When and why was the camera invented and how has it affected society?

Answer 1

I thought the following would be interesting to you as the idea of cameras goes back centuries: It concept of "imagining" goes back to the 5th & 4th Centuries B.C. Chinese and Greeph philosphers describe the basic principles of optics and the camera. ISAASC NEWTON discovers in 1664-1666 that white light is composed of different colors. JOHANN HEINRICH SCHULZE discovered in 1727 that silver nitrate darkened upon exposure to light. In 1794 First Panorama opens, the forerunner of the movie house invented by ROBERT BARKER. JOSEPH NICEPHORE NIEPCE in 1814 achieves first photographic image with camera obscura - however, the image require 8 hours of light exposure and later faded. DIGUERRE'S first daquerreotype in 1837 was the first image that was fixed and did not fade and needed under 30 mins., of light exposure. First American patent issued in photograph to ALEXANDER WOLCOTT for his camera in 1840. WILLIAM HENRY TALBOT patents the Calotype process in 1841 - the first negative-positive process making possible the first multiple copies. In 1843 first advertisement with a photograph made in Philadelphia. FREDERICK SCOTT ARCHER invented the Collodion process in 1851 - images required only 2 - 3 secs of light exposure. In 1859 Panoramic camer patented - the Sutton. OLIVER WENDELL HOLMES invents steroscope viewer in 1861. RICHARD LEACH MADDOX invented the Gelatin dry plate silver bromide process in 1871 - negatives no longer had to be developed immediately. GEORGE EASTMAN invents flexible, paper-basied photographic film in 1884 and IN 1888 EASTMAN PATENTS KODAK ROLL-FILM CAMERA. REV. HANNIBAL GOODWIN patents celluloid photographic fil in 1898. In 1900 first mass-marketed camer -- the Brownie. 1913/1914 first 35 mm still camera developed. In 1927 GE invents the modern flash bulb. 1848 EDWIN LAND markets the first polaroid camera. In 1960 EG&G develops extreme depth underwater camera for U.S. Navy. 1963 Polaroid introduces instant color film. 1973 Polaroid introduces one-step instant Photography with the SX-70 camera. 1978 Konica introduces first point-and-shoot, autofocus camera. 1980 SONY demonstrates first consumer camcorder. 1984 CANON demostrates first digical electronic still camera. 1985 PIXAR introduces digital imaging processor. 1990 EASTMAN KODAK announces Photo CD as a digital image storage medium. Cameras are truly amazing piece of equipment. As they say "a picture is worth a thousand words." Imagine if we had cameras back in the days of Jesus Christ, and other points of history. Take a look at your American History and see pictures of Sitting Bull, Geronamo, etc. Without cameras, we could only imagine what it was like then. Cameras also give the delightful joy of seeing our family members and friends and looking back on good memories. Camera equipment also helps the police catch those crooks! Thank heavens we have it. Marcy