The letter

One letter a week, starting soon.

The week's signal, what the makers shipped and what the reviewers found, and the editor's note. No tracking, no ads, nothing else.

We keep your address, your language and the date you joined, nothing else. Every letter has a one-click unsubscribe link that deletes the record.

ATLAS · MAKERS

Camera atlas

Who makes the cameras, lenses, lights, film and the rest, since when and from where. Search, or pick what they make.

MAKES

134 makers

1967Australia

Rode

Audio

Microphones and wireless systems for video and podcasting.

Active
2001Australia

Blackmagic Design

Cinema · Video · Monitors

Cinema cameras, switchers, recorders and DaVinci Resolve software.

Active
2010Australia

Atomos

Monitors · Storage

On-camera monitor-recorders.

Active
1756Austria

Voigtlander

Photo · Lenses

Lenses and cameras; the name now lives on as a trademark used by Cosina.

Defunct · ended 1972
1992Austria

Lomography

Film · Photo · Instant · Lenses

Film, toy and analogue cameras, and art lenses.

Active
2011Austria

Angelbird

Storage

Memory cards and SSDs for cameras.

Active
1867Belgium

Agfa

Film

Imaging and film; the consumer film brand was split off as AgfaPhoto.

ActivePictured: Agfa Clack. Photo: Rpvdk, Public domain
1987China

Huawei

Phones

Smartphones with multi-lens camera systems.

ActivePictured: Huawei P9. Photo: Kārlis Dambrāns, CC BY 2.0
1999China

Yuneec

Drones

Consumer and commercial drones.

Active
2006China

Yongnuo

Lighting · Lenses

Low-cost flashes, triggers and lenses.

Active
2006China

DJI

Drones · Gimbals · Action · Audio · Cinema

Camera drones, gimbals, action cameras and wireless microphones.

ActivePictured: DJI Inspire 2. Photo: Sven Teschke, CC BY-SA 3.0 de
2009China

Viltrox

Lenses · Lighting

Autofocus lenses, adapters and LED lights.

Active
2010China

Tilta

Support

Cinema rigs, follow focus and wireless control.

Active
2012China

Kinefinity

Cinema

Digital cinema cameras.

Active
2015China

Insta360

Action · Video

360-degree and action cameras.

Active
2015China

Zhiyun

Gimbals · Lighting

Handheld gimbals and pocket LED lights.

Active
1921Czech Republic

Foma

Film

Black-and-white film, paper and chemistry.

Active
1994Denmark

Phase One

Photo · Medium format

Medium-format digital backs and cameras, and Capture One software.

Active
1865Finland

Nokia

Phones

Former phone maker whose camera phones led the market in the 2000s.

ActivePictured: Nokia N8. Photo: Dienthoaiquangcao68, CC BY-SA 4.0
1900France

Debrie

Cinema

Motion-picture cameras and laboratory equipment.

Defunct
1907France

Eclair

Cinema

Film studio and maker of motion-picture cameras.

Active
1917France

Gitzo

Support

Carbon-fibre tripods and heads.

Active
1935France

Angenieux

Lenses · Cinema

Cinema zoom lenses.

Active
1971France

Aaton

Cinema · Audio

Quiet 16mm and 35mm film cameras and timecode sound recorders.

Defunct · ended 2024
1989France

LaCie

Storage

External drives for creative work.

Active
1994France

Parrot

Drones

Drones for consumers and professionals.

ActivePictured: Parrot Bebop. Photo: WEi WEi from 桃園縣, 台灣, CC BY 2.0
1846Germany

Zeiss

Lenses · Cinema

Photographic, cinema and scientific optics.

ActivePictured: Planar. Photo: Tamasflex, CC BY-SA 3.0
1860Germany

Adox

Film

Black-and-white film, paper and chemistry.

Active
1869Germany

Leica

Photo · Lenses

Rangefinder, mirrorless and compact cameras with in-house lenses.

ActivePictured: Leica M9. Photo: Andrew Xu, CC BY-SA 2.0
1877Germany

Rodenstock

Lenses

Eyeglass lenses and once large-format photographic lenses.

Active
1887Germany

Linhof

Photo · Medium format · Support

Large-format technical cameras and tripod heads.

Active
1896Germany

Meyer Optik Gorlitz

Lenses

Lenses, including the Trioplan; the historic name was later revived by new owners.

Defunct
1909Germany

ORWO

Film

East German film works in Wolfen; successor FilmoTec still makes black-and-white film there.

Defunct · ended 1994
1912Germany

Ihagee

Photo

Exakta single-lens reflex cameras.

DefunctPictured: Kine Exakta. Photo: Minya S, CC BY 3.0
1912Germany

Schneider Kreuznach

Lenses · Cinema

Large-format, cine and industrial lenses and filters.

Active
1917Germany

ARRI

Cinema · Lighting · Lenses

Cinema cameras, lenses and film lighting.

ActivePictured: Alexa. Photo: Sean P. Anderson from Dallas, TX, USA, CC BY 2.0
1920Germany

Rollei

Photo · Medium format

Twin-lens reflex and compact cameras, founded as Franke & Heidecke.

ActivePictured: Rollei 35. Photo: Don DeBold from San Jose, CA, USA, CC BY 2.0
1926Germany

Zeiss Ikon

Photo

Folding, rangefinder and SLR cameras.

Defunct · ended 1971Pictured: Contax I. Photo: Rama, CC BY-SA 2.0 fr
1928Germany

Neumann

Audio

Studio microphones and monitors.

Active
1932Germany

Contax

Photo · Lenses

Camera brand of Zeiss Ikon, later of Yashica and Kyocera.

Defunct · ended 2005
1938Germany

Metz

Lighting

Mecablitz flash units and electronics.

Active
1945Germany

Sennheiser

Audio

Microphones, wireless systems and headphones.

Active
1948Germany

Schoeps

Audio

Studio and film condenser microphones.

Active
1958Germany

Sachtler

Support

Fluid heads and tripods for film and broadcast.

Active
1964Germany

Pentacon

Photo

East German SLR cameras sold as Praktica and Pentacon.

Defunct · ended 1991Pictured: Praktica. Photo: Dnalor 01, CC BY-SA 3.0 at
2004Germany

AgfaPhoto

Film

Licensed AgfaPhoto film and imaging products.

Active
1991Israel

Leaf

Photo · Medium format

Digital backs for medium- and large-format cameras; part of Phase One.

Active
1923Italy

Ferrania

Film

Photographic film, revived as FILM Ferrania.

Active
1873Japan

Konica

Photo · Film

Cameras and film under the Konishiroku and Sakura names.

Defunct · ended 2003Pictured: Konica C35 AF. Photo: John Nuttall from Hampshire, United Kingdom, CC BY 2.0
1894Japan

Kowa

Photo · Lenses · Medium format

Optics, lenses and once the Kowa Six medium-format camera.

Active
1907Japan

Petri

Photo

Budget rangefinder and SLR cameras.

Defunct · ended 1977
1912Japan

Sharp

Phones

Electronics maker, early in camera phones.

ActivePictured: Sharp J-SH04. Photo: Morio, CC BY-SA 3.0
1917Japan

Nikon

Photo · Lenses · Cinema

SLR and mirrorless cameras, Nikkor lenses, and since 2024 the owner of RED.

ActivePictured: Nikon F3. Photo: JamesPFisherIII, CC BY 3.0
1918Japan

Panasonic

Photo · Video · Cinema · Lenses

Lumix mirrorless cameras and professional video cameras.

ActivePictured: Panasonic Lumix S9. Photo: Mateusz Stopczynski, CC BY-SA 4.0
1919Japan

Olympus

Photo · Lenses

Former camera maker, now a medical optics company; cameras moved to OM Digital Solutions.

ActivePictured: Olympus XA. Photo: Ashley Pomeroy, CC BY-SA 4.0
1919Japan

Pentax

Photo · Lenses · Medium format

Camera brand of Ricoh Imaging: DSLRs, film cameras and lenses.

ActivePictured: Pentax Q. Photo: 663highland, CC BY 2.5
1927Japan

JVC

Video

Camcorders and video equipment; the brand now belongs to JVCKenwood.

Defunct · ended 2011Pictured: JVC GR-C1. Photo: Ignat Gorazd from Tokyo, Japan, CC BY-SA 2.0
1928Japan

Minolta

Photo · Lenses

SLR, compact and rangefinder cameras and lenses.

Defunct · ended 2003Pictured: Minolta 35. Photo: Jan von Erpecom, CC BY-SA 3.0
1932Japan

Topcon

Photo · Lenses

Optical instruments; once made 35mm SLR cameras.

Active
1933Japan

Komamura (Horseman)

Photo · Medium format

Horseman medium- and large-format cameras.

Active
1934Japan

Fujifilm

Photo · Film · Instant · Lenses · Medium format

Film, instant film, X-series and GFX cameras, Fujinon lenses.

ActivePictured: Fujifilm X10. Photo: Wolfgang Thanner ( Diskussion ), CC BY-SA 3.0
1936Japan

Ricoh

Photo

GR compact cameras and Theta 360-degree cameras, plus office equipment.

ActivePictured: Ricoh GR. Photo: Kārlis Dambrāns from Latvia, CC BY 2.0
1937Japan

Canon

Photo · Video · Cinema · Lenses

Interchangeable-lens cameras, cinema cameras and EF/RF lenses.

ActivePictured: Canon AE-1. Photo: Charles Lanteigne, CC BY-SA 3.0
1940Japan

Mamiya

Photo · Medium format

Medium-format film cameras, later digital backs with Phase One.

ActivePictured: Mamiya 7. Photo: Albert Leung, CC BY 2.0
1941Japan

Hoya

Lenses

Optical glass, camera filters and eyeglass lenses; once the owner of Pentax.

Active
1942Japan

Seiko Epson

Photo

Printers, projectors and the R-D1 digital rangefinder.

Active
1946Japan

Sony

Photo · Video · Cinema · Lenses · Storage · Audio

Alpha mirrorless cameras, cinema and broadcast cameras, sensors and media.

ActivePictured: Sony FX3. Photo: Henry Söderlund from Helsinki, Finland, CC BY 2.0
1946Japan

Casio

Photo

Electronics maker that sold early consumer digital cameras.

Active
1946Japan

Ikegami

Video · Monitors

Broadcast cameras and monitors.

Active
1948Japan

Slik

Support

Tripods.

Active
1949Japan

Yashica

Photo

Rangefinder, twin-lens reflex and compact cameras; now a licensed brand.

ActivePictured: Yashica Electro 35. Photo: Martintoy, CC BY-SA 3.0
1950Japan

Tamron

Lenses

Third-party zoom and prime lenses.

Active
1950Japan

Tokina

Lenses · Cinema

Third-party photo and cine lenses.

Active
1955Japan

Miranda

Photo

Early Japanese 35mm SLR cameras.

Defunct · ended 1976
1955Japan

Velbon

Support

Lightweight tripods.

Active
1956Japan

Zenza Bronica

Photo · Medium format

Medium-format single-lens reflex cameras.

Defunct · ended 2005
1959Japan

Cosina

Lenses · Photo

Lenses under the Voigtlander name and Zeiss-branded lenses made under contract.

Active
1959Japan

Kyocera

Photo · Phones

Ceramics and electronics group that made Contax and Yashica cameras until 2005.

ActivePictured: Contax G1. Photo: [email protected] ( Panda41 at de.wikipedia ), CC BY-SA 3.0 de
1961Japan

Sigma

Lenses · Photo · Cinema

Lenses for many mounts, cine lenses and Foveon-sensor cameras.

ActivePictured: Sigma fp. Photo: 昼落ち, CC BY-SA 4.0
1962Japan

Audio-Technica

Audio

Microphones, headphones and phono cartridges.

Active
1971Japan

Tascam

Audio

Portable recorders and recording equipment.

Active
1983Japan

Zoom

Audio

Portable audio recorders and effects.

Active
2003Japan

Konica Minolta

Photo

Office and imaging group formed by merging Konica and Minolta; left cameras in 2006.

ActivePictured: Konica Minolta Dynax 7D. Photo: Redline, CC BY 2.5
2020Japan

OM Digital Solutions

Photo · Lenses

OM System Micro Four Thirds cameras and lenses, the former Olympus imaging business.

ActivePictured: OM System OM-1. Photo: 昼落ち, CC BY-SA 4.0
2008Netherlands

Polaroid B.V.

Instant · Film

Instant film and cameras, grown out of The Impossible Project.

Active
1969South Korea

Samsung

Phones · Storage · Photo

Galaxy phones, image sensors and memory cards.

ActivePictured: Samsung EX1. Photo: Túrelio, CC BY-SA 3.0 de
1972South Korea

Samyang

Lenses · Cinema

Manual and autofocus lenses, also sold as Rokinon.

ActivePictured: Samyang T-S 24 mm f/3.5 ED AS UMC. Photo: When reusing, please credit me as author: Adam Kliczek, http://memoriesstay.com ( CC-BY-SA-3.0 ) If you use my image on your website, please send me an email with webpage adress. Contact me at: adam.kliczek gmail.com pl en +/− pl en +/−, CC BY-SA 3.0
1841Sweden

Hasselblad

Photo · Medium format · Lenses

Medium-format cameras and lenses; majority-owned by DJI.

Active
1968Sweden

Profoto

Lighting

Studio and portable flash and light shapers.

Active
1819Switzerland

Kern Aarau

Lenses

Surveying instruments and Switar cine lenses.

Defunct · ended 1991
1925Switzerland

Bolex

Cinema

Spring-wound 16mm film cameras.

Active
1926Switzerland

Arca-Swiss

Support · Photo

View cameras and ball heads.

Active
1948Switzerland

Sinar

Photo · Medium format

Modular view cameras and digital backs for studio work.

Active
1951Switzerland

Nagra

Audio

Portable tape and digital audio recorders.

Active
1958Switzerland

Broncolor

Lighting

High-end studio flash systems.

Active
1962Switzerland

Elinchrom

Lighting

Studio and portable flash.

Active
1931Ukraine

Svema

Film

Black-and-white and colour film, motion-picture film and magnetic tape.

Defunct · ended 2015
1879United Kingdom

Ilford

Film

Black-and-white film, paper and chemistry, made by Harman Technology.

Active
1886United Kingdom

Cooke Optics

Lenses · Cinema

Cinema prime and zoom lenses.

Active
1909United Kingdom

Vinten

Support

Broadcast pan-and-tilt heads and pedestals.

Active
1910United Kingdom

Videndum

Support · Lighting · Monitors · Audio

Owner of Manfrotto, Gitzo, Sachtler, Vinten, Litepanels and other production brands.

Active
1923United Kingdom

Bowens

Lighting

Studio flash.

Defunct · ended 2017
1853United States

Bausch & Lomb

Lenses

Eye-care company that once made photographic and cinema lenses.

Active
1887United States

Graflex

Photo

Large-format press and reflex cameras.

Defunct · ended 1973Pictured: Speed Graphic. Photo: David, CC BY-SA 2.0
1892United States

Kodak

Film · Photo

Photographic and motion-picture film, chemicals and printing.

ActivePictured: Kodak Ektra. Photo: Mike Eckman, CC BY-SA 4.0
1907United States

Bell & Howell

Cinema

Film cameras and projectors, later services.

ActivePictured: Eyemo. Photo: U.S. Marine Corps, Public domain
1919United States

Mitchell Camera

Cinema

Studio motion-picture cameras.

Defunct
1925United States

Shure

Audio

Microphones, wireless systems and earphones.

Active
1927United States

Mole-Richardson

Lighting

Tungsten and LED film lighting.

Defunct · ended 2025
1936United States

Argus

Photo

Inexpensive 35mm cameras.

Defunct · ended 1969Pictured: Argus C3. Photo: User Camerafiend on en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
1937United States

Polaroid

Instant · Photo · Film

Instant cameras and instant film invented by Edwin Land.

Defunct · ended 2001Pictured: Polaroid SX-70. Photo: Thomas Backa from Turku, Finland, CC0
1938United States

Vivitar

Lighting · Lenses · Photo

Flashes, lenses and budget cameras.

Active
1944United States

Ampex

Video · Storage

Magnetic tape recorders, later data storage.

Active
1945United States

Tiffen

Lenses · Support

Filters and Steadicam stabilisers.

Active
1954United States

Panavision

Cinema · Lenses

Cinema cameras and lenses offered for rental only.

Active
1967United States

Lowepro

Support

Camera bags and backpacks.

Active
1976United States

Apple

Phones · Video

iPhone, whose cameras are among the most used in the world.

ActivePictured: iPhone 4. Photo: Justin14, CC BY-SA 3.0
1987United States

Kino Flo

Lighting

Fluorescent and LED soft lights.

Active
1988United States

SanDisk

Storage

Memory cards and flash storage.

Active
1993United States

AJA Video Systems

Monitors · Video

Video recorders, converters and capture hardware.

Active
1996United States

Lexar

Storage

Memory cards and flash storage.

Active
1998United States

Sound Devices

Audio

Field mixers and recorders for production sound.

Active
2002United States

GoPro

Action · Video

Waterproof action cameras and mounts.

Active
2005United States

RED

Cinema

Digital cinema cameras with high-resolution raw recording; owned by Nikon.

Active
2005United States

Aputure

Lighting

LED lights for film and video; based in California with a factory in Shenzhen.

Active
2009United States

3D Robotics

Drones

Drones and drone software.

Active
2010United States

Peak Design

Support

Camera bags, straps, clips and travel tripods.

Active
2011United States

Freefly Systems

Gimbals · Drones

Camera stabilisers and heavy-lift drones.

Active
2012United States

CineStill

Film

Motion-picture film stocks adapted for still cameras.

Active
2014United States

Skydio

Drones

Autonomous drones with obstacle avoidance.

Active