In the middle of buzzing Moore Market, A Rajan sits on his chair tapping a metal box beside him. Inside is a camera dating back to 1919. This is the oldest of his collection of vintage cameras, he says.

Rajan, who was firm on naming his vintage camera shop in Tamil, launched his outlet A Rajan Pazhaiya Camera Kadai in 2020. Although the COVID-19 pandemic led to a delay in attracting customers, Rajan quickly found his ground. He has been an entrepreneur since the day his father died in 2000, selling antiques and vintage finds from telephones to water bottles. Eventually, he began focussing on cameras, establishing two separate shops at Moore Market.

“I am crazy about cameras. I have also collected varieties of cameras and kept them at home,” says Rajan, adding that he would like his son to share his interest and take over the business.

Rajan has been learning about cameras and the era they belong to for 15 years. His collection of about 2,000 cameras, includes still cameras, polaroids, movie and instant cameras from brands such as Yashica, Minolta, Pentax, and Canon. While prices range from ₹1,500 to ₹2 lakh, customers often approach him to take the pieces out for rent.

Rajan insists that he loves all types of vintage cameras and has no favorite. He sources these cameras from dealers across the country, including from places like Coimbatore, Mumbai, and Calcutta.

Rajan says he has also seen a passion for cameras in many of his customers. “I remember once a cameraperson, who had also sold some of his cameras to me, telling me that there was a time when he bought a Rolleiflex instead of land”, Rajan adds.

Customers who flock to the shop are mostly camerapersons wanting to set up these vintage cameras to give their studios an aesthetic appeal, Rajan says. He adds that college students also take an interest in buying these vintage cameras because they like the aesthetic of it.

“They, especially, come looking for the double lens camera with the 120mm film for its features. The Rolleiflex ones are also pretty popular among customers,” he adds.

Customers who visit the shop are often photographers and cinematographers looking for vintage cameras to display in their studios, drawn by nostalgia. College students, too, are increasingly buying them now, attracted by their trending retro aesthetic.

Varun Gupta, founder, Chennai Photo Biennale Darkroom, agrees that there is a rising trend of shooting with film cameras now, which is the CPB Community Darkroom was set up last year, in an attempt to revive film photography and historical photographic processes. At a time when digital and AI-generated images dominate, it was created to be a learning space, commercial lab and community hub for analogue photographers. “People want slow things and a way to disconnect with everything digital”, he says.

While he agrees that buying films is an expensive affair, he also thinks it is worth the investment. “It is absolutely worth it since it gives a sense of nostalgia”. There are people from all ages who are willing to learn working with analog cameras, he adds.

Back In Rajan’s shop, tucked away in a corner, stands three metal figures: APJ Abdul Kalam, BR Ambedkar, and Periyar. For the 42-year-old man, they are his role models. “I never cheat customers. I even return money if the customer does not like something they bought from here,” Rajan says.

Today, as part of his business, Rajan also rents cameras for movie shoots. “Even art directors from the Malayalam industry come and buy these. I recently couriered one to Kerala”, he says. Rajan says his cameras have been used in Tamil movies like Madrasapattinam and Por Thozhil, a matter of pride for this business man.

A Rajan Pazhaiya Camera Kadai is at Lily Pond Complex, Moore Market. Contact 7358282833 for details.

Published - July 29, 2026 03:53 pm IST