How old is your oldest camera ?

[zuiko85]

It's a Kodak folder. I'm not up on dates of manufacture but it has a 130mm f7.7 lens and I think the film size is #122 but not sure. The only thing I have ever exposed in it is photo paper cut to size and darkroom loaded. I covered the red window. So probably made sometime between 1925 and 1935, that is as close as I can come. Other wise I have a little Zeiss Nettar folder that is from about 1949.

 

[ZivcoPhoto]

I take a 1933 black with nickel hardware Leica III to work every day. It has a nickel 50mm Elmar on it. It's loaded with Tri-X I shoot at ISO 200.

 

[zuiko85]

The Argus C3 was manufactured in Detroit Michigan during the 1940s and 1950s. It is the oldest camera that I still use. The lenses take sharp pictures and the camera is easy to use to make intentional double exposures. This totally manual/mechanical 35mm rangefinder camera is also very reliable. Camera collectors lovingly refer to it as “The Brick” because of its size, weight, shape, and durability.


Argus C3 by Narsuitus, on Flickr

I really must be dim witted today. I stared at that picture for a full 30 seconds before I got the joke.

 

[lxmike]

My Leica III (1935), l have older display cameras but this is the one l regularly use

 

[raid]

My oldest camera may be a Standard Leica.

 

[Erik van Straten]

Do you mind me asking what the serial number is on yours?

I've got an IIIa but I'm not quite sure how old it is. I've tried looking it up but still can't figure it out.

Mine has 88***

88*** is the number of a Leica II from 1932. Yours must be a converted camera when it is a IIIa. You can consult the thread on converted LTM-Leicas. http://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=91238

Erik.

 

[nikon_sam]

My oldest that I still use...
An Olympus 35-S made around 1957...I love the 4.2cm/1.8 lens...
All metal, no battery...

 

[Joao]

Thank you for your input. Some nice samples - and it is good to know that many "oldies" are still working !

Keep them coming, please.

Joao

 

[MRohlfing]

My Rolleiflex 3.5 Planar, ca. 1956 - still 2 years younger than me!

 

[Phil_F_NM]

1938 Argus AF

Phil Forrest

 

[agoglanian]

My oldest is the IIIf that I have, though I don't currently have a lens for it (I'm hunting for the one I want presently). It's from 1951 or 52 I believe.

Next oldest would be my Hasselblad 500CM from the 70s.

 

[barnwulf]

This is my 1936 Leica II that I bought last year.

 

[johannielscom]

It's 1932 for sure, but it might be my Leica II or my Ikonta A 520, with a dial-set Derval shutter.

Both from the same year and I can't tell which was made first.

 

[Muggins]

My oldest is somewhere around 1909: No 3 Folding Pocket Kodak Model E-2 by gray1720, on Flickr

though the lack of 118 film makes it an occasional user - either with paper negs or 120 on a 118 paper.

That is easily useable - this, from 1911: Kodak No2 Folding Pocket Brownie by gray1720, on Flickr

I don't seem to be able to find a photo from the No3, but here's one from the No2: Trench 3 by gray1720, on Flickr

Adrian

 

[bhop73]

Kodak Autographic 2-C Jr.
Wiki says it was produced between 1916-27

Unfortunately i've never used it due to the film being nonexistent (130 size)

Kodak Autographic 2-C Jr. by Brandon, on Flickr

 

[lonemantis]

My oldest (usable or otherwise) is a Kodak No. 2 Brownie, a model F from 1924. I was lucky enough to find it looking unused, with the original box and manual!

It works just like new, which isn't much of a surprise - there's very little that can go wrong with these simple cameras. It's amazing to shoot a 92 year-old camera with currently available film. I still like to take it out from time to time, here's one I took a while back:

 

[Stanton]

How about a Century Camera No. 7, circa 1903, with a Bausch and Lomb Tessar f4.5 lens, labelled 1903? This is a wooden 8x10 studio camera which sits on a wood and wrought iron wheeled cart designed for it. At some point, it was converted to 4x5. While the lens is dated, I don't have a precise date for the camera. McKeown does not list it. It was purchased by a dealer from a photographer's estate. He died at about age 80, I am told. I bought it from the dealer. Somewhere along its life, the original beautiful cherry wood of the camera was painted an antique white. When I purchased it, I stripped the paint off and restored it to the original wood, renewed the brass fittings, and cleaned the enormous cart it sits on. Dave

 

[HuubL]

Two upgraded Leicas, IIIa-syn chrome: 1933, IIIa-syn black: 1929

 

[rajmohan-fotograf]

My 2 oldest are a Rolleiflex Old Standard (1932) and a Contax II (1936) - unfortunately I don't have pictures of the cameras at hand.

 

[Dogman]

Somewhere in the attic (I think) is an old non-functioning Kodak box camera that belonged to my grandparents. I don't know the age of the camera but it had an instruction booklet that was dated 1909.