The Petal camera was released in Japan in 1948. This minuscule device is barely larger than a coin, though its chrome-plated brass body is reassuringly heavy.
The Petal’s disc-shaped film has six exposures, each only 6mm in diameter, which could be enlarged — into ‘petalargements’ — when processed. The camera has a fixed-focus lens.
It was manufactured by St. Peter Optical, primarily for export, and it was distributed in the US by Mycro Camera in 1949. The original circular Petal was followed by the Everax A (engraved with a floral motif) and a Sakura Petal octagonal version.
The Petal’s disc-shaped film has six exposures, each only 6mm in diameter, which could be enlarged — into ‘petalargements’ — when processed. The camera has a fixed-focus lens.
It was manufactured by St. Peter Optical, primarily for export, and it was distributed in the US by Mycro Camera in 1949. The original circular Petal was followed by the Everax A (engraved with a floral motif) and a Sakura Petal octagonal version.
The Petal is the world’s smallest film camera, and it’s significantly smaller than the more famous Minox spy cameras. It’s also smaller and more advanced than the Hit cameras made by Tougodo, which became a generic term for all Japanese post-war subminiature cameras.
Other smallest-ever analogue cameras include:
Other smallest-ever analogue cameras include:
- Bolsey 8 — the smallest cine camera
- Sony Ruvi — the smallest video camera
- Polaroid iZone 200 — the smallest instant camera