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
USSR 1952 – Spy Camera – 21 mm – Rare. The KMZ Ajax-12 stands as a subminiature espionage camera meticulously crafted for the Soviet Union’s intelligence agency, the KGB. The Ajax integrates a clockwork mechanism powered by a spring, enabling operatives to capture a sequence of images without requiring manual film rewinding. Frequently employed for … Read more4 KMZ
AJAX-12 “KGB”
Soviet spy camera
United States 1929 – Folding – 127 film – Rare. The Kodak Petite represents a beautifully colored iteration of Kodak’s iconic Vest Pocket (model B) camera. Its compact size and user-friendly design transformed this camera into a stylish accessory, while the array of available colors (blue, green, lavender & pink) rendered it a fashionable and … Read more3 Kodak
Petite
The autograph camera
Germany 1931 – Reflex TLR – 4×4 cm – Very Rare. The Rolleiflex 4×4, affectionately nicknamed the “Baby” Rolleiflex, entered production from March 1931 and continued until the midst of WWII in 1943. The K.1A model marked a significant step for Franke & Heidecke, as it was their inaugural 4×4 cm offering following the introduction … Read more2 Rollei
RolleiFlex Baby (K1A)
Germany 1927 – Compact 35 mm – Very Rare. The Leica I, also known as Model A, was introduced at the Leipzig trade show in 1925. It is believed that Oskar Barnack coined the name “Leica” (a fusion of “Leitz Camera”) during his work on this camera. The Leica I marked a revolutionary milestone, emerging … Read more1 Leica
Leica I (Mod.A)
First Leica series
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