Editorial Review

Cameras have come a long way from their bulky daguerreotype and cardboard Brownie days, and this entry in the Inventions That Changed the World series (6 titles) provides a snapshot of the cameras history, development, and function in society. The historical overview begins with early pinhole cameras and moves then to George Eastman’s perfection of film photography and the portable personal camera; SLR, digital, and camera phones follow. A diagram of the SLR helpfully illustrates how it captures and image on film. Unfortunately, only four pages explain how cameras have impacted history ad society, making this book best suited for those curious to see illustrations of old cameras. “Profile” pages draw attention to inventors and specific camera models, and a photographic time line pulls the book’s information together nicely.