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Antique and vintage cameras are valued by collectors for many reasons, from the historical significance of 19th century wood cameras to the fine optics of classic vintage Leicas. Kodak and Polaroid are two other big names in camera collecting, as is Bolex in movie cameras.

The principles of the camera obscura - a simple light projection box - have been understoo...

Nicephore Niepce and Louis Daguerre formed a partnership in 1829, and figured out a new chemical bath for prints, which shortened the exposure process to eight hours. Daguerre continued this research until he perfected the Daguerreotype, a print made on silver that was used up until the mid 1850s. Daguerreotypes and other formats (e.g. cyanotypes, ambrotypes, tintypes) were made with wood cameras, which were essentially camera obscuras with lenses, allowing for clearer image refraction.

It wasn't until George Eastman's 1885 invention of film that cameras got smaller - with his Kodak film loaded in, you would send the whole camera back to the factory to have it developed. Oskar Barnack began experimenting with 35 mm film in 1914 and built some prototypes of what eventually become the Leica I, the first practical 35 mm camera, released in 1925.

More improvements came when Kodak introduced the Retina I, the first camera to use a modern 135 film cartridge. Photography soon became affordable to all, even before the 1947 introduction of Polaroid's instant camera.

Development of movie cameras kept pace, building atop the basic slide projection technology (magic lantern) which had been in use since the 1500s. The first movie cameras were developed around 1888, and Thomas Edison produced the first copyrighted film in 1894. In 1895, the Lumiere brothers of France first showed off their 'Cinematographe,' a handheld combination projector and camera, in the first commercial public film screening.

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Interviews & Articles

Cool Cameras: The Univex Mercury

The Universal Camera Corporation found great success in the early/mid-1930s by selling very inexpensive cameras and film. Univer… [more]

An Interview With Antique Wood Camera Collector Rob Niederman

How did I start collecting cameras? Actually, I had an interest in photography as a kid and owned a darkroom by the age of 12 or 1… [more]

An Interview With Antique Photograph and Camera Collectors Jack and Beverly Wilgus

We both come from families that had collections and we both had collections as children. Jack lost his when his grandmother threw … [more]



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Dallmeyer Septac Anastigmat 2" F1.5 Lens,rare Lens,odd Mount.Dallmeyer Dallac 8.5cm F2 **rare**Leica R R4 24 Karat Gold With 50mm/1.4 Summilux. Boxed.E. Leitz, Leica 50mm Summicron Dual Range Lens With Eyes Case For Eyes Cap ShadeLeitz Leica 0-series Camera 1923 In Original Packaging Replica No 2677016 Leica M4 #1193886 Near Mint Condition 97% NewAngenieux 0.95 25mm Speed Lens! F/0.95 And Mint In Box! Best Available G1 M4/3 Schneider Kreuznach Xenon 25mm F0,95 C Mount,bolex,micro4/3,sony Nex,nikon J1,Mitchell S35r - 35mm Movie Camera Kit - Good Condition - Bncr Lens MountE. Leitz, Leica 35mm Summicron With Shade, Rear Cap, And Soft Leather CaseLeica 35mm F2.8 Summaron BmNice Leica M3 Ds Double Stroke Camera BodyLeica 16mm F2.8 Fisheye Elmarit Lens 3 Cam "r" Mount.Extremely Rare Kodak 153mm F4.5 Ektar Lens For Ektra CameraLeica 50mm F2 Summicron BmGraflex Super Speed Graphic Ke-12 (2) Us Military Camera W/135mm 4.5 RodenstockLeica Rigid Summicron 5cm 50mm F/2 Lens - Leica M Mount Lens - Leica M Ss M3 Rangefinder Camera.free Ww Shipp. Exc++.Seiki Kogaku Canon Rangefinder Camera W/ 5cm 1:3.5 Nikkor-q Lens Zeiss Distagon 1,2/12mm T* Zeiss High-speed Mk Iii Arri Arriflex Super16Taylor Taylor & Hobson Cooke Amotal Anastigmat 2 Inch F/2 Lens HeadPolaroid Sx-70 Pile Trash Or Treasure ? $1.00Graflex Speed Graphic Supermatic X 4 X 5 Camera Ektar 4.5 152 Mm Lens ManualRare Gold Tessina Swiss Automatic 35mm Camera Tenninson 25mm F2.8 Original Box Nikon Mount Vivitar Series I 800mm/1:11 Solid Catadiopteric Lens In CaseLeica Leicina Special Movie Camera W 6-66 Mm F1.8 Optivaron Lens - Works W CaseRolleiflex 2.8 D Model#k7d Circa:1955-56 Twin Lens Reflex W/case Germany Vnc NrRbt X4 Slr Stereo Camera - Not WorkingVintage Kodak Retina Iiis 35mm Camera W 3 Lenses Schneider Kreuznach RodenstockLeica Leitz 90mm F/2 Summicron Screw Mount Seoof W/both Caps - Rare & Nice!Vintage Polaroid 195 Bellows/folding Land Camera Tomioka With Case And CoverLeica Leitz Iii Circa 1933 C/w 5cm F3.5 Elmar Lens & Case.Rolleiflex 1950 - 1960's Baby Gray Great ConditionGraflex Series C 3x4 Slr Camera - Cooke LensVery Nice Nikon S Rangefinder + Nikkor-h.c 5cm/1:2 Lens,case,instructions,strap Leica 1, Leitz Hektor 1:2,5 F=50mm Serial Number 63402Kodak View Camera No.2-d 8x10 Manufactured By Graflex Camera Outfit Leica M3 Camera Body. 1961. Good Condition. No Reserve Auction.A Good Victorian Magic Lantern By Perkin & Son LondonZone Vi 4x5 Field Film Camera W/ Film Holders, Leather Hood, Perfect ConditionKodak Ektra Prototype Serial No.1002.rare Vintage Usa Rf Camera.one Of A Kind.1905 Lizards Challenge Dayspool , 3 1/4" By 4 1/4" , Camera With Red BellowsVintage Slr Camera Zeiss Ikon Contax Metal Body Sonnar 1:1.5, 50mm Zeiss LensZeiss Ikon Contax Ii A Great Condition Sonnar 1:1.5 50mmVoigtlander Prominent Rangefinder Camera With Nokton 1:1.5 / 50 LensKilfitt Munchen Macro Kilar A 40mm F2,8 Arri Std-arriflex 16mm,35mm CameraVintage Asahiflex Iib 58mm F/2.4 Takumar Lens Pentax Slr CameraCompass 3082 Camera, Made By Le Coultre Co Pentax 6x7 Slr Medium Format Camera With 150mm Telephoto Lens & Polaroid BackZeiss "olympia"-sonnar 18cm/2.8 With Flektoskop And CaseContessa Nettel Tropen Adoro 9x12, -lovely Tropical CameraZeiss Planar 50mm F1.4 Ae Contax Rts Ii Iii Etc. LensAntique Circa 1911 Pathe Kok Pathescope Movie Projector Has Metal Lid W/decalMicro-nikkor 5.5cm/3.5, -rare First Version For Nikon F With CapsLeitz Leica Canada 250mm Telyt-r 1:4 F/4 R Mount Telephoto Lens & CapsVintage Leica Elmar 35mm Wide Angle LensGoerz, C P Of Berlin Brass Lens #1348 Universalaplanat C No. 1 Leica Original Black Paint Ollux 35mm Summilux 1.4 HoodExc+ Nikon F Black Body W F-250 Bulk Film Back, Cassets And F36 Motor Drive Fine Sanderson Half-plate Field Camera For Archetectual Work
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Recent News: Cameras

Source: Google News

Focused on the good old ways
Cumberland Courier Newspapers, May 22nd

“It has been quite an adventure, finding and rebuilding antique cameras and lenses and sourcing the chemicals,” he said. “But it has been well worth all the effort as I love the way this process brings back the magic of photography...Read more

Beyonce Teaches Pool Etiquette In Newly Discovered Home Video Clip
Capital FM, May 22nd

The 'End Of Time' singer jokes around with a friend in the recently unearthed vintage camera footage. Beyonce is seen showing off her funny side in a newly discovered home video clip of her explained the proper etiquette to playing pool...Read more

Photograph of Charles Dickens' wife sold at auction
BBC News, May 18th

The picture, in a Morocco-bound case, was discovered in an antique camera shop in Canterbury in 1996. John Jabez Edwin Mayall produced the image using a silver copper plate (daguerreotype) between 1852 and 1855. Letters from Dickens suggested that he...Read more

As if lomography wasn't cool enough: Vintage camera gets spliced with jeans ...
Daily Mail, May 7th

By Eddie Wrenn Lomography has always been a cult classic (that is, until the apps came out for iPhone and Android). The stylish camera takes charming, colourful images that make every scene look like something from a 70s movie, thanks to the...Read more

Vintage Camera iPhone Docks
stupidDOPE.com, May 4th

Now you get all curves and memories from the big vintage cameras and a way to charge your iPhone very stylishly. Available now at Laboratorio Altieri for $69. Vintage Camera iPhone Docks Vintage Camera iPhone Docks...Read more

'The Camera Collection': Antonio Vicentini's Pixelated History Of Cameras (VIDEO)
Huffington Post, May 3rd

Animator Antonio Vicentini remembers the camera, and many others, in his short animation "The Camera Collection." Though not a thorough history, as he claims in the comment section of the video on Vimeo, the animation is a vignette of his own history...Read more

Marina Police Log: Vintage camera stolen
The Salinas Californian, April 29th

0813 IR IN LOST WALLET \ BEACH RD, MARINA MG1200734 A CITIZEN REPORTED THAT ON 3-19-12, HE LOST HIS WALLET IN THE PARKING LOT OF 140 BEACH ROAD. THE TRI-FOLD WALLET WAS BLACK LEATHER WITH A RED SNAKE STAMPED ON THE EXTERIOR. IT CONTAINED HIS CDL,...Read more

Vintage Cameras Make Good Looking iOS Docks
Technabob (blog), April 25th

They are available from Laboratoria Altieri's Etsy shop with prices starting around $69 (USD). There are currently only a couple of models available, but once they sell out there will be probably more listed. vintage camera iphone dock close up...Read more