The world's first all-metal movie camera from 1912, the B&H 2709

[Karim D. Ghantous]

This is a relatively modern looking camera given that it's from 1912. Sure, it's hand cranked and has a primitive parallax viewfinder, but it's surprisingly capable.

https://ascmag.com/videos/asc-museum-minute-bell-and-howell-2709

 

[Peter Lyons Collister ASC]

Always wanted one of these. Jim had one in his collection I believe

 

[Karim D. Ghantous]

I'm surprised that mechanised cameras weren't already developed by 1912. We've had spring-powered clocks since I think the 18th century.

 

[Greg M]

Prior to 1912...the best professional 35mm camera available was a simple wood box.

Prestwich 35mm c1908

even after 1912, they were still pretty basic:
Universal Model A c1914

Ernamann Kino Model E c1917

 

[Greg M]

Invented in 1914 by naturalist Carl Akeley to shoot wildlife to aid him in building his dioramas for the Natural History Museum...this is arguably the coolest cinema camera of the era. The Akeley "Pancake" was the RED One of its day.

 

[Karim D. Ghantous]

Whoa man. The Akeley is beautiful. The others are a joke! I didn't know that Universal made their own cameras. What a different world it was.

 

[Greg M]

Whoa man. The Akeley is beautiful. The others are a joke! I didn't know that Universal made their own cameras. What a different world it was.

Not the same Universal...and the Prestwich was the genesis of our craft and the camera to own in 1908...it was used all over the world in the harshest conditions and never missed a beat.

But there are dozens and dozens of similar models pre 1920...