A Short History Of Cameras

A Short History Of Cameras

The history of the camera goes back a long way in time to the 5th century B.C. when a man called Mo Ti in China first discovered how light could be used to imprint images onto a backdrop. Basically, Mo Ti found that reflected light rays that were passed off an illuminated object could be funneled through an enclosure and result in an inverted image of the same object, thanks to him things that have revolutionized over the years and now a days we’re able to have incredible Tororonto headshots taken with high quality equipment.

However if you offer photography services to capture special moments in time for people, this wholesale photography backdrops can create many photographic opportunities all in one space, saving you time and money, creating a festive holiday scene or a sweet first birthday smash cake session and many others! 

Camera Obscura

The Camera Obscura 

One of the first devices that a camera would later be modeled on and it is thought to have been invented by Ibn Al-Haitham back in the 10th century A.D. This device was invented to allow light to be filtered through a hole and projected onto an opposite wall. The main aim of this device was to allow an artist to get an idea about the proportions of a figure so that they could then go ahead and copy the image in their artwork. Initially, these items were very large, which is why Robert Hooke and Robert Boyle later made the decision to create something slightly more portable. 

The Daguerreotype

The Daguerreotype 

The Daguerreotype was one of the first cameras that were manufactured on a commercial basis and it was invented by Louis-Jacques-Mande Daguerre. In order to function, the pictures were imprinted onto copper plates through the use of mercury vapors; something that could only produce one image at a time and wasn’t reproducible. This camera took up to 30 minutes to complete the exposure time. 

polaroid model 95

The Polaroid

It was in 1948 that Polaroid first came up with the instant camera, and since then it has become one of the more popular options on the market, up until the rise of the digital camera. Some of the earlier editions of this model made use of instant film rolls, although this quickly went out of fashion. The earlier models were very tricky to work with, although over time, the company came up with a pack film that allowed photographers to actually peel the film apart as the photo developed. 

Antique Standard Camera

The Standard Camera

Back in 1888, Kodak came up with a design that improved the camera tenfold and allowed photographers to take photographs and have them sent in for developing. Around the 1920s, Leica added a wide variety of features that we can still see on many cameras today, although with slight variations. In the late 1950s, Nikon released the extremely popular 35mm SLR, which boasted a reflex mirror and interchangeable lenses, and from then it wasnt long before competing company Canon started coming up with their own improvements on the model. 

Disposable Camera

Disposable Cameras

Many people have used a disposable camera once or twice in their lives, and these came into existence around the 1980s. This equipment came with the film already inside the camera, as well as an APS cartridge, and while most were disposed of once the pictures were developed, others could be resold after they were recycled. 

First Digital Camera

Digital Cameras

The digital camera came into existence in 1995, and since then it has allowed just about everyone the chance to become an amateur photographer. Up until now, digital camera equipment has been the pinnacle of camera development, although it remains to be seen what else this industry has to offer both the professionals and amateur photographers around the world. If you need VHS to digital services, contact the experts at everpresent.com.

Matt Foden is a working professional photography based in London, UK. He runs Foden Photography along with his wife Brenda, and has a long standing love of all things photographic.