Gosh there's a history lesson Sassan but so true. We tend to forget how rapid progress has been since 1980's.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stephen Fox
Was the design patented like the CD or VHS then licenced to any company wanting to manufacture the design?
I am trying to work out how and why several companies are making cameras to a similar design - where and how did this come about?
|
It seems from a bit of research that after WWII all German patents were made public as part of war restitution. So no licencing problems.
As to the reason for the similarity of design it probably comes down to affordability. In the 60's very few SLR's were around as they were unaffordable to most. To example that my first Nikkormat ( 1967 ) equalled 16 weeks wages. Pentax Spotmatic ( 1969 ) 10 weeks wages. By the time the 70's arrived, with greater spending power the SLR was the thing to have if you were a serious 35mm enthusiast.
An SLR camera was the natural progression from using a Reflex Housing with a 35mm rangefinder. The reason for the reflex housing was that it was the only real way of accurately using long lenses with a rangefinder camera. This fitted between the camera body and the lens. Link to pic of one
http://www003.upp.so-net.ne.jp/sp5/nks/nlr1825E.htm
Really showing my age now
Don