Semmendinger-Camera Home

August Semmendinger

(1820-1885) was one of the early inventors of the camera.

August Semmendinger was an early pioneer in camera

design and manufacture. He owned four United States

Patents related to camera making.

Please peruse this site to find our more about this

important camera maker.

This web page is being designed as a historical archive

of information related to this pioneer in the camera industry.

For an overview of August Semmendinger's camera making,

with examples of two vintage Semmendinger cameras from

the 1870's, please view the video below.

The Semmendinger camera that is housed in the permanent collection

at the California Museum of Photography at the University of California, Riverside was used in the filming of an episode of Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman.

You can watch part of that episode below. The camera used is a vintage Semmendinger camera from the 1870's.

We are always looking for information about August Semmendinger and the opportunity to purchase his cameras.

If you have information you would like to share, please e-mail