Razon's camera
| Razon's camera | |
|---|---|
| World of Origin | Earth (Legion) |
Razon's camera is a device which takes photographs of the past, developed by Balubal Razon in conjunction with Azari Laboratories. A second version, capable of using instant film but incapable of looking very far back in time, was re-created based on the first by Stephen Leeds.
Appearance and Function[edit]
Razon's original camera appeared to be an ordinary medium format camera.[1] Stephen's recreation was a big, old-school camera, the kind used by news photographers decades ago, so presumably similar.[2][clarification needed] It was more user-friendly than one of those, however.[3] Stephen's version includes a simple dial to control the "time focus".[2] Both versions could be attached to a tripod.[4][3]
The camera uses a special kind of flash bulb which allows it to do take images of scenes as they were in the past. This bulb burns out after a very limited number of uses.[5] The light from the flash is referred to by Arnaud as penetrating time,[2] but little else is known of how exactly it functions. It will take a picture into the past as if the camera was in the place it is in now,[6] and it will always illuminate the area with its flash, sometimes resulting in poorly composed photos.[7] It produces photos on film in medium format, which must then be developed.[4] The version that Stephen re-creates has been modified to use instant film.[2]
History[edit]
Razon came to Azari Labratories with only a picture of George Washington and a non-functional prototype camera. After eighteen months of work, funded by the lab, he had a somewhat reliably functioning product.[6] To prove that the camera works, Razon, potentially accompained by Azari employees,[9] took pictures of famous places and people during the past, such as Elvis[7] and the Lone Cypress.[10] These results were further validated in the lab of Azari Labratories under rigorous experimental conditions.[7] They also took photos of Sandra, hoping to use them as a bribe to enlist Stephen's help when the camera went public.[7][4] It is likely they did the same for many important people.[4] Razon wished to take photos that would help solve mysteries such as the Kennedy Assassination and the Patterson-Gimlin bigfoot video, but Azari declined.[4] Razon then stole the camera and took it to Jerusalem to take a picture of Jesus.[6][4] Shortly afterwards, the Abu Sayyaf captured the camera, along with Razon himself.[1] Stephen and Monica went to search for the camera,[6] eventually falling into the hands of the Abu Sayyaf as well. Razon refused to repair the camera and was subsequently killed by the Abu Sayyaf. The escape of Monica provoked a shooting match during which all of the terrorists were shot. One didn't die, however, and pulled the pin on a grenade, thus destroying the camera.[1] However, Stephen was able to save the flash bulb.[5]
In order to re-create the camera, Stephen worked with a new aspect he manifested just for this purpose, Arnaud.[5] Stephen spent many nights working on it, with Arnaud guiding his hands. By the time he went chasing after Sandra, Stephen had a working model, although it can't go back very far before the photos begin to deteriorate in quality. Arnaud was unsure how Razon got around this limitation.[2] Later that day, Stephen gave it to Barb to take photos of the fairgrounds going back half-hours earlier that day, revealing the presence of Kyle and Sandra.[3] The camera was left in Stephen's limo while Stephen infiltrated Walters and Ostman Detention Enterprises, and afterwards, Stephen used it to take a picture in which he (but nobody else) can see his aspects.[11]
Notes[edit]
- ↑ a b c Legion chapter 7#
- ↑ a b c d e Legion: Lies of the Beholder chapter 2#
- ↑ a b c Legion: Lies of the Beholder chapter 5#
- ↑ a b c d e f Legion chapter 6#
- ↑ a b c Legion chapter 8#
- ↑ a b c d Legion chapter 4#
- ↑ a b c d Legion chapter 3#
- ↑ Legion chapter 5#
- ↑ Due to the way the flash worked, the camera would only function in Razon's presence,[8] so it's safe to assume he helped take these photos. However, some subjects were chosen by Azari staff, so they were likely involved as well.
- ↑ Legion chapter 1#
- ↑ Legion: Lies of the Beholder chapter 14#