This Friday find is something you probably have somewhere in your house, an old camera. I love how these vintage cameras can create a focal point particularly when used near photos. They can draw your eye to any corner that you place them in. My wife loves photography and vintage cameras so, whenever I found an old camera, I would bring it right home. The pictures here illustrate that I may have taken this to far.
The beauty of these old vintage cameras is two fold. First, the cameras have been made for more than 125 years. This means that they reflect all styles of the twentieth century. From Nouveau and Deco to Midcentury Modern thru Industrial, Minimalism and everything in between. You can bet that there is a camera for whatever style suits you. The second part owes itself to the industrial revolution and the modern production techniques it fostered. These cameras were mass-produced so they are readily available and cheap. Of course, if you start looking for a vintage Leica or Hasselblad you can expect to pay a small fortune (or a large fortune in the case of an early Leica series 0 selling for over $2.7 million at an auction in Vienna earlier this year).
The cameras I am reminiscing about are the kind from my childhood or more likely my parent’s childhood. The ubiquitous Kodak Brownies and the early Polaroids. These can be had for next to nothing at garage sales and flea markets. Typically, you can find these cameras for less than $15 dollars and the accordion type for around $30 dollars. Another cool thing about these cameras is most can still take pictures. It has become hard to find film for them, now that the world is digital, so check out B&H Photo in New York City. B&H is one of my favorite stores for camera equipment and our camera collection is one of my favorite collections!
