John Wade

Classic Camera Reviews
It’s Instant—But It’s Not Polaroid: Pre- And Post-Polaroids, From 1864 To 1976
John Wade  |  Jun 25, 2012  |  First Published: May 01, 2012  |  0 comments

Polaroid was not the first company to try instant photography. Back in the daguerreotype and wet plate days, patents were granted for cameras in which the plate could be developed inside the body. But it wasn’t until 1864 that the first commercially successful instant picture camera came to the market.

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Classic Camera Reviews
The Mighty Midget: A Unique Rollfilm Camera
John Wade  |  Mar 22, 2012  |  First Published: Feb 01, 2012  |  2 comments

When Leitz launched the Leica in 1925, they did more than start the 35mm revolution. They also influenced the way some rollfilm manufacturers began to consider smaller formats. One result was small rollfilm cameras that took their own unique sizes of extra-small film. The Ensign Midget was one of the best.

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Classic Camera Reviews
The Rittreck IIa: A Multifunctional SLR
John Wade  |  Jul 08, 2011  |  First Published: Jun 01, 2011  |  1 comments

When it was launched in 1956, advertisements of the time claimed the Rittreck to be the world’s most versatile Single Lens Reflex (SLR). It’s a statement that would be difficult to argue with. How many other SLRs can you name that offered interchangeable lenses, interchangeable backs, close-up facilities, a choice of four different formats, and the option of shooting on roll film or cut film?

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Classic Camera Reviews
Clockwork Cameras; Wind-On Advance Through Time
John Wade  |  Nov 01, 2010  |  0 comments

In the days before digital, most film cameras had built-in, battery-driven motor drives. But cameras with motor drives were around long before the electronic age, the only difference being that they ran by clockwork.

Say clockwork to collectors and Robot is the name that springs to mind. These cameras were the brainchild of Heinz Kilfitt, a German watchmaker and prolific...

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Classic Camera Reviews
The Wrayflex; An English SLR (Via Germany?)
John Wade  |  Mar 01, 2010  |  0 comments

In 1947, the English Wray Optical Company took out a patent on an amazing and innovative 35mm Single Lens Reflex (SLR). It had an eye-level penta-prism viewfinder, instant return mirror, Through The Lens (TTL) metering, and a built-in clockwork motor drive—four features never before seen on this type of camera.

 

The design was acquired from an...

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Classic Camera Reviews
The Mecaflex; A Square Format 35mm SLR
John Wade  |  Oct 01, 2008  |  0 comments

The Mecaflex was one of the smallest 35mm single lens reflexes ever made. It was designed by Heinz Kilfitt, who, in 1947, opened an optical company in Leichtenstein that subsequently relocated to Munich. It was here that he made a name for himself producing high-precision lenses that included the 40mm f/2.8 Kilar--the world's first 35mm macro lens--and the Zoomar...

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Classic Camera Reviews
Classic Cameras; The Canon 7 And The “Dream” Lens; Would You Believe f/0.95?
John Wade  |  Apr 01, 2008  |  1 comments

In 1961, when the Canon 7 was introduced, its revolutionary new standard lens was advertised as being four times brighter than the human eye. How such a thing could be measured is somewhat questionable, but what is undoubtedly true is that the lens was a lot bigger, and with a much wider aperture, than had hitherto been seen on a 35mm camera.

This was the now...

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