Unveiling the Hidden Optics: A Journey into the World of Analog Photo Booths
The Quest for Vintage Lens Secrets
Photographer and YouTube enthusiast Mathieu Stern has a passion for all things vintage, especially lenses. His curiosity led him on a mission to uncover the lenses used in classic film photo booths, aiming to recreate that iconic look at home. Little did he know, this quest would take him down a rabbit hole of unexpected discoveries.
"This project sent me on a wild goose chase, searching for answers in the most obscure places," Stern shares.
During a visit to a museum in Nantes, France, Stern and his wife stumbled upon an analog photo booth in the cafe. Intrigued, he wondered, "What lens lies within this vintage machine?"
But here's where it gets tricky: the lens is only visible during the photo-taking process, and even then, it's nearly impossible to identify. The internet, too, proved to be a dead end, with months of research yielding little fruit.
What Stern eventually uncovered was more bizarre than he could've imagined, and for a lens enthusiast like him, that's saying something.
A Historical Journey: The Rise and Fall of Photo Booths
Step back to 1925, when Anatol Josepho invented the Photomaton, one of the first fully automated photo booths. For just 25 cents, people could get eight printed photos, a luxury at the time. The first booth was a hit near Times Square, New York City, offering a quick and affordable way to get portraits. It took about 10 minutes to capture, develop, and print the photos, an impressive feat for the early 20th century.
Photo booths soon became a staple at various locations, from train stations to shopping centers. But as instant film cameras and digital photography gained popularity, analog photo booths faded into obscurity. Today, Stern estimates there are fewer than 200 working chemical analog photo booths left worldwide.
Yet, their allure remains. Every photo booth Stern visited for his video had long lines, a testament to their enduring appeal. Having a physical, unique portrait is still a special experience.
Unraveling the Lens Mystery
Stern's research led him to a 1940s patent describing an f/2, 3-inch Wollensak portrait lens. This lens, with its deep focus, required no focusing for sharp shots. Later, Wollensak created a 75mm f/4.5 "Photomat" prime lens specifically for photo booths.
"I thought the mystery was solved," Stern says. But then, he stumbled upon a different source.
A video of an old London photo booth restoration showed a Dallmayer 75mm f/4.5 enlarging lens. Further investigations, including using a Sony Alpha camera to capture video inside photo booths, revealed a Nikkor 35mm f/2.8 lens in two French photo booths.
With this new knowledge, Stern set out to recreate the classic look at home, sharing his findings with other photographers. It turns out, the look is replicable, but the feeling? That's a different story.
"When I first stepped into that museum cafe's photo booth, I believed it held some magical optical secret, a lens that could make anyone look their best. Little did I know, it was more about the experience than the glass itself."
And this is the part most people miss: it's not just about the lens. It's about the nostalgic feeling, the artistic approach, and the unique experience photo booth visitors get. That's what makes analog photo booths so special.
So, what do you think? Is it the lens or the experience that makes analog photo booths so captivating? Share your thoughts in the comments!
