Photo-Control Corp Camerz Model 20 70mm Long-Roll School Picture Camera 170EN24

Photo-Control Corp Camerz Model 20 70mm Long-Roll School Picture Camera 170EN24

The Photo-Control Corp Camerz Model 20 is a specialized 70mm long-roll motorized portrait camera built specifically for school picture day and high-volume portrait photography. Manufactured by Photo-Control Corporation of Minneapolis, Minnesota, this camera uses 70mm roll film and an interchangeable motorized magazine system to allow rapid, sequential shooting of large groups of subjects. The Camerz line was a purpose-built studio and on-location portrait solution aimed at professional school and portrait photographers who needed consistent, high-throughput results on film.

Specifications & What's Included

• Manufacturer: Photo-Control Corp., Minneapolis, Minnesota
• Model: Camerz Model 20
• Film Format: 70mm long roll
• Lens: Wollensak Raptar 162mm f/4.5
• Power: 115V AC, 50/60 Hz
• Film transport: Motorized electric wind with motor control dial and reset lever
• Magazine: Camerz Model 170EN24 (interchangeable, included)
• Film magazine mechanism: Dual spool spindles with rollers and transport pins
• Top-mounted flash sync unit
• Front-opening film gate with fold-down mask panel
• Includes: Camerz 170EN24 film magazine and original fitted wooden storage box

Applications

The Camerz system was developed in the mid-20th century specifically for the school portrait photography industry, a field that demanded both speed and consistency. Photographers using this camera would set up on school picture day and move students through rapidly, with the motorized film advance handling the pace. The 70mm format offered a larger negative than 35mm, giving professional labs more resolution and latitude when making prints from the roll. Photo-Control's interchangeable magazine design meant a loaded spare magazine could be swapped in seconds mid-session, minimizing downtime. These cameras were used by professional portrait studios, school photography companies, and yearbook contractors from the 1950s through the 1970s — an era when school photography was a high-volume, specialized trade with its own dedicated equipment ecosystem. The Wollensak Raptar lens was a well-regarded American-made optic of that period, commonly found on professional cameras and enlargers from the 1940s through the 1960s. Today, the Camerz Model 20 is a sought-after piece of photographic history, appealing to collectors of vintage professional cameras, school photography memorabilia, and large-format/medium-format film enthusiasts.