The Photo-Jumelle was developed and manufactured by Jules Carpentier, it is loosely shaped like a pair of binoculars with one lens used for focusing or viewing the other for taking the exposure. It was the first of a number of French cameras of this shape either for mono or stereo exposures and was also an early adopter of the 4.5 x 6 cm plate size which proved popular in the 1900s.

Two sizes were produced - 4.5 x 6 cm and 6.5 x 9 cm. Several variations exist:

• 4.5 x 6 cm, fixed focus, rapid rectilinear lens, fixed aperture. The earliest model had this specification.
• 4.5 x 6 cm, fixed focus, f6.3 Zeiss Anastigmat lens, iris diaphragm.
• 6.5 x 9 cm, fixed focus, rapid rectilinear lens, iris diaphragm. Introduced in 1894.
• 6.5 x 9 cm, fixed focus, f8 Zeiss Anastigmat lens, iris diaphragm. Introduced in 1894.
• Prior to 1894 the shutter was tensioned by pulling a plate at the end of the camera front. Later a sliding pin situated between the 'lenses' was used.
• Focusing was added to the larger models.
• In 1895 variable shutter speeds using a pneumatic delay were added to all models except the smaller size with rapid rectilinear lens.
• Some models have a ring on the rod used to change plates, others a small disc.

In Britain the Photo-Jumelle was retailed by The London Stereoscopic Company as the Binocular Camera. To their later models an exposure counter was added. A variant called the Daylight Binocular was also produced by L.S.C. which had a daylight loading facility and full size focusing screen.

A number of accessories were produced for the camera the most interesting being an enlarger for the smaller size which is shown in the 1892 patent.

This is the larger model of the Photo-Jumelle with the later type of shutter setting and a pneumatic delay cylinder for speed regulation.