Minox : The quintessential Spy Camera

Minox film cameras

Since its inception in 1932 the Minox subminiature camera has been the essential spy camera. Its compact design, sturdy construction and mechanical shutter have transformed the Minox from a photographic curiosity to a legendary spy camera. History Designed in 1932 by Walter Zapp the Minox was first produced in their Latvian factory VEF (Valsts elektrotehnisk? … Read more

Konica I : 35mm Rangefinder

Konica 1 camera

The Konica, or Konica I (also known as the Konica Standard or just Konica) is the first in a series of rangefinders that come at the beginning of a company that would go on to produce quality cameras for generations. As a mechanical 35mm film camera, the Konica I is a fine example of the … Read more

The Futura-S : not just another rangefinder

Futura S with lens hood

The history of the Futura camera line starts during the second World War with Optische Anstalt, an optics factory that produced equipment for the German Military. Unfortunately the factory was destroyed during the war, so after the war ended the founder Fritz Kuhnert built a new factory and by 1947 was producing the Efka 24. … Read more

Canon F-1 : One Camera to Rule Them All

Canon F-1 Camera

The Canon F-1 was the camera that led Canon into the professional market with a system of interchangeable lenses and accessories making it one of the best made and most versatile camera systems on the market. Unlike many cameras, the F-1 is not a derivative of another model, it was designed from the ground up … Read more

Canon VT de luxe Rangefinder breaks the mold

Canon VT de luxe rangefinder

The Canon VT de luxe is a 35mm rangefinder was introduced in May of 1957 as an update to the VT which was released the previous year. The VT de luxe was produced in chrome and black, but the black ones are few and far between these days, and command a hefty price (comparatively). Lately … Read more

The Canon A-1 set standards in photography that lasted decades

Canon A-1 featured

At this point in 1978, Canon has been making cameras for 45 years when they released the the Kwanon (pronounced kannon), named after the Buddhist bodhisattva of mercy of the same name. With the AE-1 having been introduced just two years earlier Canon was setting their sights on users that didn’t need full manual control … Read more

Canon AE-1 35mm film camera

Canon AE-1 35mm film camera

There are a lot of cameras out there, too many at this point, but there are few cameras that have the same notoriety as the Canon AE-1. History Released in 1976, the Canon AE-1 was the first camera produced that was controlled entirely by electronics. Canon also made use of new mass production techniques and … Read more

Canon FT QL 35mm film camera

Canon FT 35mm film camera

Introduced in 1966, the Canon FT QL is an all mechanical 35mm film camera that you’ve probably never heard of. History Canon has been in the business of making cameras since the 30’s when they released their first camera, which, like many other companies, was based on the Leica II. They really started to hit … Read more

How to date Canon cameras

Canon lenses datre codes

Dating camera equipment is always tricky. Camera manufacturers were not as good at date codes as Zippo was, so finding a reliable way of determining when the product was produced. Starting around 1960 Canon date codes were rubber stamped on camera bodies in the film cartridge area. Unfortunately sometimes they rub off. Canon continued this … Read more

Zorki 4 35mm Rangefinder

Zorki 4 Rangefinder with Orange Industar lens

As far as affordable Leica copies go, you have two choices; Fed and Zorki. Both FED and KMZ were making cameras in the same factory after the war and after the split, KMZ continued to make rangefinders and the Zorki 35mm Rangefinder was born. History Krasnogorsk Mechanical Works or KMZ – was founded as Krasnogorsk … Read more

Mamiya ZE-2 Quartz

Mamiya ZE-2 Quartz

Introduced in December of 1980, the Mamiya ZE-2 Quartz is definitely a child of the 80s. There’s lots of plastic and cheap material where the leather covering should be. Mamiya has a storied past and a well deserved reputation for building high quality cameras with amazingly sharp optics. Adding that reputation Mamiya seemed to be … Read more

Mamiya ZM Quartz 35mm camera

Mamiya ZM 35mm film camera

The Mamiya ZM Quartz is a 35mm film camera produced in 1982 and has the distinction of being the last 35mm film camera that Mamiya made. Being part of the Z Series cameras, the ZM can use E and EF series lenses as well as a few lenses designed specifically for the ZM. Design At … Read more

Mamiya NC 1000 35mm film camera

Mamiya NC1000 35mm SLR camera

It seems like everyone at one time or another has been in the 35mm business, even Hasselblad had the X-Pan. There are several Mamiya 35mm film cameras, which is no surprise. The NC, with the 1000 and 1000s is one of the most recent lines. The NC 1000 is well built with a lot of … Read more

Gelto DIII : A gem among cameras

Gelto DIII camera

There are cameras that you find and wonder “How on Earth did I not know about this?” The Gelto DIII is one of those cameras. It’s a beautiful little camera that packs a big punch Backstory The Gelto camera line is comprised of a series of medium format cameras built both before and after WWII … Read more

Olympus OM10 : A compact entry level camera

Olympus OM10 35mm film camera

The Olympus OM10 was the first consumer end camera of the OM series released in 1979. With many of the same design elements and features of their flagship OM-1, the OM10 is a solid performer with a lower price-point designed to get the attention of entry-level photographers. History Olympus is a Japanese company making cameras … Read more

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