Kodak Instamatic 104

Kodak's greatest success in camera history was the Instamatic camera series for Kodak type No. 126 film cartridges. In spite of the quadratic exposure format and the reduction of image quality caused by the cartridge system 60 million Instamatic cameras were sold in the 1960s and 1970s. And of course the simplest models of the series were the ones which boosted Kodak's sales statistics. So we must view the simple viewfinder camera Kodak Instamatic 104 as one of the most important cameras ever made. The 104 featured the new connector for flash-cubes instead of the Instamatic 100's tray for single flash bulbs. These flash cubes with 4 single-use bulbs became characteristic for the 126 film system. When cocked for the next exposure the camera turns the flash cube 90 degrees around to bring the next flash bulb in position. The cube can be detached by pressing the flash cube detach button.

The camera was produced by Eastman Kodak Co. in the U.S., and also by Kodak's overseas plants, for example Kodak AG in Germany, Kodak Ltd. in England, and even by a Kodak plant in Australia.

specifications

• Type: fixed focus viewfinder camera
• Manufacturer: Kodak
• Year of launch: 1965
• Film: 126 film cartridges
• Lens: 1:11/43mm
• Shutter: Speeds 1/90 sec and (with flash) 1/40 sec.
• Price: 15.95 USD

Links

• camera and sample images
• Camera and User manual at www.collection-appareils.com by Sylvain Halgand