The MEC16 SB is a compact (sub miniature) still camera that captures 10 x 14mm images on 16mm film in cassettes. The MEC16 SB was the first camera in the world designed and manufactured with a built-in exposure meter, capable of measuring the light through the lens. This serially integrated exposure meter gave the operator the optimum exposure after the aperture (f-stop) and shutter speeds are taken into account.

This innovation in camera design demonstrated to other manufacturers the feasibility of this design. In the following years the "built-in exposure meter" became a convenient feature of many camera designs in a variety of formats.

The MEC16 SB belongs to the class of cameras referred to as sub miniatures. This (taxonomic) classification refers to the physical size of the camera and is also determined by the media (film size) used in the camera. The museum's collection of cameras includes 5 miniature or sub miniature cameras. These cameras display a high degree of product design - an imperative due to their economy of size and compact features. The acquisition of the MEC16 SB will bolster the small collection of miniature & sub miniatures.

Source:

Powerhouse Museum

Location:

Lahr, Germany

Longitude:

7.8666667

Latitude:

48.35