Canon F-1
Canon F-1 was introduce in 1971 as Canon's professional grade answer to the Nikon F series of Cameras. The target was the professional photographer.
Read MoreSamsung introduced the ECX 1 in 1994. It was designed by Porsche Design and won some prestigious industry awards when it launched. What were they thinking?
Read MoreThe La Sardina is a toy camera from Lomography. Yes, it does look and feel like a sardine can, just thicker and plastic. It is based on a camera from the 1930 called the Kandor Candid, manufactured by the Irwin Company. So it is a toy camera copy of a toy camera. The original took 127 film but the La Sardina is mercifully, 35mm.
Read MoreIn 2003 Leica introduced the MP. The "original MP and MP2" were legendary Leica from the late 1950s based on the M3 and sold as professional equipment. They are some of the most sought after of the Leica M cameras. So naming a modern camera MP and then saying that the MP stands for Mechanical Perfection is confidence bordering on hubris.
Read MoreThe Demi EE28 is a half frame format camera intoduced in 1967. The EE28 suplemented the Demi line as a less featured version of the Demi EE17 released the year before.
Read MoreThe Ricoh GR 21 was introduced in 2001 and took the GR line to a wide angle with a 21mm lens. It was also the last film version of the much loved GR line.
Read MoreTake auto-focus, built in flash and a Carl Zeiss Tessar lens: encase it in a 1980's plastic brick and you have the Yashica TAF. Introduced in 1984 as a premium point and shoot and the start of the Yashica T* line.
Read MoreThe Voigtlander Bessa R3a was introduced in 2004. The Voightlander name is used under license by Japanese manufacturer Cosina.
Read MoreIntroduced around 2005, the Holga 135 and 135 BC are smaller versions of the original Holga 120. They keep the spirit of the original but bring it to the smaller 35mm film format.
Read MoreOlympus revamped the OM line in 1983 with the introduction of the OM-3 as a mechanical and OM-4 as an electronic. They were intended to update the OM-1 and the OM-2 lines. The OM-3 was only in production for 3 years until 1986.
Read MoreDesigned by T. M. Lee, the great plastic Holga 120 was intended for the Chinese domestic market. Evidently there was a ready supply of 120 B&W film and a lack of affordable 120 cameras. The Holga was designed to fill that gap. It is reported to have hit the market in Hong Kong in 1982 and spread from there to the rest of the world. It has developed a cult following not because of what a quality camera it is but because of the limitations imposed and the element of unpredictability.
Read MoreProduced from 1977 to 1981, the M4-2 was either the death of the classic M or the return by Leica to the true path and salvation of the brand. Or maybe both.
Read MoreThe Canon FTb was introduced in 1971 as the amateur companion to the F-1 professional camera. It uses the Canon FD lens mount. In 1973 the design was modified to include a shutter speed indicator in the viewfinder. The new design also changed the film advance lever from all metal to now including a plastic tip. This one is the newer model.
Read MoreIntroduced in 1984 the LOMO LC-A was a compact Soviet camera that borrowed heavily from the Cosina CX-2. Production stoped in 2005. It was resurrected in 2006 as the LC-A+ and production was moved to China. This one is an original Russian version. LC-A stands for Lomo Kompakt Automat.
Read More