Cameras Timeline

  • Daguerrotype Cameras Were Invented

    Daguerrotype Cameras Were Invented
    Louis Daguerre coated a copper plate with silver and then treated it with iodine to make it light sensitive. The image was then developed using a salt and mercury vapor mixture. This early form of photography was one of the first permanent form of photography and captured many portraits of renowned historical figures.
  • Dry Plate Camera Invented

    Dry Plate Camera Invented
    Dry plate cameras increased the speed that pictures could be developed which made taking pictures much easier. At this time, other inventors and engineers got involved with camera technology and the competition lead to the size of the camera decreasing to a size small enough to be used in the hands.
  • The First Kodak Camera is Manufactured

    The First Kodak Camera is Manufactured
    George Eastman invents the first Kodak camera. The camera had a fixed focal length (no zoom) and it also had no variation in shutter speed. It could take up to 100 pictures with a single roll of film and it's affordable price helped to increase the camera's presence in households.
  • Oskar Barnack Produces first 35mm Camera

    Oskar Barnack Produces first 35mm Camera
    This camera was the Leica. It was the first of it's kind to use 35mm film. This film became a staple in the photography world is still used by many today.
  • Rolleiflex TLR is Invented

    Rolleiflex TLR is Invented
    The first single lens reflex camera is invented. This is a significant improvement on camera technology because it allows the photographer to finally see an accurate repsentation of what they are taking pictures of. The camera uses a combination of a prism and lens to create a mirror-effect in the camera.
  • The First Instant Picture

    The First Instant Picture
    The Polaroid Model 95 enters production. This camera has the ability to create a picture with 60 seconds. The camera had a lasting impact on photography where the instant picture technology continued to grow. The instant picture technology also became a significant part of pop culture.
  • The First Commercially Available Digital Camera

    The First Commercially Available Digital Camera
    Also known as the Logitech Fotoman, the Dycam Model 1 radically changed the photography world by allowing the average user to save their images digitally and transfer them to a computer.
  • A Camera In Your Pocket

    A Camera In Your Pocket
    Currently, the most common camera anyone uses is the camera built into the cell phones. Most of the time, these pictures will never make it to print and rather than just 100 pictures on a roll of film, a phone can hold thousands of images. This allows people to document even more events and upload them for the world to see even faster.