35mm Cameras (Crowood Collectors' Series) [Hardcover]

Brian Long (Author)

Book Description

Series: Crowood Collectors' Series | Publication Date: September 24, 2007

An invaluable guide to collecting 35mm cameras, this highly illustrated book looks at the various ways in which enjoyment can be gained from the hobby, whatever your budget. Whether you intend to buy equipment to us as an interesting alternative to digital cameras for day-to-day photography, or simply want to be surrounded by things of beauty from a bygone era, this is the book to read first.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Brian Long is a professional writer, with around forty books on motoring subjects and a highly-respected history of the Nikon brand [published by Crowood] to his credit. He is a member of the All-Japan Classic Camera Club and is an avid collector of vintage 35mm equipment. He lives in Japan.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Crowood Press (September 24, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 186126948X
• ISBN-13: 978-1861269485
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,420,199 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars 35mm Cameras, July 12, 2011

By 

Sam Adams (Minnesota. USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: 35mm Cameras (Crowood Collectors' Series) (Hardcover)

Brian Long lives in Japan and is "an avid collector of 35mm equipment." This book, published in 2007, is packed with photos of 35mm cameras from the Tourist Multiple and early Leicas to rangefinder reintroductions by Nikon and Zeiss Ikon in 2005. Besides photos of cameras, there are many photos of advertisements over the years. A short glossary is in the back.

Long's purpose is to introduce anyone interested in collecting 35mm cameras to their history. He explains how to examine a camera for condition, discusses possible repair issues that cameras of a particular era might have, and offers advise on what to consider if you're buying an old camera not only to display but to use. He gives short histories of the makers of popular brands during each decade, and mentions landmark cameras of each era. This is not an exhaustive look at 35mm cameras and does not cover every model of even a single brand, but it's an excellent, informative overview of this type of film camera.

Capsule histories in the book -

Some Popular Brands of the 1930s and 1940s:
Zeiss Ikon, Ihagee, Kodak, Agfa

Landmark 35mm Cameras of the 1930s and 1940s:
Leica I (1925), Kine Exacta (1936), Argus C3 (1939)

Some Popular Brands of the 1950s:
Iloca, Leidolf, Kiev, Apparate, Regula, Alpa, Sears, Yamato, Argus, Braun, Leica

Landmark 35mm Cameras of the 1950s:
Leica M3 (1954), Nikon SP (1957), Zeiss Ikon Contarex (1958)

Some Popular Brands of the 1960s:
OPL, Voitlander, Kowa, Ansco, Krasnogorsk, Wirgin, FED, Dacora, Balda, Franka, Nikon

Landmark 35mm Cameras of the 1960s:
Nikon F (1959), Agfa Selecta-M (1962), Asahi Pentax Spotmatic SP (1964)

Some Popular Brands of the 1970s:
Topcon, Yashica, Praktica, Fuji, Foto-Quelle, Petri, Mamiya, Porst, Hanimex, Miranda, Canon

Landmark 35mm Cameras of the 1970s:
Olympus M-1/OM-1 (1972), Canon AE-1 (1976), Konica C35 AF (1978)

Some Popular Brands of the Modern Era:
Ricoh, Olympus, Minolta, Rollei, Pentax, Certex, Vivitar, Konica, Chinon, Minox, Cosina

Landmark 35mm Cameras of the Modern Era:
Minolta 7000 (1985), Canon T90 (1986), Nikon FM3A (2001)

Also in the book, for collectors who want to use the camera -

Focal Plane Shutter SLR Lens Compatibiltiy for Popular Manual Focus Models:
Canon, Exacta/Exa, Leica, Minolta, Nikon, Olympus, Pentax, Praktica, Voitlander, Zeiss Ikon