Innovative cameras , but not only :
a transversal collection.



Se desideri questo testo in italiano, clicca qui


The idea to collect "innovative" 35mm cameras came to me after collecting, for many years, specific cameras of specific factories. Very early on, this line of collecting became self defeating. I found that I bought expensive cameras to complete a camera line. I was, however, not buying less expensive, but more significant cameras in terms of importance. I began to question whether it was more important to buy the model variation with the extra screw in the top plate and the red speed settings, or perhaps for example, to buy a less expensive, but beautiful Topcon RE Super, which is certainly a milestone in 35mm SLR development. To be sure, this single theme or "monothematic" collecting specialization gave the great satisfaction at the beginning, when it was simple to find models at low prices and in mint condition, but time after time, camera after camera, research became more difficult and less interesting. Based on these and other considerations and born from an interest in the usual themes. I discovered that I already had some innovative cameras , and that it was easy and not expensive to buy important cameras. Often their guide price did not take into consideration their real historical value. The pleasure to use each of theses different cameras, the discovery of the numerous technical solutions adopted, some really astonishing in their simplicity or the inventiveness of the makers, the possibility to use various lenses, rekindled my diminished enthusiasm for collecting. So I compiled my list, often guided by wrong books or reviews, discovering that this theme was quite open ended. Even after some years of doing this research, my work is uncompleted: often some technical solutions adopted, or some clever aspect disappeared into thin air. For example solar powered cameras have vanished, while others, ordinary in the apparence, and which we take for granted today, like a self-timer led, have became universal.


INNOVATIVE 135 SRL cameras( english / italian )

Early 35mm Cameras( only english )

The first reflex 135( english )

Stereocameras 135( english / italian )

Twin reflex 135( english )

Wonderful Tessina( only italian )

Incredible Diax( english / italian )

Honest AIRES( italian )

Great Prominent( only italian )
Superb Vitessa( english / italian )

Terrific Contaflex TLR( english )

a lot of Half cameras!( english )

Bessa L, R, & T !( only italian )

Panoramic 135 Cameras( only english )

Leningrad( only english )

Zenza Bronica S lenses( only italian )

Eljy Lumiere( only english )


Suggested links:


Camprice, The Online Guide to Camera Prices

Pacific Rim Camera

Il mondo della foto REFLEX, di Stefano Fedele

Price guide by Candido Scocco

tutto sulle ROBOT

Rollei Club, by Roberto Mirandola

Anthony James Camera page

Stephen Gandy's Camera Quest

Nadir

The Subclub by Joe McGloin

Hand made cameras by Arturo Rebora

Dan Colucci GREAT SITE!

Russian cameras by Giorgio Asquini
to contact me,click on me!

Massimo Bertacchi, 21 Giu 2003

from 26 Oct 1998
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