Abstract: A folding camera having a flash unit, a flash unit housing, a lens housing, and a main housing which receives the flash unit, the flash unit housing, and the lens housing in nested fashion to form a relatively small package when the camera is folded. The erection system for the camera employs an over-center toggle linkage. The over-center toggle links of the erected camera cannot be folded unless the flash unit is first folded into the flash unit housing whereby the over-center toggle linkage is detoggled. Once the over-center toggle links are detoggled, the entire camera can be folded into a relatively small package. The erection system of the camera employs springs which store energy when the camera is folded. A latch mechanism keeps the camera folded, but when the latch is actuated, the springs erect the camera.