Why folding camera?
<P>
I don't know much about optical science, but from years of taking pictures 
with many cameras, I can tell the differents between good lens and bad 
ones.
<BR>
Firstly, I impress with the classic look of them.
Secondly, I was amazed by the design of machanics and size while folded.
Lastly the optics quality of these older lens, mostly it has around 10 
blades of diaphragm which produce smooth completed circle to out of focus 
spots (circle of confusion). The color saturation, sharpness, contrast and 
toning of the pictures maybe different from lens produced in these days, 
but the unique characteristics of the older days lens give different 
feeling, even use with modern films.
</P>

Folding camera history, in short
<BR>
I think folding cameras era begined around early 1900s (maybe 1920s or 
1930s), but of those what I saw and still working today they're 1930s or 
later. I've only 2 brands of folding cameras in <A HREF="../collection.html">my collection</A>, which are : 
<P>
<IMG SRC="../../imgs/s_li.jpg" ALIGN="CENTER" HSPACE="5"><A HREF="../zeiss.html">Zeiss</A> 
and
<BR>
<IMG SRC="../../imgs/s_li.jpg" ALIGN="CENTER" HSPACE="5"><A HREF="../voight.html">Voightlander</A>
<BR>
Both were made in German and had produced many kinds of cameras and 
accessories :
<UL>120
   <LI><A HREF="../vc/c120_RF.html">RF</A>
      <UL>
      <LI>Folding cameras
      </UL>
   <LI><A HREF="../vc/c120_TLR.html">TLR cameras</A>
</UL>
<UL>135
   <LI><A HREF="../vc/c135_RF.html">RF cameras</A>
   <LI>SLR cameras
</UL>
and divided roughly (by me) into 4 eras :
<UL>
<LI>Pre-war (WWII) era : When films were still low speed black and white.
<LI>Post-war (WWII) era : When color films were started
<LI>Final era : Before the company closed down or go to new owner with old name
<LI>Post final era : reincarnation (metempsychosis, rebirth) of the brand