On Wednesday, Dilish Parekh, the owner of the largest camera collection in the world, died at 69 in Mumbai. The freelance photographer held multiple world records, one for having the largest collection of antique cameras in the world, and second, the largest collection of photographic instruments in the world. With over four thousand cameras in his collection, Dilish made photography and its instruments his life’s work.

Dilish is survived by his wife Binita, two sons Jay and Harsh, respective daughters-in-law Krupali and Vidhi, and grandsons Kaveer and Aahan. Popularly known as Dilish Bhai among his friends and fellow camera-enthusiasts, he had made his way into the Guinness Book of World Records by possessing as many as 4,425 antique cameras with cameras from Canon, Kodak, Zeiss, Linhof, Leica, among others.

A Deccan Herald report quoted Dilish giving his two cents regarding his enthusiasm for photography. “It’s just love and passion that matters….these are everything to me….camera collectors from all over the world approach me with offers, but these cameras are my life, I am not going to sell them as long as I am alive,” he was quoted saying.

Born in 1953, Dilish got fascinated with all-things-cameras after his grandfather gifted him one when Dilish was a young boy.

The Facts of the Matter

Camera collectors are individuals who have a passion for collecting antique and vintage cameras. They are often drawn to the history and craftsmanship behind each camera, as well as the unique features and designs that distinguish one camera from another. While their fascination with cameras may appear unusual to some, they often pave ways to an entire new generation of camera collectors.

Recently, Dilish Parekh, the record holder for having the largest camera collection in the world, passed away at 69. The Mumbai-resident took his last breathe late Wednesday. He is survived by his wife Binita, sons and daughters-in-law Jay and Krupali, and Harsh and Vidhi, and grandkids Kaveer and Aahan.


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A Look at Dilish Parekh’s Records

A freelance photographer in the initial stages of his career, and a press-photographer later, Parekh has been added into the Guinness World Records. He first entered the record book in 2003, for his 2,634 antique camera collection. Like most record holders, Dilish went on to shatter his own record in 2013 when Guinness accepted his record of having 4,425 cameras.

How Dilish Got Fascinated with Cameras

In an interview with CNN Traveler, Parekh said that his grandfather held his finger and made him see the enticing world of photography and camera. Parekh learned the initial stages of taking pictures like setting ISO, adjusting camera’s exposure, its aperture settings, and ultimately framing a subject right to end the moment with a shutter click.


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Inheriting 60 Cameras, Creating a Legacy

In the interview, Parekh fondly remembered his grandfather gifting him his first camera – a Rolleiflex 3.5 camera – when he was 19. Parekh’s father was a collector in his old right, and when he passed away, he left him with a collection of 60 antique cameras. Parekh went on to enrich his grandfather’s legacy over the course of years.


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Dilish Parekh’s Camera Collection

With thousands of cameras in his collection, Parekh had a few of his favourites. One of them included the Leica 25, a rangefinder camera. For the unversed, the Leica 25 is often known as the Rolls Royce of the cameras, now worth Rs 3.5 crores ($4,50,000). His other favourite includes Canon 7 and Linhof cameras.

 

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