Scientific Photography Collection

In addition to the Herman Krone Collection, the Institute of Applied Physics (IAP) houses a second collection on the history of photography, focusing on photographic equipment. As early as 1907, Hermann Krone donated some of the equipment from his studio to the newly founded Scientific-Photographic Institute, together with his “Historisches Lehrmuseum für Photographie” ("Historical Didactic Museum of Photography"). While the whereabouts of this original equipment are unknown today, the first director of the new institute, Prof Robert Luther, began assembling the current collection shortly afterwards.

© TUD, Office for Academic Heritage

Under Luther and his successors, the collection grew steadily and has come to comprise some 700 objects used in, or created as a result of, the Institute's activities.  From rarities and demonstrators to unique items, they represent a cross-section of scientific photographic teaching and research over the past 100 years. Particular highlights include a range of cameras and lenses from the 19^th century, unique cameras tailor-made for special research projects and handmade models illustrating concepts of photophysics for teaching purposes.

The collection is fully inventoried and documented in a virtual database. The publication of these records in the central collection database of TU Dresden is currently being prepared.