Vintage Instamatic cameras: The boxy, iconic cameras pretty much everyone had in the 60s & 70s

Instamatic cameras The boxy, iconic cameras that pretty much everyone had in the '60s & '70s

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When vintage Instamatic cameras like these were introduced in the 60s, they came along with the invention of Kodak’s quick-load film cartridge.

Both were so affordable and easy to use that they were instantly successful. Flash back a few decades here!

With Instamatic cameras, film packs do all the loading now

Article from the San Francisco Examiner (California) March 10, 1963

A new instant load system of photography which makes camera loading as easy as popping a bulb into a flash holder is being introduced by Eastman Kodak.

Key to the new picture-taking system is a compact cartridge of film. So foolproof is the new Kodapak film cartridge — it can only be inserted one way — that snapshooters can literally load their cameras in seconds “with one hand and their eyes shut.”

The introduction of the Instamatic system is another step forward in the simplification of photography. George Eastman’s aim was to make a camera “as easy to use as the pencil.”

With this new system, the snapshooter doesn’t thread film or handle film spools. The cartridges are simply dropped into the camera in any light — even bright sunlight.

1968 Instamatic camera loading and flash cube

The Kodapak film cartridges will be available loaded with Kodak Verichrome pan film and three 64-speed color films — Kodachrome-X, and new Ektachrome-X and Kodacolor-X — giving the user a choice of color prints, color slides or black and white prints.

Verichrome pan and Kodacolor films will be sold in 12-exposure Kodapak film cartridges — Kodachrome-X and Ektachrome- X films in 20 exposure cartridges.

ALSO SEE: Vintage instant cameras from Polaroid & Kodak: OneStep, Pronto, Colorburst & more

The four cameras range in price from about $16 to $110. Common features include exceptional compactness (three of the cameras are four inches long, the other five under five inches in length), rapid film advance with automatic film stop and double exposure prevention, and built-in, pop-up flash holder with automatic shutter adjustment for flash pictures.

The kind of film being used in the cameras is visible at all times, as is the total number of exposures in the cartridge and the number of the exposure ready to be taken.

Dec 2, 1966 Kodak Instamatic 104 camera
What do you give them for their very first camera? A Kodak Instamatic 104 camera! Because it loads instantly and is so very easy to use — no settings! It takes terrific pictures — color or black-and-white. Pop on a flashcube and take four flash pictures without changing bulbs. (Vintage ad from 1966)

The three lower-priced models require no settings whatsoever. The budget-priced Instamatic 100 camera has fixed focus, Lumenized f-11 pre-set lens, from four feet to infinity. It is also the first budget-priced snapshot camera with which Kodachrome slides can be made.

MORE: Vintage 110 cameras: The pocket cameras with small film cartridges that made photography incredibly easy

The Instamatic 300 and 400 cameras feature f/8 Lumenized, color corrected lenses and electric eye automatic exposure controls. The Instamatic 400 camera also has motorized film advance permitting the user to take as many as 12 pictures in 10 seconds.

The most advanced of the new cameras is the Kodak Instamatic 700, which has an f/2.8 focusing lens, with focus settings visible in the finder. The camera also has shutter settings up to 1/250, completely automatic exposure controls for both daylight and flash pictures. It is priced at about $110.

Vintage Kodak Instamatic cameras by Joost J Bakker


Vintage Kodak Instamatic 104 camera: To load it is to love it. (1961)

People used to hate to load their cameras. So we launched the instant-loading Kodak Instamatic cameras.

No more threading. Just drop in the film and shoot. And your pictures come out good and clear, picture after picture. Color or black-and-white.

Indoors, just pop on one of those handy little flashcubes and take four flash pictures without touching a bulb.

Choose from a wide range of Kodak Instamatic camera models. The 104, shown here, comes in a complete color outfit, including Kodacolor-X film and flashcube, for less than $20. Load it. You’ll love it.

OLD-SCHOOL: How Kodak Brownie cameras made snapshot photography affordable for millions

Vintage Kodak Instamatic 104 camera from 1961


Instamatics featured at the New York World’s Fair in 1964

May 8, 1964 Kodak Instamatic cameras


Instamatic cameras load instantly! (1965)

Kodak instamatic camera - 1965


Complete Instamatic camera sets with flash cubes (1965)

Sep 17, 1965 Flash cubes cameras - Kodak Instamatic

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Remember vintage flashcubes? Here's how these old-school camera add-ons worked

Brand new reasons to give a Kodak gift this Christmas (1965)

Dec 1965 Kodak Instamatic cameras


Vintage Kodak Instamatic cameras were fun! (1966)

Kodak Instamatic camera - 1966

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What do you give them if they already have a camera?

A Kodak Instamatic 404 camera (1966)

Dec 2, 1966 Kodak Instamatic 404 camera


Kodak Instamatic 804 camera (1967)

The Kodak INSTAMATIC 804 camera lets you pay attention to the sights you’re seeing instead of the camera. Drop in the film cartridge. Then wind the spring motor — and the film will advance automatically after each shot,

Your 804 adjusts itself for the speed of the film; makes the correct outdoor exposure setting for each picture; warns you when to use flash; switches to flash speed as you pop on a flashcube; tells you whether flash is ready; adjusts for flash exposure as you focus; and turns the cube for the next flash. All automatically. The lens is a sharp, fast f2.8, the viewing bright, the rangefinding accurate.

See how good the world looks when you have total automation and Kodak dependability going for you.

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The famous, fabulous Fotomat drive-up photo stores of the 70s & 80s

Kodak Instamatic 804 camera from 1967


Kodak Instamatic 804 camera (1968)

The Kodak INSTAMATIC 804 Camera knows it all — and makes it easy. You never do any figuring. A built-in computer does it for you, making the correct exposure setting automatically. For daylight and for flash.

Practically everything else about the 804 is automatic, too. Automatically, it adjusts for the speed of the film, advances the film after each shot, tells you when to use flash, switches to flash speed when you pop on a flashcube, and turns the cube for the next shot.

To load the 804, just drop in the film cartridge. To focus, use either the rangefinder or the quick “zone” settings. The lens is a fast f2.8 and focuses from three feet to infinity.

Shouldn’t you be clicking with the automated precision camera that lets you concentrate on the fun side of photography? Less than $130 at your Kodak dealer’s.

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Kodak Instamatic 804 camera from 1968

ALSO SEE: Why you may not want to use the flash on your phone or camera


Kodak Instamatic cameras (1968)

Kodak Instamatic cameras from 1963 (1)


Retro 60s Kodak cameras (1969)

“This is the first Christmas you can give someone a Kodak Instamatic camera for less than $10.”

Dec 12, 1969 Kodak cameras

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Picture this: Popular vintage point-and-shoot 35mm cameras revolutionized amateur photography in the '80s

Old snapshot cameras from the ’70s

Instamatic cameras from the 1970s


Kodak Instamatic X-15F camera (1979)

Kodak Instamatic X-15F camera from 1979


Retro Kodak Instamatic cameras ad from 1981

Retro Kodak Instamatic cameras ad from 1981


Kodak Instamatic 100 camera (1963)

Kodak Instamatic cameras from 1963 (2)


Vintage Kodak Instamatic 224 camera

Vintage Kodak Instamatic camera 224


Vintage Instamatic 155X camera

Vintage Kodak Instamatic camera 155X


Vintage Instamatic 233 camera

Vintage Kodak Instamatic camera 233


Vintage Instamatic 104 camera

Vintage Kodak Instamatic camera 104

NOW SEE THIS: How point-and-shoot 35mm cameras revolutionized amateur photography in the 80s

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Comments on this story

3 Responses

  1. If you grew up in the 1960s or 70s, you know that Instamatic cameras were everywhere. Most people I knew had only the basic models (the flat 110 style was enormously popular; I had a version with fake wood finish, in proper 70s fashion). I was unaware how many models they came in, and how sophisticated many of them were. Because the film format was so small and the lenses so simple, the resulting photographs were grainy, and often blurry and underexposed. But the film cartridges were pretty much goof-proof, so you didn’t have to worry about accidently exposing the film when loading and unloading.

    1. Hi Brian, your right about the photo quality, I’m going to see if I can dig up some photos from my Instamatic back in 1970, sometimes everything came together and you got a decent photo or 2 out of the 126 cassette,
      But hey everything looked great in 1970.
      Thx

  2. I got an Instamatic camera for Christmas (either 1969 or 1970).
    ‘Long story short’ I’ve been a photographer for over 30 years, wish I would have keep that Instamatic.

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