The Evolution of the Camera

​Photography is a part of our daily life, but how did the camera come to be and evolve over the years?

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1500 – Camera Obscura (The Pinhole Camera)  

Source eandt.theiet.org

​Camera obscura is a natural phenomenon that occurs when a device in the shape of a box lets light through a small opening on one side and projects it on to the other. The projected image is both reversed and inverted.
 
The oldest mention of camera obscura was in the 5th century BC, by Mozi, a Chinese philosopher. He noted that the image from camera obscura is both reversed and inverted due to light moving in a straight line. The principle of camera obscura formed the basis of modern photography. ​

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1839 – Daguerreotype Camera
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Building on the principal of camera obscura, a French artist named Louis Daguerre, developed a process to store the projected image on a mirror finished copper plate treated with chemicals.
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This was a landmark moment, as it was the first time an object was made to be light sensitive to capture information and store it forever. The Daguerreotype process formed the basis for the film cameras we know today.

Source wetplatewagon.com

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1900 – The Reise Camera
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Source collectiblend.com

Prior to the 1900s, cameras were bulky, heavy, immobile boxes, however, as the world’s first portable camera, the Reise Camera transformed the way cameras were used and photographs were taken.

​It was extremely light weight and could be folded into a compact shape, meaning people could take photos on the move. 

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1925 – The Leica I
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The Leica 1 was the first commercially available compact 35mm camera. The Leica was designed by Oscar Barnack and became an immediate success after it’s release in 1925.

The Leica is responsible for popularising 35mm photography, which became the standard format for film photography for years to come.

shutterbug.com

We repair all makes and models of cameras - view our services here.

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1947 – Polaroid Model 95
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Source newsgo.it

​At this time, cameras becoming household objects across the globe.

A company named ‘Polaroid’ recognised that the process of developing film photographs was a tedious job, so they invented a process to compress this into a matter of seconds. Thus, the Polaroid Model 95 flooded the market.
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The Polaroid Model 95 enabled photographers to take a photo and then print it immediately, utilising special paper provided by Polaroid. 

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1975 – Kodak Digital Camera
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​In 1975, Steven Sasson developed the world’s first digital camera. Although a technological feat, Sasson struggled to convince people that his invention was the future of camera technology.

Nevertheless, as the age of digitalisation took off, so did his technology, with the first digital camera being made commercially available in 1991 - although it came with a hefty price tag of $13,000!

Source popphoto.com

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1986 – Fuji QuickSnap​
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Source rbl-store.com

​Fujifilm invented the first single use disposable camera, the ‘Fuji QuickSnap’.

​As this camera only cost $4 and could capture 27 shots with its inbuilt film, it was extremely economical, thus opening up photography to the masses. 

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2000 – Sharp J-SH04
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​The new millennium sparked a new technological trend – miniaturisation.

Building on this trend, in 2000, Sharp created the first mobile phone with a tiny inbuilt digital camera.

​This mobile camera phone enabled users to shoot, process and display photos instantly and on the go, paving the way for today’s high-quality camera phones. 

Source sharp-world.com

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2007 – Apple iPhone
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Source cnbc.com

​In 2007, Apple invented the notorious Apple iPhone, which boasted revolutionary smartphone technology, as well as incredible imaging technology.

​This enabled users to take great photos in all lighting conditions, spurring on the growth and development of tiny cameras across the globe.

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2008 – GoPro HD HERO
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​In 2008, GoPro tapped into a niche in the market – adventure. They developed a small, but impressive camera that was able to shoot videos at 1080p and could be strapped to your helmet, board, bike, or body, so you could record every adventurous moment in HD.

Fun fact: When Felix Baumgartner jumped from space, he recorded the whole event with a GoPro camera strapped to his suit! 

Source amazon.com

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2018 and Beyond...

​We now find ourselves spoilt for choice, as we have impressive smartphone cameras, as well as high-end DSLRs, offering incredible image quality, functionality and video recording at 4K resolution – all within a compact body.
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Whatever could be next in the evolution of cameras?

No matter how cameras evolve, we will always be here for your camera repair needs. View our Film, Compact & D-SLR Repair Services here.

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