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
Japan 1963 – Compact – 35 mm – Infrequent. The Olympus Pen F was the world’s first half-frame reflex camera. The origins of the Pen F trace back to a 1959 challenge posed by Olympus to one of its young engineers, Yoshihisa Maitani. Tasked with creating a compact reflex camera that could retail for under … Read more20 Olympus
Olympus Pen F
Japan 1951 – Compact – 35 mm – Rare. After World War II, Canon embarked on the production of rangefinder cameras and continually released updated versions with consistent innovations. The IIIA, emerging in the early 1950s, was among the initial models mass-produced and introduced several novel features, notably the compatibility of its mount with Leica … Read more19 Canon
Canon IIIA
Germany 1974 – Compact – 35 mm – Rare. The Rollei 35, a 35 mm miniature viewfinder camera manufactured by Rollei in 1966, holds the distinction of being one of the smallest 35 mm cameras ever crafted. Heinz Waaske, the chief engineer at the German camera manufacturer Wirgin, conceived the design for the Rollei 35 … Read more18 Rollei
Rollei 35 S Jubilee
Germany 1934 – Compact – 35 mm – Very 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 … Read more17 Leica
Leica III (mod. F)
The most copied
Japan 1961 – Compact – 35 mm – Rare. The Canon 7 rangefinder was introduced in 1961and is the last model compatible with the Leica M39 lens mount. Even though Canon had already issued single lens reflex (SLR) cameras at the time, the brand wanted to produce a fast-shooting rangefinder camera for reportage in direct … Read more16 Canon
Canon 7
Fastest lens of its time
England 1953 – Compact – 35 mm – Very Rare. The Periflex 1, crafted by K.G. Corfield, is a British 35mm camera introduced in 1953, coinciding with the Queen’s coronation event. Its distinctive innovation was the introduction of a vertical focusing mechanism reminiscent of a submarine periscope, a feature that lent the camera its name. … Read more14 K.G. Corfield
Periflex 1
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
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
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
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