PHSNE's June 5, 2022 Zoom meeting features Vladimir Khazan, PHSNE member and photo historian, who will present a history of the Dresden camera maker Ihagee and it's pioneering 35mm SLR—the Exakta.

Johan Steenbergen, a Dutchman, founded Industrie-und-Handelsgesellschaft in Dresden in 1912. The name was shortened to Ihagee (based on the German pronunciation of the acronym IHG, ee-hah-geh), and later known as Ihagee Kamerawerk Steenbergen & Co. The name appeared as “Jhagee” on the camera.

Produced from the 1930s to 1976, the Exakta was Ihagee’s biggest success. The first actual 35mm SLR was probably an unwieldly model manufactured in the Soviet Union and only sold there. In contrast, the Kine Exakta was an immediate worldwide success story.

In a glowing review in Shutterbug (2019), Jason Schneider listed “5 Reasons Every Photographer Should Shoot with a Kine Exakta, the World's First True 35mm SLR.” He writes:

“Ever so slowly they developed it into the first true 35mm SLR system, replete with scores of lenses, finders, and a host of specialized accessories. Prior to the introduction of the Nikon F in 1959, the Exakta was the darling of scientists, doctors, researchers, and a broad spectrum of pro and enthusiast photographers.”

Sales slumped in the 1970s when Ihagee faced stiff Japanese competition, along with its origins and manufacturing based in East Germany. Khazan has also delivered Zoom presentations on the Minox and a history of Zeiss Ikon from the 1820s to 1945.

This is the final meeting for the 2021-2022 season. After a two-month hiatus, the 2022-2023 program will begin Sunday, September 11, 2022. Visit the PHSNE website for updated content and details on meetings and events in 2022-2023.

May 1, 2022: Author Phil Pressel presents "The Hexagon KH-9 Satellite Spy Camera"

Apr 23, 2022: No Zoom meeting, but did you get to Photographica #89?

Mar 6, 2022: Digitizing Your Film-Slide Archives with Eric Luden & Andrea Zocchi of Digital Silver Imaging

Feb 6, 2022: Terri Cappucci: Image Preservation & Restoration

Jan 9, 2022: Optical Engineer Lev Sakin on Lens Design and Creating the Lomo LC-A Minitar-1 lens

Dec 5, 2021: Members' Holiday Show & Tell; Board Member Election Results; President's Message

Nov 7, 2021: "The Rise of Photographic Illustration 1839-1880" presented by Dr. Anthony Hamber

Oct 3, 2021: "Zeiss Ikon: A History & Selected Products to 1945" presented by Vladimir Khazan

Sep 5, 2021: "Loving: A Photographic History of Men in Love 1850s-1950s" by co-authors Hugh Nini & Neal Treadwell

Jun 6, 2021: "Inside the Gabriel Cromer Collection" at the Eastman Museum, by archivist and cataloguer Edith Cuerrier

May 2, 2021: "The Gender of Photography: How Masculine & Feminine Values Shaped the History of 19th-Century Photography" by author Nicole Hudgins

Apr 4, 2021: "Motive, Means and Opportunity: Amateur Shutterbugs Shoot the Harvard Shakers" by Ned Quist

Mar 7, 2021: "Street Vendor Portraits: A Democratic Art" by Mary Panzer, former Curator of Photographs at the Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery

Feb 7, 2021: "East Becoming West" - The story of the Seattle Camera Club, founded by Japanese Americans in the 1920s; by Nicolette Bromberg, Curator, U. of Washington

Jan 3, 2021: "When Boston Was Burning" - Fire Ground Photographs by Robert Currier

Dec 6, 2020: PHSNE Member "Show 'n' Tell" and Holiday Party Online

Nov 1, 2020: "With These Hands - Documenting the World of Textile Work" by Steve Dunwell

Oct 4, 2020: "The Historical Adventures of Minox" by Vladimir Khazan

Find more PHSNE videos here: https://www.youtube.com/user/PHSNE/featured

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