'If you've the remotest glimmer of interest in classic cameras, buy this book and you need not buy another' - Practical Photography

'A thorough book, full of information...definitely a welcome addition to the literature of camera collecting' - Amateur Photographer

'If your pulse quickens at the mention of names like Retina, Reid, Werra and Paxette, this is definitely a book for you' – PhotoPlus

'For the serious collector and enthusiast...a comprehensive and useful reference work' - Antiques Bulletin

The golden age of the miniature camera spanned some forty-five years from the eclipse of the vintage plate camera in the mid-1920s to the widespread introduction of plastics and electronics at the end of the 1960s. During this time optical innovation combined with precision engineering to produce photographic equipment of great quality. Today, the cameras of the classic era are prized by collectors and users alike.

This exhaustive and practical guide includes:

• Descriptions of the principal makes and models
• Assessments of the cameras' reliability, investment value and potential as the basis of a system
• Instructions on how to test and check for faults
• Comparisons of camera bodies, lenses and accessories
• Advice on photographic technique, choice of film, filters and processing

Valuable appendices contain:

• Collectors' and users' societies, dealers and specialist publications
• Lists of the major manufacturers, marques and models
• Sources of materials and accessories

More than 300 photographs of the cameras and accessories, and examples of work for which each is best fitted, illustrate this authoritative guide to the superbly crafted products of an age of excellence.