Military cameras
Armies rapidly understand how they could benefit from photography, as a means of surveillance of enemy lines. These observation campaigns were undertaken on ground level by artillery regiments or from fixed balloons by balloon units, air force troops took up the baton from the start of the First World War.
At the dawn of the 20th century, Zeiss made long-range telephotographic bodies in its Dutch branch, the Nedinsco company. The highest performing body, with a three metre focal length, constituted a serious strategic advantage during the 1914-18 war, as did the 1m20 and 70cm versions, delivered into the hands of observers in fixed-line balloons who photographed enemy lines, the balloon was well lashed onto its cable at the limit of the enemy artillery’s range. The same bodies were bought by Switzerland to equip its own balloon regiments, which existed from 1897 to 1937. After this, artillery companies took over their use.
The first Swiss military flights took place in autumn 1911. The highly conclusive results of this experience provided the impetus for other missions of this type in 1913, but it was not until the declaration of the First World War in August 1914 that Swiss air forces really came into life. The photographs taken from airplanes were done so using a hand-held body which the observations officer held from on board the aircraft, pointing it as vertically as possibly, while the pilot concentrated completely just on flying. Reconnaissance flights were later systematised following serious progress both in terms of aeronautics and of photographic equipment, rendering the presence of a photographer on board entirely unnecessary…