A stroll through the history of camera



Ever wondered what makes a photo so popular?? Not because it can send the social media buzzing with activity, but mainly because it’s the only boon at our disposal to freeze time. For all those who espouse travelling, a camera is more than an equipment, its an inseparable part of their routine, more so for those who call themselves professionals. But while we hide behind the camera and look at the world the way it is, ready to freeze it into a frame, how many times have we thought that the very handy camera that we use now was as big as anyone of us. Though hard for the modern chaps to believe, but its true that at one point of time a camera had a cloth to cover the photographer. All said and done, nevertheless, the journey has been exciting. Here is a simple effort to piece together various important phases in the evolution of camera.

And no, this idea of the scripting the history of camera didn’t come out of the blue. Somewhere smack in between Chennai and Pondicherry, is a restive beach called Kovalam. While many just whoosh away through the ECR, a traveller’s eye would easily spot Dr A.V.Aruns vintage camera museum on the right . Having seen so many photos all around, its completely human to get down for a sojourn at this place.

And it doesn’t disappoint, 1500 cameras, all belonging to different ages, with not even one being repeated, is to say the least, an accomplishment. Ever heard of a foldable camera or a camera without power or one that was used for spying in world war?? Well, be there and you can see it on your own. Having said all this, let’s stroll through its history.

Among the first things that the guide would show is a thin metal photo taken way back in in 1850. And of course, it was somewhere in Europe. The said pic is reproduced here for the interest of the reader.


Camera obscura :
The oldest camera in the museum belongs to this class  and were one of the earliest class of cameras ever used.




Box Cameras:
Most fundamental of all cameras, its nothing but a box with a film and a lens. The lens being operated manually to make light fall on the film.









Twin lens Reflex (TLR) cameras:
This consist of two lens one which capture the picture and the other one called the viewfinder used for viewing the subject by holding the camera above the waist height.





Folding Bellows camera:
Rugged and compact, the camera has a lens and shutter arrangement in the front with the bellows connecting the lens and the film plate.


Instant cameras:
One of the very first instant camera producing instant images



View finder cameras :

The first battery operated cameras on display



World's first auto focus camera




A collection of one of the very first SLR camera


Movie Camera used by US airforce in WW  II










                                              Four passport size photographs camera
















































Vintage movie cameras:
                                                     

                                                         


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