn also designed several portable camera obscuras. 50 cm refracting telescope at Nice Observatory. ...

Zahn also includes an illustration of a camera obscura in the shape of a goblet, based on a design described (but not illustrated) by Pierre Hérigone. Russian chalice A chalice (from Latin calix, cup) is a goblet, intended to hold just drink. ...

Sources

• The Complete History of the Discovery of Cinematography
• de Luikerwaal: Oculus artificialis teledioptricus
• Pre-history of Photography