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35mm camera design

Among the Germans, I really like Heinz Waaske and Hubert Nerwin. Both of them were deeply involved in camera design and often stepped in to improve existing products.

Waaske, who designed the Rollei 35 and later the Rolleimatic, later went on to work for Blaupunkt, while Nerwin eventually joined Graflex and was responsible for the Combat Graphic. Nerwin's other work included changes to the original Contax I and development of the Tenax II. Nerwin also worked for Kodak. You can read about Hubert Nerwin here.

And read about Heinz Waaske here.
 
Ian Grant said:
. . . My own feeling is the Leicas didn't mature until the IIIf & g and the M series was already in the pipeline evolving fron the IV prototypes made before WWII.

Ian
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Leicas from the early 30s had many of the fine features that gradually evolved into the IIIf. The IIIg was an intermediate step between the IIIf and M series. It's main advantage was the screw mount for older lenses. Leica was wise to drop it in favor of the M series which had a greater future. The best features of Leica have always been designs that were perfected before production began, and fine workmanship. I eventually beat my IIIf purchased new in 1953 to death. The M4 bought in 1970 is still going strong, although it shows much use.
 

I have one word for you...Rolleikin!
 

I'd call that titanium shutter pretty innovative.
 
It was the "Tourist Multiple" from 1913. Not from Agfa but from a US manufacturer:

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What was the format of that camera , it looks as Indian Motocycle or Rolls, so beatiful.
 
It made 750 exposures of 18x24mm (half-frame).
 
I thought the Contax was over designed into extinction???

The shutters look like a good idea on paper but were very complicated to work on.
 
brucemuir said:
I thought the Contax was over designed into extinction???

The shutters look like a good idea on paper but were very complicated to work on.
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I dearly love using my Contax cameras but I think I have to agree with you on that note. After spending time with my Contax II, pulling out my little Leica II is just like a nice, simple, breath of fresh air sometimes. Both are wonderful designs in their own ways. I am not certain who was responsible for designing the original Contax cameras but Oskar Barnack certainly came up with a terrific little camera.
 
As I already said, Canon had two design teams assigned in parallel for what should become the T90: an in-house team and Colani.

The T90 is kind of compromise between the designs of both groups.


In addition Colani also designed a new lens barrel including a new design on the bayonet lock, something which was completely skipped.
 
Another vote for the Canon T90, it's design was so influential in the shape and handling characteristics of so many of the subsequent and current cameras.
 
The original pre Spotmatic era Pentaxes are classic
The Nikon F series, especially the F3/F4 just feel so good to use, and I'm a guy who doesn't care about ergonomics
 
A tribute to Yoshihisa Maitani - the Olympus OM system.
 
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