What were camers like in 1860?

In 1860, cameras were still in their infancy, primarily using the daguerreotype process, which produced one-of-a-kind images on polished metal plates. These cameras were large, cumbersome, and required long exposure times, often several minutes, making it challenging to capture moving subjects. The photographer had to prepare the plate on-site and typically worked in a darkroom to develop the images. Despite their limitations, these early cameras sparked public interest in Photography as an art form and a means of documentation.