
Enamoured by film cameras and a little old-school charm? Visit Vintage Cameras Museum Singapore in the Kampong Glam area
Remember the days when going on a shoot meant lugging a huge folding camera, heavy wooden tripods and rolls of 120 format film? The answer is probably “no”, unless you lived in the ’50s. With the way smartphone cameras are advancing, the average happy snapper would struggle to find reasons to bring out even a compact DSLR. But if you still find a special sort of charm in vintage photography equipment, you’ll want to pay a visit to the new Vintage Camera Museum at Jalan Kledek.

Founded by businessman Solaiyappan Ramanathan and his artist cousin AP Shreethar, the Vintage Cameras Museum boasts an incredible collection of over a thousand vintage cameras. The building itself is set in the form of a massive camera, and holds the distinction of being the world’s biggest camera-shaped building.
But like many cameras, it’s what’s inside that counts – the museum’s collection runs the gamut from the replica of the massive Mammoth Camera to a cutting-edge 11-gram modern camera. In addition to popular consumer film cameras of the past, the museum also displays some rather esoteric artefacts like walking stick cameras, spy cameras, pigeon cameras, 3D cameras, and even a pistol camera.

More than just a collection of cameras, the museum aims to be relevant to today’s photography enthusiasts, and features a detailed documentary showcasing the evolution of cameras of old to the modern tech toys we know today. The museum also allows guests to handle some of the vintage cameras on display for a complete hands-on experience. Those unfamiliar with the world of photography can opt for guided tours as well.
Vintage Cameras Museum Singapore, 8C-8D Jalan Kledek, Singapore 199263. p. 8591 8918. $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens and children up to 12.
Up for a little photo excursion? Snap away with our guide to Instagram-worthy spots in Joo Chiat and Katong or Sentosa.