What decade contributed the most to photography?

When we look back at photography in general, including cameras of course, if there was one decade that contributed the most to it, which decade would you say?  A friend and I were speculating on this today and couldn't come up with a solid opinion.  

Would you happen to know?

My guess would be the 1830's.

While the beginnings of photography were very noteworthy, I like to think that the transition from film to digital significantly accelerated the photography technologies.
Getting away from the hazardous developing chemicals sure made a difference in my interest in photography. Though I've been a photographer since the early 1950's, I always hated working with the chemicals. Going digital, for me, brought new interest in photography. Our improved lighting control and adjustment capability in the past 20 years has been a giant step forward too.

Charley 

Sassy Girl ,

Number of answers could apply , depending on how academic and technical you want to get .

1720 's  : in which the very first discovery of the science physics which underpins photography – light-sensitive materials being affected by light – and  eventually led to . . . .

. . . 1820's  : the first actual photo being taken by Nicephore Niepce , which was later "improved" upon ( upstaged ) by another French guy , . . .

. . .   1830's :  Daguerre  revealed his work on the Daguerrotype  and  set  the ball rolling for  future of photography to evolve from . (What TCav was probably referring to)

1880's : Kodak made photography accessible to the masses ,  instead of being only achievable by wealthy, knowledgeable professionals .

1890's  – early 1900's :  First worthwhile colour materials ,  the Lumiere "Autochromes"

1920's :  First 35 mm camera  (Leica)

1930's : First of the modern commercial colour slide films ("Kodachrome" ) invented
            Invention of the Polaroid instant picture concept by Dr Edwin Land

Fast forward . . . .

1970's :    FIrst examples  of Autofocus technology available on market 
                 Invention of the prototype digital camera . . . . . . .

Just a handful of milestones for you to choose from .
 

I think a revolution started with the introduction of the modern SLR. I know earlier cameras were referred to as slrs but the modern version with the pentaprism and viewfinder is what I'm referring to. You began to see more 35mm cameras in the 70's and 80's being used by the average Jane or Joe. Autofocus in the late 80's really made the use of 35mm cameras leap forward. Every family with kids had to have one. Digital stepped it up another notch in the early 2000's. The decline started with the introduction of phones with cameras. Now it's mostly enthusiasts using real photographic equipment. With that being said, I say the 70's and 80's were the heyday.    .

There are some big things that have taken place in the photography space, no doubt.  But I'm going to come at this from another direction.  Think about this, what single device put more cameras into the homes across the world?  iPhone! So while the iPhone doesn't single handily stack up against these other historic events on singular basis, it was the device that put more cameras in the hands of people.  So my answer to this is 2010 to 2020. 

Shadowfixer1 wrote: I think a revolution started with the introduction of the modern SLR. I know earlier cameras were referred to as slrs but the modern version with the pentaprism and viewfinder is what I'm referring to. You began to see more 35mm cameras in the 70's and 80's being used by the average Jane or Joe. Autofocus in the late 80's really made the use of 35mm cameras leap forward. Every family with kids had to have one. Digital stepped it up another notch in the early 2000's. The decline started with the introduction of phones with cameras. Now it's mostly enthusiasts using real photographic equipment. With that being said, I say the 70's and 80's were the heyday.    .

I agree. I lived that through that time. (1970's when I started)
The SLR is still on the market today, since it's boom in the 60's, so it stood the test of time for 60 years. 

Hassner wrote:

Shadowfixer1 wrote: I think a revolution started with the introduction of the modern SLR. I know earlier cameras were referred to as slrs but the modern version with the pentaprism and viewfinder is what I'm referring to. You began to see more 35mm cameras in the 70's and 80's being used by the average Jane or Joe. Autofocus in the late 80's really made the use of 35mm cameras leap forward. Every family with kids had to have one. Digital stepped it up another notch in the early 2000's. The decline started with the introduction of phones with cameras. Now it's mostly enthusiasts using real photographic equipment. With that being said, I say the 70's and 80's were the heyday.    .

I agree. I lived that through that time. (1970's when I started)
The SLR is still on the market today, since it's boom in the 60's, so it stood the test of time for 60 years. 

+1 I'm going to have to agree with you on this one