The Kodak Instant Camera: What Went Wrong?

In the 1970's a successful photographic company released an instant camera to the world...the Kodak Instant Camera! Don't be fooled though, these cameras are not something you should hunt down in thrift stores or pay high prices for online! Let's take a look at this line of cameras and what happened to them when they went up against Polaroid.
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[@williamgottlieb8723]

I remember when Kodak lost that lawsuit, they made an offer where anyone could exchange their instant camera for one of the Kodak Disc cameras that were introduced a few years earlier. When Kodak eventually discontinued the Disc camera line, they made an offer to consumers to send in those disc cameras in exchange for one of their 35mm point and shoot cameras of similar value.

[@hollymcginty1040]

“You will definitely regret your purchase.” *Me sat watching the video with the camera in front of me*: 👁👄👁

[@atomsmash100]

That Polaroid camera really was a work of industrial engineering art

[@Kodachrome40]

I worked at a camera shop in the early 80's. Kodak offered a buy back program for their instant cameras. They would trade it for one share of Kodak stock or trade it for a Kodak Disc camera. I have photos taken on both the Polaroid and Kodak instant cameras. A couple of years ago I came across the prints from both. The color on the Kodak has held up better than the Polaroid.

[@teleaddict23]

My dad shot a ton of these Kodak instant photos in the 80s and I have them all now. Most of my childhood photos are on this film. The photos were sharp and colours were excellent. The photos themselves were made of thick hard plastic so they are very durable, although due to the thickness they are hard to fit in photo albums. IMO, this instant film was better than Polaroid and better then any instant film being made today. I wish Kodak could bring it back.

[@bavarianbanshee]

I picked up a The Handle a while back, and not only did it have an empty catridge in it, it also had a note inside from someone back in the 80s/90s, telling whoever had/would have the camera that they could get "$$$" for it, and included a phone number to call. And surprisingly, the number didn't work.

[@bwc1976]

My mom had one of these, a Colorburst 100! Most of the pictures of myself as a kid were either with that or on 126 with her Instamatic X-15.

[@TheDarkplace]

The Kodak pictures were arguably better quality than the Polaroid. My Grandparents had both. The colours of the Kodak seemed truer and the images a little sharper. The finish was Matt rather than gloss. I worked for Jessops camera centre during the 90's and early 2000's. When the Instax 100 came out we were impressed with the way the film rendered colours with truer blacks than the Polaroid 600. However, the Instax 100's viewfinder stuck out hilariously far. All I could think of was PARALLAX! I love the weird camera designs that failed. I hunt them down for my collection. I'm the photography version of The Doom Patrol! Excuse me, I must go hunting for a Canon Epoca and a Yashica Samurai... 🤣

[@lofianddiy]

I really dig the 940 - so ugly it was beautiful!

[@armeeneiman2693]

So the Kodak EK4 Instant Camera is of no use now?? No batteries Films etc for em?

[@aaronblair9583]

​@@armeeneiman2693nope. No film since 1985

[@ddaly20111993]

It's been interesting watching this channel grow the way it has. I really love the amount of history you give in these videos.

[@ofutpemata3769]

Hey. I just found you channel recently and i want you to know that i really enjoy it. Your videos are really nicely done and very helpful and i find it cool that you have most of the cameras that you are talking about. I hope to see more videos from you.

[@mileschun143]

I f*cking LOVE this channel. AND YOU. Hope it blows up.

[@RamblingsfromCanada]

Very interesting! I'm a new sub, and I'm really enjoying your channel.

[@shannonmaloney2579]

Thanks so much for this video! I found one online and I was wondering if it could possibly be a relatively cheaper alternative for a polaroid and I couldn't find much about it until I found this video! A really well-made video might I add. Subscribed!!

[@thegrays3303]

i had a kodak instant camera. It was so much fun to watch the picture developed after you took the picture.

[@idahofur]

The best thing I thought was the battery outside of the film pack. One of the biggest complaints was about the cost of the instant film. Now after all the years. The impossible project came out with the I-type. No battery in the film pack and thus a few dollars cheaper.

[@robertknight4672]

That batteries in the film pack for Polaroid film pack seems like a good idea at the time. When they started making the 600 cameras built-in flash they would say you never buy flash or batteries. They did come out with a radio so I could be powered by a spent Polaroid film pack.

[@idahofur]

@@robertknight4672 Oh I didn't know about the radio. That is nifty. Batteries in the spent film packs seemed to last forever.

[@spongebobdriftpants]

I load up Fuji Instax mini in mine, the instax mini cartridge fits right inside the camera. One shot at a time, load In the dark, use instax camera to eject/develop the exposed shot.

[@j.vangelderen2569]

spongebobdriftpants does Fuji Intax really work with the old Kodaks ? I have a ek160

[@thechatcat5022]

I have a Kodak ek6 does the Instax mini cartridge actually fit? Or do I need to find an original cartridge?

[@Francesca456]

Yes but it's very complicated method and you can shot only 1 photo when you carry out with you. Also the risk of exposing unexposed film la hight

[@josea.santos6988]

Hi, nice review, what about the new kodak smile instant print camera 2019.

[@detroitboy65]

I had a Kodak Pleaser (Handle) camera in college in 1985. It was fun and the film was less expensive than Polaroid. Unfortunately this was about the time the lawsuit came to fruition and my camera became a paperweight after only a few cartridges. I never even bought new batteries for it! I moved that stupid thing even though now I shoot DSLRS exclusively and they are much much much better . I miss film but am too pleased with digital photography to ever go back.

[@voyagersquaremuzika]

Good video! I also have the same Canon camera as you do, the one behind you! Canon Prima Zoom 85N, good "point and shoot" with great glass!

[@caroljeanscott5571]

I like Canon cameras.

[@anthonystrong3783]

My Auntie got one of those in the '70s. The photos we have from it are quite reasonable

[@Walkrunner]

Total irony was that Kodak invented the digital camera a whole year earlier. In the end the very device that killed both kodak and polaroid.

[@hattree]

My grandmother had "The Handle" I can remember turning the crank. I have a bunch of prints from it from when she had it.

[@Melissa.1989]

thank you for this information

[@johnsciara9418]

While you are Analog Resurgence, Kodak's other blunder was that they actually invented a digital camera but didn't press forward because they understood that it would cut down on their main source of revenue, film.

[@MayheM_72]

My 1st camera was a Kodak Colorburst, WAY back in the day. I don't remember the model number, but it was a mid level built in flash. I was so sad to hear they were shutdown and I couldn't get the film anymore. I'm not sure why my Dad didn't return our cameras (he and my older brother had them, too)but he never did.

[@obody-sl9np]

I just found an instant photo from a Kodak instant camera in my grandma's place with my grandma, father and uncle New year's Eve in Athens with Santa. It's actually pretty good (sharpness is not a thing, but that's expected)

[@ghadazakaria7208]

extremely helpful

[@chronologeek1275]

I actually got a pack of Kodak Instant Film to work this year! Warm tones, but it actually looks great!!

[@chronologeek1275]

I got a single unopened pack from the estate sale of a former Kodak employee. Since then I’ve bought a bunch that claimed they were cold stored but none have produced any images. But here is proof that there are still some that work! instagram.com/p/CAWw-T1lvWQ/?igshid=g2wbf3vlmrp

[@2rafaify]

i recently found HADLE kodak film cleaing up some of my grandparents old stuff in their garage... is there really no compatible film out there that i could use to shoot with

[@Sabundy]

Please do a history of Fujifilm's instax line of cameras

[@marcinos303]

Kodak instant cameras + Fuji instax pack = conversion, and great photos ;)

[@lunchroomdad]

I lol'd about the cut throat comment 😂

[@bosz112]

I shoot pack of the kodak instatnt film last year, that i luckily bought brand new with a camera but only one image appeared.... As negative.

[@jhumathers]

Is there any film nowadays that can be used on the EK4?

[@armeeneiman2693]

same question!

[@srenhaandbk7904]

at least it's not *get's disgusted *disk film*

[@robertsalgado830]

Was the Kodak instant film cheaper in price then polaroid ?

[@AnalogResurgence]

I couldn't find anything specifically quoting the price for the Kodak film. Even scouring old catalogs and commercials didn't give me a solid number, but I do know that Polaroids usually came in around $10 for a pack of 10 in the 80's and some old boxes of Kodak film with price stickers still on them seem to range from $8 to $15 so it looks like they were very close in pricing!

[@SobakkaPavlova]

You can use it with RasPi & thermal printer inside.

[@tugsman5]

Me wondering why nobody buys this for 10 dollars at the last 3 garage sales I've had even though it's brand spankin new, so I just decide I wanna get film and take photos cuz I'm a photography...ohhhhhh....watches more of the video...OHHHHHH...well that's lame, pretty much un-usable :( Great vid though!

[@artistjoh]

I used to own one, a Kodamatic. Memory is a bit hazy but 940 rings a bell or maybe it was 980. It was 9-something. It had a built in flash, so if that’s the 940 or 80 then that is probably what I had. The flash was so much better than the flashbar on the SX-70. The photographs were a lot better than Polaroid. Sharper and better color. I also had an SX-70 so I know from experience how much better the Kodak photos were. I hated what Polaroid did to Kodak. I wouldn’t have minded as much if Polaroid used the billion dollars to improve Polaroid photos to make them as good as the Kodak photos. Or had stopped Kodak selling cameras but allowed them to make film for existing users by paying a licence fee. But oh no, polaroid insisted that not only they had to stop making cameras and film, they were supposed to collect and destroy the cameras and remove existing film from shops. They were so damned petty about it that I was not sad for them when they went bankrupt. In my country you could take the cameras back to the dealer for the buy-back. What a sad day that was. I am surprised that so many of these cameras are still around because Polaroid was scaring people by telling us that we were no longer allowed to own one, that even owning the camera was against the court orders, and well, you took them seriously after their big win.

[@artistjoh]

BTW, Kodak management was responsible for losing the court case. The Kodak engineers were trying to make an instant camera that did not infringe Polaroid patents. Unfortunately during the development process one of the arrogant and idiotic Kodak execs sent a memo to the engineers telling them not to bother trying to avoid Polaroid patents. It was the surfacing of that memo that sunk Kodak’s case. It was a case of the execs getting impatient and not wanting to wait for the engineers to do their job, or being too cheapskate to go to Polaroid to negotiate a license deal. The ridiculous thing is that the Kodak process was different to Polaroid, and if that idiot exec hadn’t put his thoughts into a memo, Kodak might have won their case.

[@abbiaca-3288]

It's such a same that Polaroid never try to improve. I wish there was a competition between Polaroid and Kodak. Imagine how amazing instant film would have beeb

[@artistjoh]

Blue Life Exactly.

[@wang_.]

Just picked up an ek6 does anyone know where i can get the film?

[@AnalogResurgence]

As detailed in this video, the film has not been made since the 1980’s.

[@wang_.]

@@AnalogResurgence thank you Ps i wrote that comment before that part of the video sorry

[@mechadrake]

I want to rig up digital sensors for them, instantly as I hear "useless" :)

[@freddymuggs3902]

Kodak is not perfect but they are my first pick because they make more.

[@KevinToine]

At 5:57 you say Kodak had to pay $9,5 million, but before that it shows a headline stating they had to pay $909 million?

[@lee-annpagapulangan7443]

i found kodak ek6 at my granny' stuff and i'm so curious if the battery of this was still available at the market. hope you help me. coz i really want to try this

[@michaelzepeda5785]

Wow. So you cant find film for these cameras any more :(

[@LarryZamba]

Kodak had to pay a $900 million fine to Polaroid, not a $9 million fine like you mentioned.

[@oldradiosnphonographs]

I guess this is why I shouldn’t willy nilly buy every camera I see at the rummage sale! Oh well the brown and beige version of “The Handle” set me back $6USD 😳😳😳

[@jeraldjoyce2995]

I came across one of these at a yard sale. The thing was confusingly designed and built like garbage. They also had a model 95 Polaroid for 60 dollars. So basically, I'm never getting into instant photography.

[@AeromaticXD]

The cycle continues with Polaroid suing Fujifilm

[@gersonrosas1732]

Aeromatic Polaroid’s bitchin continues

[@brettjames1992]

I will try to find myself one of those cameras on ebay

[@fresh_labz1015]

I just bought this Camara today I bought it for 13 dollars which isn't bad but I think I'm going to keep it cause it's part of history that will be passed on for generations

[@hennessylieu]

I am 1234 viewer.... Hurray!!

[@hitbyabus4615]

Why the photo-rama cameras look like lomography

[@ktor538]

Folks are starting to convert alot of Analog cameras to digital with a few mods.

[@Otokichi786]

Here's what one photographer has done with a broken Instax Wide camera and a "filmless" Polaroid 110A: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i2mbmmBuatKSoKc

[@morgannovinger540]

how do you recharge the batteries? Or do you have to get knew ones?

[@jameslane3846]

Meh, SuperSense's One Instant packfilm is the future!

[@jacquesfourie6851]

I do not regret it at all.

[@Esus4]

The amount Kodak had to pay was not nine and a half million dollars. In 1991 they settled for $975 million or $1.75 billion if adjusted for inflation.

[@AnalogResurgence]

Oh wow I must have misspoke and didn't catch that! It was such a crazy amount, but couldn't save them from inevitable bankruptcy unfortunately.

[@Esus4]

@@AnalogResurgence It kept them going under for quite a while if I recall correctly.

[@RetroAP]

I swear this is the dude from this is the end who keeps bumming cigs off people

[@Solsticeson]

PHOTORAMACAMERAPHOTORAMACAMERA!!!

[@johnm9548]

As an X-Kodak employee and in my opinion, this BASTARD product doomed Kodak and signaled the beginning of the end. Lets hope their new Pharmacy Drug division does better.

[@ivobalaz9999]

u re so cute at a first. and second i have a Kodamatic950 instant camera, but i dont know ... how it works :D

[@seangriffon6502]

Its sad that this kodak camera fid not take off. Personally i think the kodak was a much better built better looking camera thanthe polaroid. The polaroid land 600 is a very cheap looking camera. The kodak champ camera is a much much better looking camera than the polaroid.

[@JGDpictures]

Why can’t I insert Polaroid film into the Kodak cartridge and use it?

[@AnalogResurgence]

A polaroid is too large to fit inside the Kodak cartridge properly. I believe a small portion of the polaroid sticks out of the bottom of the cartridge.

[@oldradiosnphonographs]

BTW I got this absolutely HILARIOUSLY cheap “Helioflex 3000t” 35mm camera and even that probably has more use than this Kodak one!