Overview

The Daguerreotype Camera of 1839 is a photographic landmark. It introduced the first practical method for taking a photograph. Except that what is generally acknowledged as the first photograph was actually taken thirteen years before with a different type of camera. The Leica was the first camera to make the 35mm format popular, but it was by no means the first camera to use 35mm film. Likewise, Polaroid wasn't the first to produce an instant picture camera but was, surprisingly, the first company to introduce an autofocus single lens reflex. The history of the camera is flush with similar anomalies. This lavishly illustrated book with over 460 pictures looks at the cameras that became landmarks and analyses how and why they influenced future design – sometimes in a big, important manner, other times in a lesser but still significant way. AUTHOR: John Wade has written and illustrated numerous articles on camera history for photographic, antique, and collectors' magazines in the UK, America, and Australia and has written, edited, or contributed to more than 30 books on photographic history and techniques. SELLING POINTS: . A detailed examination of 50 cameras, each a major landmark of its time . More than 460 pictures chronicle models from 1839-1991 and the styles and trends they influenced . Victorian era portrait photographers would clamp the heads of their subjects during long exposures 425 colour, 37 b/w, 10 charts, graphs and drawings

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9780764350047

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Reviews

The chronological approach taken is both sensible and enjoyable, as it does give a flavour of how camera production and development occurred, incorporating changes in technology as it went. The text is both informed and informative, managing to give enough factual information that balances with Johns obvious enthusiasm and love for his subject(s). I love seeing cameras displayed with their occasionally mad accessories - cameras that I would not give houseroom to suddenly take on an allure (to me) when fully kitted out - you wonder what the design team from the American firm Univex were 'on' when they came up with some of the add ons for their already bonkers half frame camera the Mercury - the shot of this camera with i's Flash Gordon inspired lever wind, rangefinder and flash bulb unit is truly unforgettable. As with both of John's previous Schiffer titles (still available from the publisher) this is a wonderfully printed and illustrated book, and for me contains the essence of why I collect cameras and photographica - there's facts, anecdotes, a few mysteries and a decent serving of barminess... from the camera designers I mean, not from the author! - Timothy Campbell, 'Photographica World'

The chronological approach taken is both sensible and enjoyable, as it does give a flavour of how camera production and development occurred, incorporating changes in technology as it went. The text is both informed and informative, managing to give enough factual information that balances with Johns obvious enthusiasm and love for his subject(s). I love seeing cameras displayed with their occasionally mad accessories - cameras that I would not give houseroom to suddenly take on an allure (to me) when fully kitted out - you wonder what the design team from the American firm Univex were 'on' when they came up with some of the add ons for their already bonkers half frame camera the Mercury - the shot of this camera with i's Flash Gordon inspired lever wind, rangefinder and flash bulb unit is truly unforgettable. As with both of John's previous Schiffer titles (still available from the publisher) this is a wonderfully printed and illustrated book, and for me contains the essence of why I collect cameras and photographica - there's facts, anecdotes, a few mysteries and a decent serving of barminess... from the camera designers I mean, not from the author! - Timothy Campbell, 'Photographica World'

Author Information

John Wade has written and illustrated numerous articles on camera history for photographic, antique, and collectors’ magazines in the UK, America, and Australia and has written, edited, or contributed to more than 30 books on photographic history and techniques.

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