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Asia’s

Biggest

Camera

Museum

Singapore

Above: The impressive facade of the museum
Singapore doesn’t automatically come to mind when you think of camera museums, but in
conversation with a friend before we left home, he suggested I keep a look out for retro camera
stores, as he had heard there were a few in Singapore.

An Internet search found a couple of likely stores, but what caught my eye was a vintage camera
museum, and as it was fairly close to an MRT train station, I thought it would be worth checking
out.
So, with my three day train pass in hand, I set off to find it. A couple of short journeys and
changers of train line, followed by a sort walk and there I was, looking at, as their brochure days
“The world’s largest camera shaped building”. The modest entry fee, gives you access to the
camera museum and the small “Trick Art Museum” next door (more later).

The owner was very friendly and to my surprise insisted on
showing me around, taking cameras out of their display cabinets
and even taking pictures of me holding his prized possessions.

Their claim of having 1000+ cameras was quite correct – there
were all types from old wooden full plates to the latest digital
types. The first to catch my eye was the display cabinet full of
twin lens reflex cameras, and right next to it another cabinet full
of early Kodaks, including several stereo and panaram cameras.
The Polaroid display contained just about every model made,
and I was invited to have a close look at each one, when I
showed a bit of interest.

Another section was devoted to miniature and spy cameras these
contrasted against what was claimed to be the “world’s biggest
camera” - it certainly was, as it took up a whole wall of a room.
The owner was very proud of his Japanese Machine Gun
Camera, he claimed it to be a one of a kind and extremely rare.
Left: Display cabinet of large format cameras.
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