Leica|IIIc

• Make: Leica
• Model: IIIc
• Year of Manufacture: 1950
• Type: Rangefinder
• Format: 135
• Lens: Screwmount, M39
• Status: Working

The Leica IIIc is a 35mm rangefinder camera introduced by Leica in 1940. As an upgrade of the Leica IIIb, the Leica IIIc had important changes: one piece die-cast body, instead of an assembly of small parts. The cover of the rangefinder is no longer a separate piece, improved internal mechanism, larger release button, new exposure counter mechanism. The Leica IIIc was made of aluminum with chrome plated brass top plate, base plate and knobs. Some of them had grey paint finish due to the lack of chrome during the war. It was built from 1940 to 1951 (serial numbers 360,101-525,001) with approx. 131,000 units produced.

minolta|himatic 7s

• Make: Minolta
• Model: HiMatic 7s
• Year of Manufacture: 1969
• Type: Rangefinder
• Format: 135
• Lens: Fixed, Rokkor-PF 45mm 1:1.7
• Status: Working

In 1963 the Minolta HI-MATIC 7 succeeded the original Minolta Hi-Matic 35mm rangefinder camera. It had new features, especially a CdS meter placed above the lens optics within the filter connection ring, a manual shutter speed selection mode, and the exposure meter's actual EV-value displayed in the viewfinder. Like the original Hi-Matic its viewfinder was a rangefinder with mechanical parallax correction, and it had a self-timer. With this camera Minolta made the Hi-Matic camera series their main series of range- and viewfinder cameras. Every Hi-Matic had more or less automatic features, especially for exposure control by meter, and more or less support of flashlight usage. The later version HI-MATIC 7s added a hot shoe for flashes and the exposure system of the SRT 101 SLR-camera.

contax|g2

• Make: Contax
• Model: G2
• Year of Manufacture: 1996
• Type: Rangefinder
• Format: 135
• Lens: Bayonet, G-Mount, Autofocus
• Status: Working

Initially introduced in 1994 with the G1, Contax bucked the rangefinder trend and designed the world's first (and only) interchangable autofocus rangefinder camera, using their own G-Mount (most rangefinders used hte Leica M-mount) and lenses produced by Carl Zeiss (Under lincence), these quickly became cult cameras. The G2 was introduced two years after the G1 making improvements on ergonomics, interface, and camera operations. The G2 also introduced an active IR based autofocus system which greatly improves the acuracy.

olympus|35 sp

• Make: Olympus
• Model: 35 SP
• Year of Manufacture: 1969
• Type: Rangefinder
• Format: 135
• Lens: Fixed, G.Zuiko 42mm 1:1.7
• Status: Working

Olympus produced the 35 SP line of rangefinder cameras from 1969 through 1976. Though somewhat overshadowed early on by the explosive popularity of SLRs, the Olympus SP rangefinder models were sophisticated and high-quality cameras. Unique among 35mm rangefinders, the SP featured a dual metering system, with both spot and center-weighted readings (though not a through-the-lens meter). Its compactness relative to SLRs of comparable ability remains a strong point in its favor among enthusiasts.

Graphflex|Anniversery Speed Graphic

• Make: Graphflex Corp.
• Model: Anniversery Speed Graphic
• Year of Manufacture: 1940
• Type: View Camera, Press, Converted to Field
• Format: Large Format, 4x5
• Lens: Interchangable, 4x4 lensboard
• Status: Working

The Iconic press camera, however this particular one was converted post World War II to act more as a field camera.

Franek & Heidecke|Rolleiflex 2.8F

• Make: Franke & Heidecke
• Model: Rolleiflex 2.8F
• Year of Manufacture: 1969
• Type: Twin Lens Reflex
• Format: 120/220, 6x6 Format
• Lens: Fixed: Carl Zeiss Planar 80mm 1:2.8
• Status: Working

The ultimate Twin Lens Reflex (TLR) from Franke & Heidecke, the Rolleiflex 2.8F was introduced in the 1960s, features a coupled selenium cell exposure meter (which on mine still works dead on), and with Carl Zeiss optics (the same used on Hasselblad 500C cameras) and a leaf shutter making this a perfect camera for the professional photographer at the time. This, along with my Leica IIIc are the crown jewels in my collection and both see use out in the field because of the quality mechanics and images that can be produced. Plus, they really can start a conversation.

agfa|box 50

• Make: Agfa
• Model: Box 50
• Year of Manufacture: 1949
• Type: Box
• Format: 120, 6x9 Format
• Lens: Fixed: 100mm meniscus f/11
• Status: Working

The Agfa Box 50 was a durable simple camera for absolute beginners. It made 6×9 cm exposures on film rolls of type 120 (=60mm). The inner part had to be taken out of the camera to load the film. This particular camera belonged to my grandfather, it was given as a gift to him when he and his family moved to Canada from the Netherlands. It was passed along to his son, my uncle, and then to my mom. The camera still does belong to her, but I can use it occationally.

kodak|brownie model 2

• Make: Kodak
• Model: Brownie Model 2
• Year of Manufacture: 1916
• Type: Box
• Format: 120, 6x9 Format
• Lens: Fixed: meniscus
• Status: Working

The No.2 Brownie is significant in that it was the first camera to use 120 roll film. It started production being made of leatherette covered card and, from 1924, changed to a metal box. A very simple camera with a very dependable shutter shutter. It has two sliding mechanisms on the top, one for a bulb, or time setting, and the other for a choice of 3 apertures. It also has two small reflecting finders for vertical or horizontal shots.

coronet|conway

• Make: Coronet
• Model: Conway
• Year of Manufacture: 1950s
• Type: Box
• Format: 120, 6x9 Format
• Lens: Fixed: meniscus
• Status: Working

Nikon|F4

• Make: Nikon
• Model: F4
• Year of Manufacture: 1988
• Type: Single Lens Reflex
• Format: 35mm
• Lens: Bayonet, F-Mount, with Autofocus
• Status: Working

The Nikon F4 was a 35mm autofocus (AF) single lens reflex (SLR) film camera, first introduced in 1988 as the next generation in Nikon's line of F series professional cameras. With industrial design by Giorgetto Giugiaro, the F4 was the first professional Nikon to offer autofocus and is able to accept any of Nikon's manual focus (MF) or AF lenses from 1959 to the present day, including the two F3AF lenses (in Autofocus mode). The F4 replaced the F3, which was a manual focus camera produced from 1980 until around the year 2000. Nikon introduced its next flagship model, the F5, in 1996. All F4 models were discontinued soon after, in May 1997.

Nikon|F3

• Make: Nikon
• Model: F3
• Year of Manufacture: 1980
• Type: Single Lens Reflex
• Format: 135
• Lens: Bayonet, Nikon F-Mount
• Status: Working

The Nikon F3 was Nikon's third professional single-lens reflex camera body, preceded by the F and F2. Introduced in 1980, it had manual and semi-automatic exposure control whereby the camera would select the correct shutter speed (aperture priority automation). The Nikon F3 series cameras had the most model variations of any Nikon F camera. It was also the first of numerous Nikon F-series cameras to be styled by Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, and to include a red stripe on the handgrip – a feature that would later become (with variants of stripes and various other shapes) a signature feature of many Nikon cameras.

Nikon|FM2

• Make: Nikon
• Model: FM2
• Year of Manufacture: 1982
• Type: Single Lens Reflex
• Format: 135
• Lens: Bayonet, Nikon F-Mount
• Status: Working

The Nikon FM2 is an almost fully-manual, semi-professional interchangeable-lens 35mm SLR camera manufactured by Nikon from 1983 through 2001. The FM2 is known for what was at the time an advanced shutter design. The FM2's shutter was completely mechanical yet was capable of speeds from 1s through 1/4000th. This was unheard of at the time it was made. The camera also had an extremely high level of manufacturing quality; this could be felt in the extremely smooth mechanical functionality of the camera, such as the film advance lever.

Canon|F-1

• Make: Canon
• Model: F-1
• Year of Manufacture: 1982
• Type: Single Lens Reflex
• Format: 135
• Lens: Bayonet, Canon FD-Mount
• Status: Working

The Canon F-1 is a 35mm SLR camera introduced in the summer of 1970, together with the new Canon FD lens mount. It became generally available the following year. The FD lens fully communicates with the camera, and there is a capable range of lenses to choose from. They are backward compatible with the earlier Canon cameras. The FD lenses have an Automatic position on the aperture ring, at first identified by a green circle, later by a green A. This position is excluded if the lens is on a camera not supporting the automatic mode. The 1 to 1/2000 sec shutter has horizontally running metal foils curtains.

Pentax|645

• Make: Pentax
• Model: 645
• Year of Manufacture: 1984
• Type: Single Lens Reflex
• Format: 120/220/70mm
• Lens: Bayonet, Pentax K-Mount 645
• Status: Working

The Pentax 645 is a medium format SLR camera, made from 1984. It takes 15 pictures nominally 6x4.5 cm, on 120 roll film, or 30 on 220 film, and it can also use 70 mm film, which gives approvimately 90 frames per roll. It has a built-in motor drive and a low-profile prism viewfinder with built-in dioptric correction. Although similiarly designed to the Mamyia M645 series, the Pentax uses film holders rather than magazines and the viewfinder cannot be changed.

Bronica|SQ-Ai

• Make: Bronica
• Model: SQ-Ai
• Year of Manufacture: 1980s
• Type: Single Lens Reflex
• Format: 120/220
• Lens: Bayonet
• Status: Working

Similar to the 6x4.5 based ETR series that came before it, the SQ uses a leaf shutter based lens design. They are not compatible with the older series of focal plane shutter cameras. The lens system has a Seiko manufactured electronic shutter with speed of 8 sec. to 1/500 sec. plus T with the focusing helicode built-in to each lens. The sync connector is located on the front of the camera by the lens mount. Since it's a leaf shutter based camera, flash sync is available at all speeds.

pentax|auto 110

• Make: Pentax
• Model: Auto 110
• Year of Manufacture: 1978
• Type: Single Lens Reflex
• Format: 110
• Lens: Bayonet, Pentax 110 Mount
• Status: Working

The Pentax Auto 110 is a single-lens reflex cameras made by Asahi Pentax that use Kodak's 110 film cartridge. The Auto 110 was introduced with three interchangeable lenses in 1978. Three more lenses were introduced in 1981. The camera system was sold until 1985. The complete system is sometimes known as the Pentax System 10, apparently for its official Pentax name, although most Pentax advertising only uses the camera name or Pentax-110. This model represented the only complete ultraminiature SLR system manufactured for the 110 film format, although several fixed-lens 110 SLRs were sold. The camera system also claims to be the smallest interchangeable-lens SLR system ever created.

Olympus|Trip 35

• Make: Olympus
• Model: Trip 35
• Year of Manufacture: 1967-1984
• Type: Point & Shoot
• Format: 135
• Lens: Fixed, Zuiko 40mm 1:2.8 Tessar
• Status: Working

The Olympus Trip 35 is a fully-automatic 35mm compact camera, manufactured by Olympus from 1967 to 1984, during which time over ten million units were sold. The auto-exposure mechanism is effectively solar-powered by a selenium cell surrounding the lens, and consequently the camera runs entirely without batteries.

Olympus|XA1

• Make: Olympus
• Model: XA1
• Year of Manufacture: 1982
• Type: Point & Shoot
• Format: 135
• Lens: Fixed, D.Zuiko 35mm 1:4
• Status: Working

The XA1, introduced in 1982, was the cheapest and simplest of the series. It had a fixed focus four element 35mm f:4 lens, a shutter from 1/30 to 1/250 and a programmed exposure driven by a selenium meter. The only film speed settings were 100 and 400 ISO. Basically it was a modern Trip 35 which a few less features.

Olympus|Stylus Epic DLX

• Make: Olympus
• Model: Stylus Epic DLX
• Year of Manufacture: 1991
• Type: Point & Shoot
• Format: 135
• Lens: Fixed, Olympus Lens 35mm 1:2.8
• Status: Working

The Olympus Stylus series of cameras were fully automatic compact cameras made by Olympus, starting in 1991. It was an immensely successful range, with 20 million models sold in the first ten years of production. The key selling points of Stylus cameras were the small size, accurate focusing, well-balanced flash exposures, and (starting with the Stylus Epic) weatherproof finish. Most of the models could fit inside a soap dish.

lomo|Smena 8m

• Make: ЛОМО (LOMO)
• Model: ϹМЕНА 8M (Smena 8M)
• Year of Manufacture: 1970s
• Type: Point & Shoot
• Format: 135
• Lens: Fixed, T-43 40mm 1:4 LOMO
• Status: Working

The LOMO Smena 8m is an entry-level 35mm camera from the 1970s Soviet Union, now mostly regarded as a toy camera. It is an extremely low-tech, fully manual, no-frills plastic box capable of shooting surprisingly decent photos. There is no focus aid - focus is set by guessing the distance to your subject and setting that distance on the lens. The frame counter is considered by many to be worthless.

Polaroid|Model 150 Land Camera

• Make: Polaroid
• Model: Model 150 Land Camera
• Year of Manufacture: 1957
• Type: Rangefinder
• Format: Instant, Type 40 Roll Film
• Lens: Fixed, 130mm, f/8.8, 3-element glass.
• Status: working

The Polaroid Land Camera Model 150 was a circa-1957 entry in Polaroid's original series of folding cameras, which used instant film in rolls. In features, it resembles the Model 95B "Speedliner" but includes a dual-window rangefinder/viewfinder similar to the higher-specification Model 110A "Pathfinder."

Polaroid|Automatic 250 Land Camera

• Make: Polaroid
• Model: Automatic 250 Land Camera
• Year of Manufacture: 1967-1969
• Type: Rangefinder
• Format: Instant, Type 100 Pack Film
• Lens: Fixed, 114mm f/8.8 3-element glass
• Status: working

The Auto 250 was one of many of a long line of Automatic Land Cameras that were first introduced in 1963 with the "Madmen" Auto 100 camera. My particular camera I picked up at an antique store in Milan, OH, when the shop owner saw my Auto 240 he went and pulled out this beautiful mint-condition piece and I bought it for sixty dollars, only to find that all the original accessories such as a portrait and closeup kit were included as well!

Polaroid|SX-70

• Make: Polaroid
• Model: SX-70
• Year of Manufacture: 1972
• Type: Single Lens Reflex
• Format: Instant, SX-70 Integral
• Lens: Fixed, 116mm f/8 4-element glass
• Status: Semi-Retired

The SX-70 is a folding single lens reflex Land Camera first produced by the Polaroid Corporation in 1972. It was the first instant SLR in history, and the first camera to use Polaroid's new integral print film, which developed automatically without the need for intervention from the photographer.

Polaroid|SX-70 OneStep Sonar

• Make: Polaroid
• Model: SX-70
• Year of Manufacture: 1970s
• Type: Single Lens Reflex
• Format: Instant, SX-70 Integral
• Lens: Fixed, 116mm f/8 4-element glass
• Status: working

The SX-70 is a folding single lens reflex Land Camera first produced by the Polaroid Corporation in 1972. It was the first instant SLR in history, and the first camera to use Polaroid's new integral print film, which developed automatically without the need for intervention from the photographer. This later model also features the sonar autofocus system

Polaroid|OneStep

• Make: Polaroid
• Model: OneStep
• Year of Manufacture: 1977
• Type: Point & Shoot
• Format: Instant, SX-70 Integral
• Lens: Fixed, 103mm f/14.6, 1-element, plastic
• Status: working

The classic polaroid white box rainbow Polaroid camera, this particular piece belonged to my Aunt, who passed it along to me to help feed my addiction in instant photography.

Polaroid|600 OneStep CloseUp

• Make: Polaroid
• Model: 600 OneStep CloseUp
• Year of Manufacture: 1980s
• Type: Point & Shoot
• Format: Instant, 600 Integral
• Lens: Fixed, 116mm f/11 1-Element, Plastic
• Status: working

The One Step Flash Close Up was a model in the second wave of Polaroid's 600-series. Not only did it have an integral flash like the square-cornered Polaroid One Step Flash, but it also had a close-up lens. This consisted of a small piece of transparent plastic that slid in front of the main lens to enable closer focusing.

Polaroid|Spectra

• Make: Polaroid
• Model: Spectra
• Year of Manufacture: 1980s
• Type: Point & Shoot
• Format: Instant, type 1200 Integral
• Lens: Fixed, 125mm f/11 3-element, plastic
• Status: working

Polaroid introduced the Spectra system of cameras in the early 1980s. It was an all-new line of cameras, and had a corresponding new film. Spectra film (called 'Image' outside of North America) is different from 600 integral film in that it has a different image format: a rectangular 9.2 x 7.3cm rather than 600 film's square format.

mansfield|holiday ii

• Make: Mansfield
• Model: Holdiday II
• Year of Manufacture: 1959
• Type: Cine Camera
• Format: 8mm
• Lens: Turret Mount, Mansfield 13mm 1:1.8, Raydex Wide Angle Aux Lens, Gruemex Telephoto Aux Lens
• Status: working

eumig|300XL

• Make: Eumig
• Model: 300XL/li>
• Year of Manufacture: 1976
• Type: Cine Camera
• Format: Super 8
• Lens: Fixed, Eumig Vario-Viennon f/1.2 7.5-22 mm
• Status: working