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 Arsenal
Kiev 30 “John player special”
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
France 1904 – Plate Camera – Plates – Rare. The Gaumont Block-Notes is a folding klapp camera distinguished by its elegant simplicity in design. With an exterior entirely coated in lacquered black paint, this camera boasted ease of use and was often classified as a “woman’s camera” during its era. The Tessar-Zeiss lens is situated … Read more15 Gaumont
Block-Notes
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
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
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