Kodak’s EC35 Puts a Real 35mm Camera Back in Your Pocket for Thirty-Five Dollars

Kodak just handed film beginners a camera they can actually stick in a jeans pocket without second thoughts. This little plastic box called the EC35 costs thirty-five dollars and works with any standard roll of 35mm film. Reto Project builds it under the Kodak name, and the whole point is simple: give people who have never touched film something that feels as easy as the disposable cameras they grew up seeing at drugstores, only this one lasts longer than a single roll.

A sliding cover lies on top of the lens and viewfinder, ready to be pushed open to prepare the camera for action. Sliding it shut closes the shutter, allowing you to put the camera in a bag or pocket without fear of scratching the glass or accidently taking a frame. This haptic little detail is evocative of the good old Olympus Stylus days, and it’s ideal for flinging this little number around without fear of harm. The body is a compact device that measures about four and a half inches across and weighs only 3.5 ounces. It comes in seven various colors: midnight black, vanilla white, butter yellow, lavender, powder blue, blush pink, and avocado green.

The camera itself is about as simple as it gets; there’s no fumbling around with settings for new users, as the lens is fixed at 25mm and f/10 with no ability to modify it, and the shutter fires at a constant 1/100 of second. There is an automated flash tucked down near to the lens, powered by a single AA battery, that turns on when the light goes out. A simple manual film advance and rewind, similar to the old reliable point and shoots, allows you to insert a 24 or 36 frame roll of film (which must be manually wound by the way) and shoot your way through it with a little of twiddling on a convenient small window above the lens and pushing a button.

If you want to get started with the camera, a starter kit that includes a neck strap and a roll of Kodak Ultramax 400 film costs $45 dollars. Alternatively, you can buy the camera body separately for $35. In any case, the pricing is a deal, significantly lower than any of the other film cameras on the market today with all the bells and whistles. There is no complex zone focusing, double exposure lever, or aperture dial, since the camera simply compels you to work with what the fixed lens and shutter provide, much like in the disposable days.

Because the body is reusable, the only ongoing cost is having extra film developed, which is much less expensive than purchasing a new plastic camera every time you wish to take a few dozen photos. You can acquire one of these small devices right now from the Kodak store, although early shipments of the more vibrant hues have already sold out. For $35 and a single AA battery, it’s a wholly unique alternative to a cameraphone.