Germany 1933 – Compact – 127 film – Rare. The Exakta A, produced from 1933 by Ihagee, a German camera manufacturer based in Dresden, is widely recognised as the first single-lens reflex (SLR) camera ever produced. It marked a massive shift in the way photographs were taken. For the first time, photographers could frame their … Read more32 Ihagee
Exakta A
First Single Lens Reflex
Germany 1932 – Folding – 127 film – Very Rare. Plaubel is originally a German camera maker, founded in 1902. It became famous for the Makina series of press cameras, introduced as early as 1911. The Makinette foldable that was a pocket size camera and was produced for only one year in 1932, making it … Read more31 Plaubel
Makinette
England 1937 – Compact – 127 film – Rare. Certain designs possess such distinctive uniqueness that they can be attributed solely to British ingenuity. The Purma Special undeniably belongs to this remarkable category. Conceived by artist Tom Purvis and inventor Alfred Croger Mayo, the Purma Special (a fusion of PURvis and MAyo) stands as an … Read more28 Purma Cameras
Purma Special
Incredible British design
USSR 1939 – Compact – 35 mm – Rare. The Fed 1 Type A camera holds a legendary status, representing a pivotal point in photography history. Arguably, it stands as the most significant camera ever produced in the Soviet Union. Functioning as the USSR’s initial endeavor to create a high-caliber 35mm compact camera, the Fed … Read more22 Fed
Fed I Type A
First soviet copy
USSR 1937 – Compact – 35 mm – Very Rare. The Sport (Cyrillic: “Спорт”) stands as one of the earliest pioneers in the world of SLR (Single Lens Reflex) cameras, utilizing the innovative 35mm film format. Manufactured by the Soviet camera producer Gomz in 1937, this breakthrough marked a significant leap in camera technology. The … Read more21 Gomz
Sport “Спорт”
Early Single Lens Reflex
Germany 1934 – Compact – 35 mm – Rare. Succeeding the Leica I and produced concurrently with the Leica II, the Leica III stands out as arguably the most iconic and emulated camera design in history. The protective cover for the viewfinder and rangefinder has served as inspiration for countless imitations, a trend that endures … Read more17 Leica
Leica III (mod. F)
The most copied
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 first 35mm still camera produced in the USA (the 1934 Kodak Retina 117, the first camera to use the 35mm cartridge, was actually built in Germany) It embodied simplicity … Read more13 Kodak
35 Kodex No.1
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
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
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
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