The 20th century was a transformative era for photography, marked by rapid advancements in analog camera technology. From the early large-format cameras of the 1900s to the compact, feature-rich 35mm models of the late 1990s, each decade brought innovations that changed how people captured and preserved moments.;xNLx;;xNLx;The rise of rangefinder cameras in the 1930s, spearheaded by Leica and Contax, revolutionized photojournalism, while the introduction of Single-Lens Reflex (SLR) cameras in the 1950s, such as the Nikon F, gave photographers more creative control. Instant photography saw its peak with Polaroid cameras, while medium-format cameras from brands like Hasselblad and Mamiya became the gold standard for professional and studio photography.;xNLx;;xNLx;Despite the digital revolution at the century’s end, analog cameras remain deeply valued by enthusiasts and professionals alike, offering a tangible and artistic approach to image-making. This timeline explores the most influential analog cameras of the 20th century, tracing their impact on technology, culture, and the art of photography.;xNLx;This time line have a focus mainly in Leica, Minolta, Nikon, Yashica and Mamiya.
Use the menus far below, outside this card, to switch visualization modes. At LEFT chose 2D or 3D. Have fun with the Game mode. At RIGHT chose visualization modes and use FILTER to reduce content displayed. Click outside this cards to go to the road.
The original Mamiya logo, designed by students from the Japan Fine Arts School in July 1940, features a stylized emblem with the letters “S” and “M” representing the founders’ initials.
The company’s early logo prominently featured the intertwined initials “F&H,” representing the founders’ surnames, Franke and Heidecke. This emblem was often accompanied by the brand name “Rollei,” which became synonymous with their innovative camera designs. The “F&H” monogram was typically inscribed within a geometric shape, such as a circle or shield, reflecting the design aesthetics of the early 20th century.
The earliest Minolta logo, introduced in 1937, featured the brand name in thin black letters, derived from the company’s name at the time, Molta Goshi-gaisha. This minimalist design emphasized the brand’s focus on cameras, with the name “Minolta” being an acronym for “Mechanism, Instruments, Optics, and Lenses by Tashima.” In 1980, Minolta underwent a significant rebranding led by renowned designer Saul Bass. This redesign introduced the iconic blue circle logo with horizontal lines, symbolizing the company’s global reach and expertise in imaging technology.
In 1927, the company Ernst-Leitz adopted a cursive script logo featuring the word “Leica" for the name of the camera, the Leica I . The initial letter ‘L’ was stylized with an elongated loop that extended beneath the entire word, resembling an unrolling film strip—a nod to the brand’s photographic roots.
Nikon, originally established as Nippon Kōgaku Kōgyō Kabushikigaisha (Japan Optical Industries Corporation) in 1917, introduced its first logo during that year. This emblem featured an abstract design resembling a hexagon, symbolizing a lens, reflecting the company’s focus on optics.
Magus Vintage Lane
Drive with care next 90 years, after that is dangerous.
The story began in 1913 when Oskar Barnack, an engineer at Ernst Leitz Wetzlar, created the Ur-Leica, a compact 35mm still camera. Designed for portability, it revolutionized photography by using cinema film in a small, high-quality camera. World War I delayed production, but in 1925, Leica released the Leica I, changing the industry forever. Its compact size and superior optics made it a favorite among photojournalists and street photographers, including Henri Cartier-Bresson.
Charlie Chaplin was becoming a star. In 1914, Chaplin signed with Keystone Studios and created “The Tramp,” his iconic character. He starred in over 30 short films in a single year, quickly winning over audiences. His visual style and physical comedy defined silent cinema for decades to come. The Leica I was taking shape behind the scenes. In 1914, Oskar Barnack, an engineer at Ernst Leitz Wetzlar, built the first prototype of the Leica, known as the Ur-Leica. It was the first camera to use 35mm film, a format previously exclusive to cinema. Although it wasn’t officially released until 1925, the Leica I would revolutionize photography, just as Chaplin transformed cinema. Both Chaplin and Leica were born to capture the world – one in motion, the other frozen in time. They defined the visual culture of the 20th century and remain iconic to this day.
