- Reto Project has launched a new Kodak brand film camera, the Kodak EC35
- It’s a total point-and-shoot approach, with focus and all settings fixed.
- However, it does feature a stylish sliding lens cover, in the style of the Olympus Mju of the early 1990s.
A new Kodak point-and-shoot camera has just been announced. And the reason for the tortured use of the passive voice in the previous sentence is that it’s not actually made by Kodak.
The Kodak EC35 is a 35mm film camera manufactured by Reto Project, a company that licenses the Kodak name to produce a range of analogue and digital cameras. While my personal favorite is the Kodak Snapic A1, a sleek little 35mm film, their most popular release by a considerable margin has been the small keychain digital camera, the Kodak Charmera.
Reto generally produces simple point-and-shoot shots, and the Kodak EC35 is exactly that. 35mm film is required and all settings are fixed, with a shutter speed of 1/100th of a second and an aperture of f/10. The lens is fixed focus (there isn’t even the option to switch from near to far focus like on the Snapic A1) and is a 25mm optic. The camera also has a built-in flash.
However, what really caught my attention about this camera is its design. Specifically, the fact that it has a gorgeously curved sliding lens cover that protects the optics when not in use. It is a chip from the Olympus film camera block; The iconic Olympus Mju immediately comes to mind.
All style, some substance.
While I tend to associate sliding lens covers with the Olympus
And I also like the idea of having a lens cap in a practical sense, not just aesthetically! Many of these cheap film compacts, like the Snapic A1, Ektar H35N, etc., have no lens cap or protection of any kind, meaning it’s easy for the lens to get dirty, dusty, or bumped. The cover also doubles as a shutter release, meaning the camera won’t end up accidentally triggering while it’s in your bag.
The EC35 launches in an attractive range of color combinations: Midnight Black, Vanilla White, Butter Yellow, Lavender, Powder Blue, Blush Pink and Avocado Green. I usually say ‘give me black or give me death’ when it comes to cameras, but I admit, that yellow version is pretty eye-catching.
The EC35 is powered by a single AA battery (which is only needed for the flash) and weighs a pleasingly slim 102g. It’s available on its own for $34.99 / £35.99 (around AU$50) or in a bundle with a 24-shot roll of the bright and colorful Kodak Ultramax 400 for $44.99 / £45.99 (around AU$65).
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