Kodak Instant:

Introduced in 1977 as Kodak's answer to Polaroid's domination of the instant picture market, the film technology was almost immediately challenged by Polaroid as a patent infringement. The long-ensuing legal wrangling finally ended in 1986 when Kodak were forced to withdraw from the instant picture market, leaving very many cameras, (16.5 million, according to one source), with no film. Camera owners were offered various degrees of compensation in exchange for their now useless cameras, which Kodak then apparently destroyed. The ones that are left in the jumble sales, charity shops, lofts and cupboards of the world represent what may be one of the most unusual of the Kodak camera ranges, of little more than sentimental value to their owners and of no practical use, but eminently collectable nevertheless.

The film has gone the way of the dodo a few decades ago Even when you find some vintage Kodak Instant film, it will be long out of date and won't give you great (if any) pictures. So all in all, these cameras do look great and should in my opinion be part of any 1970s retro style home but there is no way to take pictures with it anymore.

Kodak EK1 instant, UK 1978-1979

Kodak EK1, UK
Date: 1978-1979
Sold only in the Netherlands

Kodak EK4 instant, USA 1976 - 1978

The EK4 is a very early model in the Kodak Instant line of cameras released in 1976. It's features were very basic. It lack an electronic motor for film ejection and requires a hand crank. The nearly identical model EK6 was also available but had motorized ejection. Flip flash socket is on top of the camera. The lens has markings surrounding the lens in both meter and feet. Exposure and focus control is with sliders on the face of the camera. Sliding the focus control rotates the lens indicator to the corresponding distance markers. It used PR10 (PR144) film. It is powered by a 6V flat J sized battery.

Kodak EK2 instant, UK 1977-1978

Kodak EK2, The basic Instant Picture camera, sold in the USA as "The Handle", with electronic exposure, although picture ejection is by the crank on the right hand end of the camera., lens: 100mm, f/12.7shutter: 1/15 - 1/300 Electronic film type: PR 10 (PR144)

Kodak EK6 instant, USA 1976-1978

Kodak EK6, The precursor to the similar EK100, this camera has a focussing lens and a Flipflash socket, seen below fitted with the optional Model B electronic flashgun. Lens: 137mm, f/11shutter: 1/20 - 1/300, film type: PR 10 (PR144) picture size: 67 x 91, moriginal list price (USD): 69.50

Kodak EK8 instant, Duits 1977-1979

Kodak EK8, Made in Germany, this camera could have almost featured in the 'folding' class, the bellows making this a relatively compact camera when collapsed. Fitted with rangefinder focussing and electronic shutter, this is one of the more sophisticated cameras in the range. lens: 137mm, f/11shutter: 1/20 - 1/300 Electronic, film type: PR 10 (PR144), picture size: 67 x 91 mm

Kodak EK 100 instant, USA 1978-1980

Kodak EK 100
Sold in the USA as the Colorburst 100, this camera has a focussing lens. An unusual design feature on these cameras is the use of a "zooming circle" in the viewfinder which changes size depending on the distance set on the lens. The object being, to frame the subject's head in the circle, the distance then being approximately correct.

Kodak EK160 instant, USA 1979-1982

The Kodak EK160 is an instant camera from Kodak. It was intended to replace the EK100 and EK200 with a more modern design. The EK160 was also sold under the name “Kodak Colorburst 50”.

The body of the EK 160 is plastic and black. Except for the light/dark control next to the lens, everything is fixed or automatically adjusted by the camera. The transport of the film out of the camera is motorized.Speaking of film, the Kodak EK160 requires PR-10/ PR-114 instant film.

Kodak EK 260-EF instant, USA 1981-1982

The Kodak EK260-EF is an instant camera. It was introduced in 1980 and was supposed to replace the old-fashioned looking Kodak EK300. The camera is identical to the Kodak Colorburst 350.

The camera from Eastman Kodak was manufactured in the USA and modernized compared to its predecessor. The latter may not be so from today’s point of view.

The plastic housing of the EK260-EF is black. The leather application, which was present on earlier generations, has been removed on this model.

The range of functions of the EK-260-EF, as usual with instant cameras, is very simple. The exposure is set by the camera itself. A close-up lens can be slid in front of the fixed focus lens, which is supposed to allow sharp pictures at a distance of 0.6 m to 1.2 m. If there is not enough light, the close-up lens can be used.

If there is not enough light, the electronic flash (EF) can be switched on. The power for the flash of the Kodak EK260-EF comes from four AA batteries

Kodak EK 300 instant, USA 1978-1980

Kodak EK300
Sold in the USA as the Colorburst 300, this camera is similar to the EK100, but with the addition of the electronic flashgun, which is slid to one side to activate.name: Kodak EK300produced between: 1978 - 1980 lens: 137mm, f/11shutter: 1/20 - 1/300 Electronicfilm type: PR 10 (PR144) picture size: 67 x 91 mm

Kodak Colorburst 50 camera USA 1979-1982

Kodak Colorburst 50
Sold in Europe as the EK160, this camera uses two mirrors to reduce the overall depth of the body, Flipflash packs, and has an electronic shutter for it's fixed focus lens.

Kodak EK160-EF instant, USA 1979-1982

Kodak EK160-EF, (Sold in the US as the Colorburst 250), this camera is essentially similar to the EK160 except for the addition of the integral electronic flash, which is slid to one side to activate. lens: 100mm, f/12.8shutter: 2 - 1/300. film type: PR 10 (PR144), picture size: 67 x 91 mm

Kodak Colorbust 250 USA 1979-1982

The Colorburst 250 was manufactured by Kodak and introduced in 1979 then discontinued in 1982. The camera has an f/1:12.8 100mm fixed focus lens. The shutter was capable of speeds of 2 seconds to 1/300 of a second. The camera used Kodak’s PR-10 instant film. Other features are the built in flash, optical viewfinder, rainbow carry strap, and a ¼ inch 20 thread tripod socket. The camera needs 6 volts and that was supplied by 4 AA batteries held in a compartment in the back.

Similar to Colorburst 50, but with built-in electronic flash. Also produced as the Partyflash II for Tupperware premium sales. In Europe it's known as "Kodak EK160-EF"

Happy Times Coca Cola, USA 1977-1979 same as the "Handle"

Kodak Happy Times (Coca-Cola) Camera, the Happy Times is a special premium version of Kodak's "The Handle". The only differences are the nameplates and colour of the camera.

Kodak Partytime II program camera USA. 1982-1984

Kodak Partytime II
The Party Time II was a premium version of the Champ Kodamatic, issued for Tupperware

Kodak Kodamatic 930 instant, Germany 1982-1985 as 950 without Flash

Kodak Kodamatic 950 instant,Germany 1982-1985 as 930 with flash

The Kodamatic 930 was one of the later models of Kodak's ill-fated instant picture cameras, made in Germany by Kodak AG. Introduced in c.1982, it was withdrawn in January 1986 along with all other Kodak instant cameras as a result of the Polaroid lawsuit.

The lens panel extended on a triangular structure, which folded flat into the body. The lens was a fixed-focus 100mm f12.8 Kodar, which is hidden behind the electronic shutter. Below the lens is a print brightness control - the only picture control apart from the shutter release (on top of the extending section, below the colour-triangle logo). Flash was provided via a Flipflash socket. Picture size is just 67 x 91mm (2.64 x 3.58 or ~2⁵/₈ x 3⁵/₈ inches) on HS144 film.

The Kodak Kodamatic 950 is an instant camera. It was developed and sold by Kodak in the 1980s. This model was built in Stuttgart (Germany) by Kodak AG.

It is similar to the Kodak Kodamatic 930 but uses a electronic flash instead of disposable bulbs. It is designed as a modern folding type camera with a bellows arrangement. It uses Kodamatic Trimprint HS144 instant film.

With the Kodamatic series, Kodak wanted to do something against the competition from Polaroid. In doing so, they were a little too much inspired by the instant picture pioneer and violated patents. The result was the discontinuation of the entire model range. Owners of Kodamatic cameras were offered a free exchange for a model from Polaroid.

The Kodamatic 950 comes with a 100 mm Kodar lens. It has a maximum aperture of f/12.8, which, unlike the exposure time, is not changed by the camera. The camera is powered by four batteries. These batteries also power the built-in flash.

The Kodamatic 950 comes with a black housing. It cannot necessarily be called a compact camera. The size when closed is 16.2 x 19 x 5.7 cm. At 880 grams, it weighs almost 1 kilogram.