Who Created the First Camera?

The basic camera design remained unchanged for centuries ever since the first images were created with the ancient principle of the camera obscura. The main focus of research was on capturing and developing images rather than major camera changes, and most early cameras were large and often made at home using basic camera obscura principles. It wasn't until George Eastman introduced his box camera that modern photography became available to the public.

Camera Obscura

The camera obscura, an early forerunner of the modern camera, was a darkened box or room fitted with a 45-degree mirror with a pin-hole where images would project on a wall or other surface. The earliest reports of this camera were by the Chinese philosopher Mo-Ti in the fifth century B.C. In later years, Aristotle and Leonardo da Vinci both recorded descriptions of the camera obscura.

The First Photograph

The first captured image was created by Frenchman Nicephore Niepce in 1827. A camera obscura was used to create this early photograph on a pewter plate. Niepce called the invention "heliographs," and continued to work on his invention until his death in 1833.

Louis Daguerre

Louis Daguerre was an architect and stage designer from France who used the camera obscura to help with images and painting in his work. In the 1820s, Daguerre learned of Niepce's research and began working with Niepce in 1829.

Daguerreotype Photos

Daguerre invented the process by which chemically treated copper and silver plates were placed in a camera box to capture an image. The process, called "daguerreotype," was faster than earlier experiments and created highly detailed photos.

George Eastman

George Eastman, the founder of the Kodak Company, began researching and developing cameras and film in the 1870s. Eastman invented flexible celluloid film as an alternative to the older glass or metal plates. In 1888, Eastman introduced his box camera. The camera was small, portable and came fitted with enough film inside to take 100 pictures.

Resources

• Library of Congress on Photography