Back
27· Cooling
Technology4h 36m ago
Jacques Cousteau helped conceive the Calypso camera in the mid-1950s, which was later manufactured by Atoms and distributed by La Spirotechnique in Paris starting in 1960.
Archive Window: 7 Days Left
Paris, France
Who
Jacques Cousteau, Jean de Wouters, Nikon, Nippon Kōgaku, Atoms, La Spirotechnique, Kodak
What
Jacques Cousteau helped conceive the Calypso camera in the mid-1950s, which was later manufactured by Atoms and distributed by La Spirotechnique in Paris starting in 1960.
When
Sun, 14 Jun 2026 09:10:00 GMT · 4h 36m ago
Where
Paris, France ·
Why
Cousteau wanted an easy-to-use, compact, amphibious camera for his research vessel Calypso that could be used on land and at depth.
The Frontline Impact
How this affects you
The Calypso camera established a pioneering design for fully waterproof 35mm cameras, influencing the development of Nikon's long-running Nikonos series, which became a staple for serious underwater photographers globally.
Story chain
3 events in this thread- Technology4h 36m agoIn the mid-1950s, legendary oceanographer and explorer Jacques Cousteau wanted an easy-to-use, compact, amphibious camera.Open article
- Technology4h 36m agoIn the mid-1950s, legendary oceanographer Jacques Cousteau conceived an easy-to-use, compact, amphibious camera, which Belgian engineer Jean de Wouters designed, leading to the Calypso camera.Open article
- Currently Reading4h 36m agoJacques Cousteau helped conceive the Calypso camera in the mid-1950s, which was later manufactured by Atoms and distributed by La Spirotechnique in Paris starting in 1960.