It was not until the 1890s that a new generation of self-casing, folding-bellows cameras were accepted by the public and distinguish themselves from view cameras. Photographers now had the opportunity to own a portable camera for 'stand' or 'hand' use. On the stand, a folding-plate camera with movements could do the work of view cameras such as landscape, architectural, and interior photography. As a hand camera, folding cameras were small, portable, easy to use, and able to make instantaneous snap shots of street scenes or other events.

The Henry Clay Camera, No.4 Folding Kodak, Blair Folding Hawkeye, Folding Premier, and The Rochester represent the earliest folding camera designs contributing to the increased popularity of dry plate photography during the 1890s. Even though the No.4 Folding Kodak is credited as the first mass produced self-casing camera, the Henry Clay Camera represents the first dry plate version. More importantly, it offered extensive movements (i.e., rises, double shifts and swings) for controlling pictorial perspective. However, the No.4 Folding Kodak is interesting because it was exclusively a roll film camera until 1893, at which time it was redesigned to also accept glass plates. In 1892, American Optical made modifications to the Henry Clay Camera allowing it to accept glass plates and a roll film carrier.

Popularity of dry plate cameras further increased with the introduction of simpler, yet lower priced models such as the Premo (1893) and Poco (1895) camera series by Rochester Camera Manufacturing and Rochester Optical. These cameras were smaller in size and could be used on a stand. In response to lower priced competition, Scovill & Adams created the Henry Clay 'Junior' (Jr.) and 'Second' (2nd or 2d). The Henry Clay Jr. was designed as a full featured hand camera that retained full movements for use on a stand at a lower cost. The public continued having a desire for simpler cameras and the 2d was quickly introduced the following year. It was priced lower than the Henry Clay Jr. to possibly compete more directly with Rochester's inexpensive cameras.

The last references for Henry Clay Cameras appeared in 1899. Discontinuation of the line may have been because of the strong public interest in roll film cameras that allowed the continued miniaturization of cameras.