Kodak Vintage Movie Camera

Kodak Vintage Movie Camera

The first 16mm home movie cameras were introduced to the market in the 1920s, then in the 1930s came the introduction of colour film and 8mm. For collectors, these early movie cameras remain treasured possessions and not only can they still be used to record reliable home videos, they can also still be used professionally, with the right amount of skill.

Perhaps the most famous Kodak vintage camera is the Brownie , various models of which were produced between 1920 and 1965 and all of which are now considered vintage and highly collectible.

Why collect vintage cameras?

For many photographers, the attraction of a vintage camera is the relationships between skills and outcome. These cameras rely on manually winding film and knowing how to make optimal use of light and settings. Nothing is automated, so when you view your home movies you have the satisfaction of knowing that the outcome is entirely your own.

Many collectors also enjoy the visual appearance of a vintage movie camera, which varies greatly from model to model. Modern equivalents may have unique features but they all share similarities in external appearance, whereas some of the vintage models are truly unique and the external casing may be leather or metal instead of the more common hardwearing plastics we see on modern models.

Formats

Kodak vintage movie cameras are available in 8mm, 16mm and Super 8 (8mm), with the Super8 being the most 'modern' of the vintage brands. This was introduced in 1965 and was the format that brought home movie making to the masses. For the first time cartridge loading films were available so the film didn't have to manually threaded and the cartridge was plastic and resisted jamming. It wasn't until 1973 that film was made for the Super8 that allowed sound to be recorded as well as image though - prior to that all home movies were silent.

Whether you use the cameras or simply collect them to display there is no doubt that vintage cameras remain in demand.