What Were Press Cameras?

With well over a century of cameras under the industry's belt, there are many niche cameras that have fallen through the cracks of history, with very few remembering them. One example is the early press cameras which are special in their own right.

As my bio says, I have a penchant for vintage cameras. Given how little I shoot on film — I save all my rolls of film for special occasions, with no occasion ever special enough — it's difficult for me to explain their allure. Nevertheless, as I write this, behind me are three large shelves, each housing 5 vintage cameras from between 1910 and 1980. These are my favorites; there are several sealed tubs filled with other vintage cameras and both mine and my girlfriend's family, as well as some friends, think of me whenever they find one, so the collection grows continuously. One thing I don't have is a press camera.

Press cameras, particularly the early ones shown in this video, were incredibly interesting. They are essentially customized mass-production camera bodies that have been tweaked to fit journalists. This could mean several things, but often the removal of unused functions, improved durability, and weather and sand sealing. Some of these examples in the video are stunning and I would love to get my hands on a Koni-Omega Rapid from the 1960s!