Photography is a popular hobby and career path, with billions of images taken daily. These pictures cover multiple genres, including portraits, product photography, and cityscapes.

While we’re blessed with high-quality smartphone cameras, DSLRs, and mirrorless devices, it wasn’t always this way. Photography has had a long and intriguing history, which has helped shape what we see today.

This article will highlight some of the coolest photography facts that you might not previously have known.

1. The First Commercial Phone With a Built-In Camera Was Released in 1999

photo of a person taking pictures with their smartphone

Smartphone photography has evolved significantly throughout the 21st century. Anyone can take good pictures with a smartphone, and the quality on most camera phones is excellent. But did you know that the first commercial phone with a camera dates back to the 20th century?

Japanese electronics manufacturer Kyocera started selling the VP-210 in 1999, and its storage allowed you to take up to 20 photos without deleting any of them. If you were thinking about professional-level photography with this camera, you’ll probably have found the 0.11-megapixel camera slightly limiting.

2. The First Commercially-Available Digital Camera Went on Sale in 1990

Digital cameras are much more common than their film counterparts in many parts of the world. But if you grew up before the mid-2000s, you’ll probably remember when disposable cameras were the norm. The first digital camera existed before 1990 but wasn’t available to the public.

The Dycam Model 1 brought digital photography to the consumer market. It cost $1,000, which is what you can expect to pay for a good digital camera today. But of course, factoring in inflation, $1,000 was much more expensive in 1990.

3. The First Digital Camera Was Created to Capture the Aurora

Photo of the Northern Lights in Iceland

If you’ve ever witnessed the Aurora Borealis in real life, you’ll know it’s an unforgettable experience. Scientists and ordinary people alike have been intrigued by this natural phenomenon for years, and it prompted the development of the first functioning, pre-consumer digital camera.

The Fairchild All-Sky was used by scientists in Canada to capture the Aurora Borealis. Since then, humans have captured the Northern Lights from space and in several interesting ways on the ground.

4. Apple Tried Making a Standalone Digital Camera in the 1990s

Apple is one of the most popular tech brands on the planet and has been at the forefront of innovation for decades. Long before the iPhone reached our pockets, the Silicon Valley giant tried to make a digital camera that wasn’t included on a phone.

The QuickTake 200, which Fujifilm helped develop, had an 8mm lens and an aperture of f/2. Apple has had multiple success stories, but this camera wasn’t one of them. It cost $700, and Apple stopped manufacturing these cameras in 1997.

5. The First DSLR Cost $20,000

DSLRs are often the entry point for photographers looking to improve their craft. You’ll find many for an affordable price, but that wasn’t always the case. The first DSLR cost $20,000—yes, you read that right—in 1991.

The camera, known as the DCS-100, was produced by Kodak. As you might have guessed from the price, the ordinary consumer wasn’t the target demographic for this device. The product was the result of several years’ worth of prior testing.

6. The Oldest Known Photo in Existence Is on Exhibition in Texas

Oldest Photo in the World by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce
Image Credit: Joseph Nicéphore Niépce/Wikimedia Commons

Considering how many photos are taken daily now, it’s sometimes hard to imagine that an era once existed where producing images took a significant amount of time. The oldest image known dates back to 1826; Joseph Nicéphore Niépce took it in France.

The image took hours to create, and the taker needed to use several chemicals to bring his creation to life. Today, you can still view the image in real life. It’s on exhibition in Austin at the University of Texas.

7. The Global Photographic Services Industry Was Worth Over $30 Billion in 2021

photo of a photographer with different cameras

Photography has become a huge industry. Many work with clients, some photographers have their own YouTube channels, and all other kinds of businesses. And, of course, you’ve got camera manufacturers like Fujifilm, Canon, and Sony.

According to ResearchAndMarkets, the global photographic services industry was worth over $36 billion in 2021. And by 2025, the sector is projected to exceed $40 billion. If you’ve got dreams of turning your passion for photography into something bigger, there are many opportunities if you know where to look.

8. Kodak Produced the First-Ever Commercial Roll Film in 1889

Roll film dramatically improved how we take photos, and the invention paved the way for later innovations—such as digital cameras. Photography began taking off in the 20th century, but the previous 100 years helped allow that to happen. Kodak producing the first commercial piece of roll film was one of the most important developments.

Several cameras used roll film, including the Brownie—which launched in 1900. After the introduction of this device, you could get roll film for just 15 cents.

9. The First Mirrorless Camera Dates Back to 2004

photo of someone taking pictures

After using DSLRs for a few years, many photographers upgrade to mirrorless. These are typically more advanced, and their price tags match that. To find the first mirrorless camera, we need to go back to 2004.

Epson brought the first mirrorless camera to the consumer market, and it cost $3,000. The camera was known as the R-D1; Epson continued manufacturing the device until 2007.

10. Leica Is Often Credited With Making the First 35mm Camera

Leica is one of the most coveted camera brands in the world, and it’s also one of the oldest. 35mm used to be the norm focal length for photographers, and many people credit the German company with making the first camera of this kind. Oskar Barnack created this camera for Leica.

11. The First Color Photo Is From the 19th Century

First Color Photo by James-Clerk-Maxwell
Image Credit: James Clerk Maxwell/Wikimedia Commons

If you think of the world before the 20th century, you might think that all photos and videos were in black and white. However, this isn’t entirely true; you’ll find color images dating back to the 19th century.

The first color photo originated from the UK and was taken in 1861. It was an image of a ribbon that you’ll find on traditional Scottish clothing. You can see the plates used to capture the shot at a museum in Edinburgh.

Photography Has a Rich History

Photography has become accessible to billions of people worldwide, but it had to start from humble beginnings. The early days involved a lot of experimentation, and it’s amazing to think that we can take such high-quality images today.

From $20,000 cameras to taking hours to develop an initial picture, we’ve certainly got things much easier today. And with so many creators and innovators in the industry, the future of photography looks even brighter.