When First Camera Invented

By Charlotte Gerber

Photographer and Camera Collector

The first camera invented was made by Alexander Wolcott. His camera design was patented on May 8, 1840. His invention made it possible for candid photos to be taken and not fade away with time. Mr. Wolcott also has the distinction of opening the earliest photography shop (known as a daguerran parlor) in New York.

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Early Photographs

The earliest photographs were not taken with Alexander Wolcott's invention. Joseph Nicephore Niepce used a sliding wooden box to take photographs in 1826. Charles and Vincent Chevalier in Paris created this early predecessor of Mr. Wolcott's invention. This sliding box could capture images by using a mixture of silver and chalk exposed under a light source. Johann Heinrich Schultz discovered this silver and chalk method in 1724.

Daguerreotypes

Louis Jacque Daguerre and Joseph Nicephore Niepce discovered the daguerreotype process in 1836. Daguerreotypes are photos created using a particular photographic method. Coating a copper plate with silver, then treating it with iodine vapor created daguerreotype photos. This made the plate sensitive to light. After the photo was taken, exposing it to mercury vapor and ordinary table salt developed the image.

Calotypes

Henry Fox Talbot discovered the calotype process in 1841. The calotype photo used paper coated with silver iodide. After the paper was exposed to a light source, excess silver iodide is washed away when the pure silver is oxidized with an application of gallo-nitrate. The resulting silver oxide is black, making the image visible.

Primitive Cameras

Before Mr. Wolcott's invention, there were primitive cameras that could capture images. Problems ranged from images that faded to the length of time it took for the images to develop. The following are some of the inventions that led to the eventual creation of Mr. Wolcott's 1840 camera.