Coal fired flash....camera?

Gashog · 10-03-2010, 08:17 AM

I'll try it again....

What is "coal fired"?
Just means "antique"?

JeffJS · 10-03-2010, 09:05 AM

Do you mean from way back when they use to use Flash powder on a pan of sorts and ignite it at picture time (while the shutter was kept open)?

Gashog · 10-03-2010, 09:35 AM

No. I see it used as an expression I think.
Some kind of secret interwebz lingo that old farts like me ain't sposed to have privy to.
I saw someone refer to their 2.1mp digital as "coal fired".
Also, my prized, newfangled AF240Z is supposedly "coal fired".

Ratmagiclady · 10-03-2010, 09:38 AM

Sounds like just a figure of speech, though I haven't heard it before, myself.

mattdm · 10-03-2010, 09:55 AM

That was a joke.

Slashdot Poll | My Camera ... ...

**Ex Finn.** · 10-03-2010, 04:07 PM

Originally posted by Gashog

What is "coal fired"?
Just means "antique"?

It stands for "old stuff" that the snot-nosed youngsters do not appreciate.

Steinback · 10-03-2010, 05:56 PM

Probably implying that the device in question is so obsolete it belongs in the age of steam when all manner of machines were powered or heated by coal fired boilers.

Gashog · 10-04-2010, 04:03 AM

Originally posted by Steinback

Probably implying that the device in question is so obsolete it belongs in the age of steam when all manner of machines were powered or heated by coal fired boilers.

I thought so.

Anyone know who coined the phrase?

steve1307 · 10-04-2010, 06:00 AM

"Coal Fired" is probably associated with old technology since many things that were powered by coal "directly" are now powered by other means.

eg domestic heating/cooking and steam trains used to be with coal.

interesting that these are now mostle electric but where does the power come from?
In Australia it is mostly Coal-Fired powerstations. I think in the US it is about 1/2 Coal Power.

If you tried to used pulverised Coal in one of those antique powder photography flashes I guess you would get a lot of smoke and smell but not much white light.
Flash powder is finely ground Magnesium (or even Aluminium) powder with Potassium Nitrate powder.
It burns very rapidly because of the high surface area of the fine powder and emits the bright white light for the flash.
It seems damn inconvienient to use and probably difficult to get right.

**Lowell Goudge** · 10-04-2010, 06:53 AM

Originally posted by steve1307

"Coal Fired" is probably associated with old technology since many things that were powered by coal "directly" are now powered by other means.

eg domestic heating/cooking and steam trains used to be with coal.

interesting that these are now mostle electric but where does the power come from?
In Australia it is mostly Coal-Fired powerstations. I think in the US it is about 1/2 Coal Power.

If you tried to used pulverised Coal in one of those antique powder photography flashes I guess you would get a lot of smoke and smell but not much white light.
Flash powder is finely ground Magnesium (or even Aluminium) powder with Potassium Nitrate powder.
It burns very rapidly because of the high surface area of the fine powder and emits the bright white light for the flash.
It seems damn inconvienient to use and probably difficult to get right.

Not to mention probably on the Homeland security watch list anyway

RioRico · 10-04-2010, 10:31 AM

Originally posted by Ex Finn.

It stands for "old stuff" that the snot-nosed youngsters do not appreciate.

Originally posted by Steinback

Probably implying that the device in question is so obsolete it belongs in the age of steam when all manner of machines were powered or heated by coal fired boilers.

So my 1.1mpx Sony DSC-P20 from 2001 is likely coal-fired, not to mention a few dozen film cameras, F-series (and older) lenses, non-digital phones, cassette and minidisk decks, pre-Macbook computers, appliances lacking microprocessors, etc. Or maybe the pre-digital stuff is wood-fired. As am I.

adwb · 10-04-2010, 11:09 AM

Originally posted by Steinback

Probably implying that the device in question is so obsolete it belongs in the age of steam when all manner of machines were powered or heated by coal fired boilers.

obsolete? I'll have you know my steam radio still works very well thank you, even if it is mono.
Alistair

**Ex Finn.** · 10-04-2010, 05:55 PM

Originally posted by RioRico

So my 1.1mpx Sony DSC-P20 from 2001 is likely coal-fired, not to mention a few dozen film cameras, F-series (and older) lenses, non-digital phones, cassette and minidisk decks, pre-Macbook computers, appliances lacking microprocessors, etc. Or maybe the pre-digital stuff is wood-fired. As am I.

I believe that pretty much covers it

.
P.S. Nice to have a fun thread.

RioRico · 10-04-2010, 11:14 PM

Obsolete:
Every new product is obsolete before it ever leaves the factory floor. Progress moves fast, alas. But even old stuff works. Sometimes.

Wood-fired:
I've rethought this, and I realize that I am dung-fired, like traditional SouthWestern pottery. That explains the smell, too. No excuses.

SteveM · 10-04-2010, 11:34 PM

Originally posted by steve1307

"Coal Fired" is probably associated with old technology since many things that were powered by coal "directly" are now powered by other means.

Not quite....it can be used to accurately reflect modern technology.... For an example, the D7000 is coal fired as compared to the K-5.

10-03-2010, 08:17 AM	#1
Gashog Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: NY Photos: Albums Posts: 523	Coal fired flash....camera? I'll try it again.... What is "coal fired"? Just means "antique"?

10-03-2010, 09:55 AM	#5
mattdm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,948	That was a joke. Slashdot Poll \| My Camera ... ... Last edited by mattdm; 10-03-2010 at 06:26 PM. Reason: make link a link

10-04-2010, 05:55 PM	#13
Ex Finn. Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern Maryland. Espoo. Kouvola. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,975	Originally posted by RioRico So my 1.1mpx Sony DSC-P20 from 2001 is likely coal-fired, not to mention a few dozen film cameras, F-series (and older) lenses, non-digital phones, cassette and minidisk decks, pre-Macbook computers, appliances lacking microprocessors, etc. Or maybe the pre-digital stuff is wood-fired. As am I. I believe that pretty much covers it. P.S. Nice to have a fun thread.

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10-03-2010, 09:05 AM	#2
JeffJS Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Michigan, USA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,484	Do you mean from way back when they use to use Flash powder on a pan of sorts and ignite it at picture time (while the shutter was kept open)?

10-03-2010, 09:35 AM	#3
Gashog Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: NY Photos: Albums Posts: 523 Original Poster	No. I see it used as an expression I think. Some kind of secret interwebz lingo that old farts like me ain't sposed to have privy to. I saw someone refer to their 2.1mp digital as "coal fired". Also, my prized, newfangled AF240Z is supposedly "coal fired".

10-03-2010, 09:38 AM	#4
Ratmagiclady Veteran Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: GA Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 13,563	Sounds like just a figure of speech, though I haven't heard it before, myself.

10-03-2010, 04:07 PM	#6
Ex Finn. Site Supporter Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern Maryland. Espoo. Kouvola. Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 7,975	Originally posted by Gashog What is "coal fired"? Just means "antique"? It stands for "old stuff" that the snot-nosed youngsters do not appreciate.

10-03-2010, 05:56 PM	#7
Steinback Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: GTA, ON, Canada Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,673	Probably implying that the device in question is so obsolete it belongs in the age of steam when all manner of machines were powered or heated by coal fired boilers.

10-04-2010, 04:03 AM	#8
Gashog Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: NY Photos: Albums Posts: 523 Original Poster	Originally posted by Steinback Probably implying that the device in question is so obsolete it belongs in the age of steam when all manner of machines were powered or heated by coal fired boilers. I thought so. Anyone know who coined the phrase?

10-04-2010, 06:00 AM	#9
steve1307 Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sydney Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,130	"Coal Fired" is probably associated with old technology since many things that were powered by coal "directly" are now powered by other means. eg domestic heating/cooking and steam trains used to be with coal. interesting that these are now mostle electric but where does the power come from? In Australia it is mostly Coal-Fired powerstations. I think in the US it is about 1/2 Coal Power. If you tried to used pulverised Coal in one of those antique powder photography flashes I guess you would get a lot of smoke and smell but not much white light. Flash powder is finely ground Magnesium (or even Aluminium) powder with Potassium Nitrate powder. It burns very rapidly because of the high surface area of the fine powder and emits the bright white light for the flash. It seems damn inconvienient to use and probably difficult to get right.

10-04-2010, 06:53 AM	#10
Lowell Goudge Site Supporter Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Toronto Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,887	Originally posted by steve1307 "Coal Fired" is probably associated with old technology since many things that were powered by coal "directly" are now powered by other means. eg domestic heating/cooking and steam trains used to be with coal. interesting that these are now mostle electric but where does the power come from? In Australia it is mostly Coal-Fired powerstations. I think in the US it is about 1/2 Coal Power. If you tried to used pulverised Coal in one of those antique powder photography flashes I guess you would get a lot of smoke and smell but not much white light. Flash powder is finely ground Magnesium (or even Aluminium) powder with Potassium Nitrate powder. It burns very rapidly because of the high surface area of the fine powder and emits the bright white light for the flash. It seems damn inconvienient to use and probably difficult to get right. Not to mention probably on the Homeland security watch list anyway

10-04-2010, 10:31 AM	#11
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Originally posted by Ex Finn. It stands for "old stuff" that the snot-nosed youngsters do not appreciate. Originally posted by Steinback Probably implying that the device in question is so obsolete it belongs in the age of steam when all manner of machines were powered or heated by coal fired boilers. So my 1.1mpx Sony DSC-P20 from 2001 is likely coal-fired, not to mention a few dozen film cameras, F-series (and older) lenses, non-digital phones, cassette and minidisk decks, pre-Macbook computers, appliances lacking microprocessors, etc. Or maybe the pre-digital stuff is wood-fired. As am I.

10-04-2010, 11:09 AM	#12
adwb Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Bristol UK Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,636	Originally posted by Steinback Probably implying that the device in question is so obsolete it belongs in the age of steam when all manner of machines were powered or heated by coal fired boilers. obsolete? I'll have you know my steam radio still works very well thank you, even if it is mono. Alistair

10-04-2010, 11:14 PM	#14
RioRico Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Limbo, California Posts: 11,263	Obsolete: Every new product is obsolete before it ever leaves the factory floor. Progress moves fast, alas. But even old stuff works. Sometimes. Wood-fired: I've rethought this, and I realize that I am dung-fired, like traditional SouthWestern pottery. That explains the smell, too. No excuses.

10-04-2010, 11:34 PM	#15
SteveM Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Vancouver Island, BC, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,294	Originally posted by steve1307 "Coal Fired" is probably associated with old technology since many things that were powered by coal "directly" are now powered by other means. Not quite....it can be used to accurately reflect modern technology.... For an example, the D7000 is coal fired as compared to the K-5.