Photography

Leica 35mm Camera

The millions of photographs in the Museum's collections compose a vast mosaic of the nation's history. Photographs accompany most artifact collections. Thousands of images document engineering projects, for example, and more record the steel, petroleum, and railroad industries.

Some 150,000 images capture the history, art, and science of photography. Nineteenth-century photography, from its initial development by W. H. F. Talbot and Louis Daguerre, is especially well represented and includes cased images, paper photographs, and apparatus. Glass stereographs and news-service negatives by the Underwood & Underwood firm document life in America between the 1890s and the 1930s. The history of amateur photography and photojournalism are preserved here, along with the work of 20th-century masters such as Richard Avedon and Edward Weston. Thousands of cameras and other equipment represent the technical and business side of the field.

Resource Type: Cameras (photographic equipment)

Leica CL

The Leica CL was designed by Leitz but made by Minolta and was first sold in 1973. CL stands for ‘Compact Leica’ and the camera is smaller than any other film Leica models. The shutter differs from other Leica models in that it travels vertically rather than horizontally.
Description
The Leica CL was designed by Leitz but made by Minolta and was first sold in 1973. CL stands for ‘Compact Leica’ and the camera is smaller than any other film Leica models. The shutter differs from other Leica models in that it travels vertically rather than horizontally. The CL was usually sold with two lenses, a 40mm and a 90mm. Poor sales caused the camera to be dropped by Leitz in 1976, although a version with auto-exposure was introduced in 1980 and sold by Minolta for several more years as the Minolta CLE.
Black Leica CL camera without lens. Imprinted writing on top of camera reads "Leitz Wetzlar". This camera was used by the donor to make his 1978 Pulitzer Prize winning photographs of Rhodesia during the late 1970s.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1970s
maker
Leica
Minolta
ID Number
2010.0231.55
catalog number
2010.0231.55
accession number
2010.0231
serial number
1318706

Flash Bantam 4.5 Camera

date made
after 1947
maker
Eastman Kodak Company
ID Number
2006.0206.01
catalog number
2006.0206.01
accession number
2006.0206

Tuxi

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
PG.69.165.34
accession number
287545
catalog number
69.165.34

Kodak Brownie Super 27

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
PG.70.023
catalog number
70.23

Replica of 1840 Voigtlä nder, World’s First Metal Camera

The first Daguerreotype cameras introduced in 1839 were fitted with simple slow-speed lenses, and this made exposure times long, from two to ten minutes or more, even in bright sunlight.
Description
The first Daguerreotype cameras introduced in 1839 were fitted with simple slow-speed lenses, and this made exposure times long, from two to ten minutes or more, even in bright sunlight. The long exposure times made taking portraits difficult and usually required the subject to be seated and the head held steady with neck braces.
In 1840 Joseph Petzval, a Professor of Mathematics at Vienna University, designed a portrait lens that was twenty times faster than the Chevalier lenses fitted to the first Daguerreotype cameras. The Petzval lens gave superb sharpness at the center of the image and was less sharp towards the edges. The lens was ideal for portraits and reduced exposure times to a minute or less.
The brass Voigtländer Daguerreotype "Cannon" camera was one of the first cameras to use the Petzval portrait lens. This camera was originally introduced in 1841 and took 80mm circular images on Daguerreotype plates. The model shown here is one of a small number of replicas with serial number 84 made in 1978 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Voigtländer Company.
From its invention in 1839, the camera has evolved to fit many needs, from aerial to underwater photography and everything in between. Cameras allow both amateur and professional photographers to capture the world around us. The Smithsonian’s historic camera collection includes rare and unique examples of equipment, and popular models, related to the history of the science, technology, and art of photography.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Voightlander & Sohn
ID Number
PG.006075
accession number
225469
catalog number
6075

Argus 50mm

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1938-1939
maker
Argus Inc.
ID Number
PG.69.073
accession number
280844
catalog number
69.073

Toy 35mm Camera

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
unknown
ID Number
1993.0006.006
catalog number
1993.0006.006
accession number
1993.0006
1993.0006

Zeiss Ikon Nettar Camera

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Zeiss Ikon
ID Number
2016.0143.23
catalog number
2016.0143.23
accession number
2016.0143

Leica 35mm Model A

This camera has the all black finish of early Leicas. Its most important feature is the 50mm f/3.5 Anastigmat lens. This lens name only appears on the null series Leicas and the first production batch up to about serial no. 300. The lens has the original lens cap.
Description
This camera has the all black finish of early Leicas. Its most important feature is the 50mm f/3.5 Anastigmat lens. This lens name only appears on the null series Leicas and the first production batch up to about serial no. 300. The lens has the original lens cap. Like all early Leica lenses, it collapses into the camera body, but unlike later lenses, lines on the lens mount and body have to be aligned for the lens mount to collapse.
The early Anastigmat lens was a complex five element design with the three rear elements cemented together. The lens in this example is very cloudy. This is typical of early Leica camera lenses where the elements were cemented together with Canada balsam that has deteriorated with time.
This camera was donated by Eugine Anderegg, at one time chief representative for Leitz optics in North America and a long time editor of Leica magazine. This camera's serial number is 149.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1925
maker
Ernst Leitz
ID Number
PG.007253
accession number
256821
catalog number
7253
serial number
149
149

Kodak Baby Brownie Special

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Eastman Kodak Company
ID Number
PG.004559
catalog number
4559

Nikon F with 50mm Lens

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1959-1973
maker
Nikon
ID Number
2015.3182.0001
nonaccession number
2015.3182
catalog number
2015.3182.0001

Leica IIIa

Accession no. 2011.0268, catalog no. 2011.0268.08. Note: Accession no. 2011.0268 covers a large donation of four Leica cameras more than 100 accessory items owned by John W. Hanes.
Description
Accession no. 2011.0268, catalog no. 2011.0268.08. Note: Accession no. 2011.0268 covers a large donation of four Leica cameras more than 100 accessory items owned by John W. Hanes. The Hanes Leica Accessories items are listed in the accessories section after the cameras.
The Leica IIIa was introduced in 1935 and differs from the Leica III in having a top shutter speed of 1/1000th second compared to 1/500th for the Leica III. The competing Zeiss Contax 35mm camera had had a top speed of 1/1250 since its introduction in 1932. This is one of the most common Leica screw mount models, over 90,000 were made, almost all in a chrome finish like the example in the PHC.
The 28mm f/5.6 wide angle Summaron lens on this camera is not contemporary with the camera body. Zeiss made a 28mm f/8 lens for the Contax in 1932 and in 1935 the Leitz 28mm f/6.3 Hektor lens was introduced to compete. However, the 28mm f/5.6 Summaron wide angle lens was not introduced until 1956 and about 6,000 were made up to 1963. All known examples are in Leica screw mount even though Leitz had introduced M series bayonet mount Leica cameras in 1954. Also included in the collection is a Leitz 28mm bright line viewfinder for use with Summaron lens. The viewfinder mounts in the camera accessory shoe.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
mid 1930's
maker
Ernst Leitz
ID Number
2011.0268.08
accession number
2011.0268
catalog number
2011.0268.08
serial number
250160

Stylophot

"Pen" style camera with Roussel lensCurrently not on view
Description
"Pen" style camera with Roussel lens
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1950s
maker
Secam
ID Number
PG.69.165.33
catalog number
69.165.33
accession number
287545

Minolta-16

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
PG.69.165.47
accession number
287545
catalog number
69.165.47

Kodak Beau Brownie

date made
1930-1933
maker
Eastman Kodak Company
ID Number
2005.0220.07
accession number
2005.0220
catalog number
2005.0220.07

Auto-Graflex Camera in Underwater Housing

This underwater camera housing holds an Auto-Graflex 4x5” camera body. It was first used by W.H. Longley of Goucher College in 1918.
Description
This underwater camera housing holds an Auto-Graflex 4x5” camera body. It was first used by W.H. Longley of Goucher College in 1918. Longley later teamed with Charles Martin of the National Geographic Society to take the first underwater color autochrome photographs with this outfit. The team exploded a pound of flash powder, floated on three pontoons, and used a reflector to take pictures off Dry Tortugas, Florida. A selection of the photographs and the story were published in National Geographic Magazine in January 1927.
From its invention in 1839, the camera has evolved to fit many needs, from aerial to underwater photography and everything in between. Cameras allow both amateur and professional photographers to capture the world around us. The Smithsonian’s historic camera collection includes rare and unique examples of equipment, and popular models, related to the history of the science, technology, and art of photography.
date made
1918
maker
Eastman Kodak Company. Folmer & Schwing Division
ID Number
PG.004199A
catalog number
4199A
accession number
157518

Buttonhole Camera

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
PG.001606
accession number
53945
catalog number
1606

Ansco Autoset 35mm Camera

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Ansco
ID Number
PG.006674
accession number
244554
catalog number
6674

Leica M3 camera with 50mm f/1.4 lens

This kit consists of a Leica M3 body (6250), Summilux lens (6250A) and MC meter(6250B). The body is complete with body cap, red Leica passport card and camera box. The body still has the clear plastic caps over the flash sync terminals.
Description
This kit consists of a Leica M3 body (6250), Summilux lens (6250A) and MC meter(6250B). The body is complete with body cap, red Leica passport card and camera box. The body still has the clear plastic caps over the flash sync terminals. The Summilux lens is complete with lens cap and plastic container for lens. The lens container still has the original tissue packing paper in the upper half. A Leica XOOIM lens shade for the lens is also part of the kit.
The Leica MC meter comes with original red Leitz box. The MC meter was made for Leitz by Metrawatt A.G. of Nuremburg. The meter couples to the shutter dial of any M series Leica.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1960
maker
Leica
Leica
ID Number
PG.006250
accession number
238385
catalog number
6250
serial number
1014351

Camera X kit

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
ca 1942
maker
Eastman Kodak Company
ID Number
PG.007043
catalog number
7043

UR Leica replica

The first experimental Leica cameras are known as UR Leicas. UR is the Leitz code name for these experimental models and is a German prefix meaning "original or primitive".
Description
The first experimental Leica cameras are known as UR Leicas. UR is the Leitz code name for these experimental models and is a German prefix meaning "original or primitive". Barnack built at least three UR Leicas, the first one from 1913 survives complete with lens in the Leitz museum in Wetzlar. It is known that Barnack experimented with several different commercially available lenses on this model, but none of them were used in production cameras.
At least two more UR Leicas were produced. The second one has been lost and no photographs exist. The third model made about 1918-20 survives in the Leitz museum, but has no lens. This model has many differences from the first model. For example, the UR model had only a single fixed shutter speed, but model three had several shutter speeds similar to those found on production Leicas.
The three UR Leicas are unique and were never intended for commercial sale, but from the 1970s onwards Leitz made replica UR Leica cameras for collectors. Because there is no single definitive UR Leica, the replicas have models 1 and 3 features. Some of these replicas were non-functioning dummy display models, but some were designed as functioning cameras.
The UR replica in the Photographic History Collection is a working model with lens. The camera has the Leitz Wetzlar logo on the back and the words Nachbildung der Ur-Leica (replica of the original Leica) on the top plate.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1970s
maker
Ernst Leitz
Leica
ID Number
PG.007725
accession number
257659
catalog number
7725

Prototype 60-lens Timetrack Camera

date patented
1997
user
Taylor, Dayton
maker
Taylor, Dayton
ID Number
1999.0245.1
catalog number
1999.0245.1
accession number
1999.0245

Plate/Sheet

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
PG.000240
accession number
25319
catalog number
0240

Contax

Currently not on view
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
PG.007059
accession number
246578
catalog number
7059

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