United States 1939 – Compact – 35 mm – Rare. The Kodak 35 Kodex No.1 made its debut just prior to World War 2 as Kodak’s inaugural 35mm still camera produced in the USA. It embodied simplicity and an efficient design, serving as an affordable entry point to Kodak’s product lineup. Priced at just $14.50 … Read more13 Kodak
35 Kodex No.1
Germany 1924 – Plate Camera – 6×4.5 Plates – Very Rare. The Ermanox cameras have achieved legendary status. Manufactured by Ernemann in Dresden in 1924, this camera brought a breakthrough by enabling low-light snapshots due to its remarkably bright optics. Its advertising of the time boasted, “Capture interiors, nighttime theater scenes… without using magnesium.” German … Read more12 Ernemann
Ermanox
Early indoor photography
France 1952 – Compact – 120 film – Very Rare. Produced in 1952, the Cyclope camera from Alsaphot is a truly incredible device. To reduce the size of a camera using 120 film, Lucien Dodin designed an innovative process where the image undergoes 2 successive reflexions before reaching the film. This unique architecture allows the Cyclope to … Read more11 Alsaphot
Cyclope
2000 produced
Latvia 1938 – Spy Camera – Minox film – Very Rare. Invented in 1936, the Minox camera soared to fame when James Bond (played by George Lazenby) wielded a Minox A IIIs in the 1969 film “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service.” The initial Riga iterations of the Minox sported a stainless steel casing, later transitioned … Read more10 Minox
Riga
Legendary spy camera
United States 1982 – Instant – 600 film – Rare. Few objects encapsulate the essence of the 1980s as profoundly as the Polaroid 660 camera. Renowned for its instantly recognizable design, often seen in the backdrop of iconic films from that era, the Polaroid 600 is emblematic of the casual photography lifestyle it facilitated. It … Read morePolaroid
Autofocus 660 “Crystal”
Germany 1934 – Compact – 35 mm – Very Rare. Crafted by Otto Berning & Co. and later known as Robot, the Robot camera emerged in 1934 as a remarkable testament to innovation during its era. Distinguished by its ingenuity, the camera employed regular 35mm film on a shorter stroke to create square 24x24mm frames. … Read more9 Robot
Robot 1
First motorized camera
Austria 1951 – Subminiature – 16 mm – Very Rare. Introduced in 1951 by Optische Anstalt C. P. Goerz in Vienna, Austria, the Goerz Minicord is regarded as one of the premier subminiature cameras, standing alongside the Gami 16 and Minox in terms of optical and mechanical excellence, as noted by Paul Wahl. Renowned for … Read more8 C.P. Goerz
Minicord “gold”
Japan 1950 – Compact – 35 mm – Rare. In 1948, during the period of occupied Japan, Nippon Kogaku introduced its inaugural camera, the Nikon. Originally christened “Nikorette,” derived from Nippon Kogaku, with “ette” added to emphasize its diminutive size, the name eventually transformed into “Nikon,” becoming the iconic brand we recognize today. Two years … Read more7 Nikon
Nikon S
Very early Nikon
United States 1936 – Folding – 828 Bantam – Very Rare. Debuted in 1936, the Kodak Bantam Special stands as a contender for one of the most exquisite camera designs ever created. Its distinct Streamline Moderne Art Deco aesthetics were masterminded by Walter Dorwin Teague, renowned for his contributions to Texaco gas stations, TWA branding, … Read more6 Kodak
Bantam Special
Design by Walter Teague
Czech Republic 1961 – Stereographic – 16 mm – Infrequent. In 1961, the Stereo Mikroma emerged from Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic) as the stereographic iteration of Meopta’s classic subminiature camera, the Mikroma. While not exceedingly scarce, the Stereo Mikroma’s compact dimensions and distinct aesthetics have rendered it a captivating collectible. It stands as one … Read more5 Meopta
Stereo-Mikroma
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