Certainly, it is not possible (well maybe it is, but a very primitive one) to make a camera that is constructed of materials in the native natural state. What I am looking for, as has been mentioned above, is simply to minimize impact (and buying used is one way to do that). As far as referring to certain metals as more natural than others, I am considering the impacts of the mining and manufacturing, historical use and biological roles in life.
Simple iron alloys and copper alloys have been used for centuries and can be made very simply, and are for the most part fairly safe. Yes, I am sure that their manufacture is not totally harmless, but probably far less so than aluminum -- one reason being that these materials are available (as far as I know) in their usable (or usable with primitive processing) state, whereas aluminum does not occur in its free metallic state, but must be processed (in a dirty and toxic way) out of bauxite (or other similar rocks). Aluminum also plays no biological role in life and can accumulate in the body -- therefore it does most likely have harmful effects (whatever they may be) in lower doses than some other metals. I do not know everything about the mining and processing of metals, but am simply going on what I do know.
Leather can be tanned in quite natural and nontoxic ways with traditional methods, and there are still tanneries that practice vegetable tanning (and recycling and purification of byproduct). I realize that anytime you use any resources, you are having some impact. I am just curious what cameras might be available with some of the more natural and traditional materials.
