Kodak Instamatic 304
by Karen Nakamura
Camera
Name |
Instamatic 304 |
|---|---|
Manufacturer |
Kodak |
Place
of Manufacture |
|
Date
of Manufacture |
1965-69 |
Focusing
System |
Fixed focus |
Lens |
Kodak Kodar |
Shutter |
|
Metering
System |
Coupled selenium cell |
Apertures |
|
Flash |
|
Film
type / speeds |
|
Battery
type |
n/a |
Dimensions
and weight |
|
Retail
price |
Let me get something straight: Kodak was never about high quality photography. George Eastman wanted to make photography available for the masses, to put a camera in every hand. Previously, photography was a messy, icky affair with wet chemistry glass plates that had to be coated before each exposure and processed immediately in a darkroom tent. You literally needed your own pack mule to take photos anywhere.
Kodak developed the technique of putting film emulsion onto a thin flexible backing and thus developed the first roll film. Kodak also gave us the numbering system (Type 135 for 35mm film; Type120/220 for medium format roll film, etc.). Originally, 35mm film was designed solely for motion picture usage. It was Oscar Barnack's brilliant idea to use it for still photography that led to the Leica, and the development of 35mm miniature cameras.
Despite the fact that I'm a technical snob and wouldn't use (or touch!) any Kodak camera except a Nagel-type Retina and a film snob so the only Kodak film I use is Tri-X (I'm Fuji Film all the way otherwise), I do have to credit Kodak (and Leica) with making photography available to everyone. Otherwise, we'd all still be hauling heavy glass plate cameras around on our pack mules. If you think your SUV gets bad mileage! ...
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