Many photographic companies began to produce new designs of camera or existing models in the Vest Pocket (4½ x 6cm.) size in the period before the first world war. Improvements in photographic emulsions and optics and precision manufacturing ensure that the results would stand reasonable enlargement. The market advantage of a small camera outweighed any limitations imposed by the final print size.

Newman and Guardia's Baby Sibyl camera was one of the more successful examples in this format. The BJPA stated: 'In no other camera of the vest-pcoket size have we found combined together the range of movements (rise of lens, shutter speed, etc), and the great rigidity of the lens front which is particularly necessary in a camera of this description'.