<P> While conventional cameras were becoming more refined and sophisticated, an entirely new type of camera appeared on the market in 1948 . This was the Polaroid Model 95, the world's first viable instant - picture camera . Known as a Land Camera after its inventor, Edwin Land, the Model 95 used a patented chemical process to produce finished positive prints from the exposed negatives in under a minute . The Land Camera caught on despite its relatively high price and the Polaroid lineup had expanded to dozens of models by the 1960s . The first Polaroid camera aimed at the popular market, the Model 20 Swinger of 1965, was a huge success and remains one of the top - selling cameras of all time . </P> <P> The first camera to feature automatic exposure was the selenium light meter - equipped, fully automatic Super Kodak Six - 20 pack of 1938, but its extremely high price (for the time) of $225 ($3828 in present terms) kept it from achieving any degree of success . By the 1960s, however, low - cost electronic components were commonplace and cameras equipped with light meters and automatic exposure systems became increasingly widespread . </P> <P> The next technological advance came in 1960, when the German Mec 16 SB subminiature became the first camera to place the light meter behind the lens for more accurate metering . However, through - the - lens metering ultimately became a feature more commonly found on SLRs than other types of camera; the first SLR equipped with a TTL system was the Topcon RE Super of 1962 . </P> <P> Digital cameras differ from their analog predecessors primarily in that they do not use film, but capture and save photographs on digital memory cards or internal storage instead . Their low operating costs have relegated chemical cameras to niche markets . Digital cameras now include wireless communication capabilities (for example Wi - Fi or Bluetooth) to transfer, print or share photos, and are commonly found on mobile phones . </P>

When was the first camera invented and by whom