My first camera – it didn’t take me long to outgrow this point-n-shoot, but I loved this camera.
I remember how excited I was when I got my first camera at age 9! I had been using my parents’ camera, and they thought it was time I had my own. I took hundreds and hundreds of photos with that Vivitar camera, eagerly awaiting the development of each roll of film. I’d marvel over each glossy print – remembering exactly where I took each and every picture! There is something magical about capturing an image, a moment in time…seeing something in a different way than other people see it. Since that age, I have had a passion for taking photos with the many cameras I’ve had over the years. To this day, I still take hundreds of photos, every day of the week. Really. Hundreds. I always have a camera with me, and I’ve been known to suddenly pull over to the side of the road to snap a quick shot! At times, much to the surprise of my passengers who aren’t familiar with my impulsive photography actions.
Photos of children from 1920s (Estate sale find)
I appreciate the immediate gratification (and cost savings) that modern digital photography provides, but I still have a passion for print film – especially black and white photos. I enjoy finding old photographs and cameras that were made before my time. Just think of all the memories these cameras have captured over the years! Many of the photographs and cameras I find for my shop come from estate sales and estate auctions, and quite a few are from the original owner.
Part of the fun of finding these vintage photographs and cameras, is doing the research to learn more about them – who the people in the photographs are and from what era, and learning the year and specifications of the cameras. There are several websites that are very helpful with this investigation – I thought I’d share these resources with you.
Camera Research Resources
Camerapedia – This website is an encyclopedia of cameras. It’s a great resource for finding the specifications for cameras – new and old.
The Brownie Camera Page – This website includes information about Kodak Brownie cameras. You’ll find articles, copies of vintage ads, copies of user manuals, and more. A must see page for Brownie cameras.
History of Kodak Cameras – This page is a helpful resources for finding the manufacturer date of Kodak cameras.
Canon Camera Museum – This is a great website with information about Canon cameras by era, including photos of the cameras and their specifications.
The Living Image Vintage Camera Museum – This website has an index of many vintage cameras, along with photographs of the cameras. There is a lot of other historical articles and information on this site, as well.
Camera-Wiki – This Wiki page includes an alphabetical index, with links to a large selection of antique and vintage cameras.
Camera Manual Library – Looking for a PDF copy of a vintage camera? This website probably has it!
Antique and Vintage Photograph Research Resources
Date an Old Photograph – This website includes a wealth of information for determining dates of antique and vintage photographs. It also includes a large list of photographers, along with estimated dates of their photos.
Photo Tree – There are several data tables and tips on this website for dating old photographs. A quick way to narrow down your research.
Find A Grave – When antique and vintage photographs have a name written on them, this website is incredibly helpful to research the people in the photographs. You can typically find their date of birth and death, along with any family members they may have had.
The US GenWeb Project – This website includes links to free geneology websites in every county and every state of the United States. It can be very helpful to learn more about the people in photographs and when the photos may have been taken (based on their age).
Do you have a favorite website for researching photographs and cameras? Please share in a comment below.
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