Instamatic

Instamatic is a line of simple, affordable snapshooting cameras produced by Eastman Kodak beginning in 1963. The brand name emphasizes easy, quick photography for casual users. The initial Instamatic cameras introduced Kodak’s drop-in film cartridge and fixed-focus design, eliminating the need to thread film or rewind between shots.

The original format was 126 film, provided in light-tight cartridges that held 12 exposures per cartridge. This cartridge-based loading system made loading film quick and less prone to light leaks. Later Instamatic models adopted smaller 110 film cartridges, broadening the range of compact designs and increasing exposure counts per cartridge (typical 24 exposures on 110 film).

Many models included fixed or zone-focus lenses and built-in flash units, contributing to the popularity of instant, easy photography for families and beginners. The line encompassed a wide range of pocket-sized cameras and specialized variants during the 1960s through the 1980s, making Kodak one of the leading providers of consumer snapshot cameras.

Interest in Instamatics waned as 35mm compact cameras improved and digital photography emerged. Production continued into the late 20th century, and the Instamatic name remains associated with Kodak’s cartridge-based approach to film loading and snapshot photography.