The history of the camera has an extensive background since it can be traced back for centuries.

During the 5th Century B.C., Mo Ti of China discovers the principal idea of the camera. He noted that the reflected light rays of an illuminated object passing through a small dark enclosure result in an inverted but exact image of the object. Camera Obscura

The camera obscura was an optical device, mainly used in drawings, but later it became one of the ancestral threads leading to the invention of photography.The creator of the Camera Obscura is not known, but it has been claimed that Ibn al-Haitham invented it in the 10th century. Giroux Daguerreotype

Louis-Jacques-Mande Daguerre designed the first commercially manufactured camera. It was named the Daguerreotype. It involved the coating of copper plates by mercury vapor. The resultant plate was sensitized and exposed to produce a mirror like exact reproduction of the scene, usually a portrait. It produced a single image, but its only problem was it was not reproducible. It required exposure times of 20-30 minutes.

Polaroid Corporation

During 1948, Polaroid invented the instant film cameras. It became famous for its self-developing film. The earliest Polaroids used instant roll film, but its been discontinued. Later on the company developed a pack film, which requires the photographer to peel apart the film in the developing process. Film Cameras

KODAK During 1888, Kodak released a camera that was simple to use. It was a wood and leather box that included a 100-explosure roll of film. In order to develop it, the customers would send the camera back to Kodak for processing. LEICA In 1925, Leica invented many different features that are still standard. Controls and a viewfinder were on top. The lens were focused by turning it, and it could collapse into the camera body for portability. NIKON During 1959, Nikon released the first widely used 35mm SLR camera. It contained interchangeable lenses and a reflex mirror that enabled the viewer to see the image coming through the lens. CANON (Sureshot) In 1979, Canon produced its lines of the Sureshot, which was the first auto focus 35mm camera. When the button was pushed halfway, a near-infrared beam was reflected off the subject. Sensors gauged the distance and the lens focused automatically

Single-use Cameras

Just like its name suggests, disposable cameras are only meant to be used once. It is a simple camera that already has a roll of film installed into it. Some has different functions such as focus free lenses, flash units, and or water proof. Internally, the cameras uses a 135 film or an APS cartridge. Some models can be recycled and re-sold once the film cartridge has been removed. Kodak and Fujifilm invented the disposable in the mid-1980s. Digital Cameras In 1995, Kodak introduced the revolutionary digital camera to the general consumers. It changed picturecapturing forever since it captured an image electronically, without film. It can be viewed on a small LCD screen, and than discarded or saved for printing. Initially, a digital camera was characterized by the use of flash memory and USB or FireWire for storage and transfer of still photographs. The cameras are rated by mega pixels. There are three types of digital cameras such as standard digital cameras, prosumer cameras, and digital single-lens reflex cameras. It can be noted that digital cameras has beaten out film cameras in sales.

USES: 1. Capture moments you dont want to forget. 2. Take photos of accident damage either of your car after a collision or in your house to send as proof to the insurance company. 3. Remember addresses and phone numbers or other details from signs and things you see in the street. 4. Take photos of adverts in newspaper instead of tearing out and storing in your wallet. 5. Digital cameras make an excellent way to copy documents when you don't have a photocopier near by. Some cameras even have a document copying mode. You will need a printer though to finish the copy process. 6. Make a record of machinery or equipment both before and after dismantling. This helps with recognising parts, but also to remember how things looked when assenbled. 7. Photographing your luggage prior to flying, can save problems and time if the cases are lost in transit.

8. Take a photo of an item you've been asked to purchase overseas and email it for confirmation that its the right item, or for approval of your partner. 9. Photograph your valuable household items and jewellery for insurance and valuation purposes. 10. Document the state of a rental property prior to moving in. This can save all sorts of arguments later! 11. Taking photos of hard to see places like the back of the video recorder or use the 10x zoom to see something on the roof more clearly. 12. Capture details of house interiors in stores and friends houses as reference and ideas for interior design. 13. Still on the decorating theme ...take a photo of a room and play with the dcor to get prior buy-in on painting and redecorating. 14. To record birthday and Christmas presents, just photograph the recipient with the assembled gifts - especially useful for children, who tend to receive lots of small things and can save arguments later. 15. Take a photo of a city map while travelling. Easy to zoom in for more detail when needed and far easier than carrying the maps around. 16. Spectacle shopping. Pass your camera to the helpful optometrist who takes a quick photo and immediately you can see whether the glasses suit you or not.