Ernemann Ermanox

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 journalist and photographer Erich Salomon was particularly fond of surreptitious captures, producing iconic images of politicians during meetings and various celebrities. These candid photos were highly unconventional for their era.

Eventually, the Ermanox was overshadowed by its contemporary, the Leica, which was more compact and tailored for 35mm film.