USSR 1950 – Compact – 35 mm – Common. Leicas are exclusive devices that forged the very concept of the modern camera through quality and innovation. For years a large part of the industry tried to produce alternatives (or imitations) with equivalent features at a much more accessible price point. Imitations range from cameras “inspired by … Read moreVarious USSR
Leica 2
Japan 1956 – Reflex TLR – 127 film – Infrequent. While not incredibly rare, the Ricohmatic 44 serves as a captivating example of an ambitious yet largely unsuccessful attempt to enhance the user’s photographic experience. Ricoh’s engineers dedicated their efforts to crafting an appealing design, highlighted by a stylish semi-transparent flip cover (though it unfortunately … Read moreRicoh
Ricohmatic 44
Kiev 1978 – Spy Camera – 16 mm – Infrequent. Starting in 1978, Kiev Arsenal embarked on a unique endeavor by crafting a distinct version of the Kiev 30 subminiature camera, cleverly concealed within a pack of “John Player Special” cigarettes. Market as a KGB spy camera designed for clandestine activities within the United Kingdom, … Read moreKiev
Kiev 30 “John player special”
Hong Kong 1998 – Compact – 35 mm – infrequent. Ginfax is a producer of electronic gadgets and optical goods including novelty cameras. The CC235F is a fun point and shoot 35 mm camera with built-in flash that transforms into a real size Coca-cola can produced at the end of the 90s. Despite its primary … Read moreGinfax
CC235F “Coca Cola”
Japan 1984 – Submarine – 35 mm – Infrequent. Nikonos is a series of 35 mm format cameras specifically designed for underwater photography launched by Nikon in 1963. While Nippon Kogaku trace their underwater camera history back to 1956, when the company developed an underwater housing for the Nikon S2 rangefinder camera, the Nikonos is … Read moreNikon
Nikonos V
Japan 1979 – Compact – 35 mm – Infrequent. The Canon A1 hit the market in 1978 and very quickly became legendary. The Canon A-1 is a historically significant camera and was the high technology standard bearer of the landmark Canon amateur level A-series SLRs (Started with the Canon AE-1 in 1976) It was the … Read moreCanon
Canon A1
France 1955 – Spy Camera – 16 mm – Infrequent. The Stylophot is a pocketable mini camera which makes 10x10mm images on 16mm film. It was produced in France in 1955 and presented as a “pen” camera, due to its resemblance to a fountain pen with the pen clip attached to the side. “Stylo” being the … Read more93 Secam
Stylophot
Private eye camera
United States 1975 – Instant – SX-70 – Infrequent. If there is one device that marks the entry of Polaroid in everybody’s life, it is the SX-70. Launched in 1975 it was a revolution both inside Polaroid and for the entire photographic industry. Polaroid research and development budgets for this project were enormous. The production … Read more76 Polaroid
SX 70
The instant revolution
USSR 1958 – Compact – 35 mm – infrequent. The Gomz Leningrad is a 35mm Soviet rangefinder camera produced between 1956-68. It was designed for reportage, sports and technical photography and allowed burst shooting using a spring mechanism. It takes about 20 pictures after one full actuation of the spring and can achieve up to … Read more73 Gomz
Leningrad 2A
Japan 1959 – Compact – 35 mm – Infrequent. The Pentax H2 (or S2), produced in 1959, was launched two years after the original Pentax and is by no means a rare camera. It is the direct descendent of the Asahi Asahiflex, the first Japanese SLR using 35 mm film (launched in 1952). The Pentax … Read more67 Asahi
Pentax H2
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