Kodak…

The Eastman Kodak Company, commonly known as Kodak, is one of the most influential and historically significant players in the history of photography. Founded in 1888 by George Eastman in Rochester, New York, Kodak’s innovations and contributions to the industry revolutionized photography and invented the concept of personal and/or consumer photography.

George Eastman was an avid photographer and inventor who aimed to simplify the photographic process. At the time, photography was a complex and cumbersome endeavor, requiring large, heavy equipment and a deep understanding of chemical processes. Eastman’s initial innovation was the development of a dry-plate formula, which replaced the traditional wet-plate process.

In 1884, Eastman introduced the first transparent photographic film, a celluloid-based material coated with a photographic emulsion. This invention paved the way for the creation of the first Kodak camera, released in 1888. The Kodak camera was a simple box camera that came preloaded with a roll of film capable of taking up to 100 photographs. Once the roll was finished, customers sent the entire camera back to Kodak for processing, after which they received their developed prints and a reloaded camera. The first Kodak model was replaced within a year with two new cameras — the Kodak Number One and Kodak Number Two “String Set Shutter” cameras.  The Number One produced 2.5 inch circular print images, the Number Two produced 3.5 inch circular print images.  The advantage of the circular image being — it didn’t matter if you held the camera straight.

In 1900, Kodak launched the Brownie camera, an inexpensive and easy-to-use box camera that was extremely commercially successful. The Brownie was dramatically less expensive to own and operate compared to the previous models.

Kodak continued to innovate throughout the twentieth century, cementing its status as a dominant force in the industry. The company introduced the first color film, Kodachrome, in 1935, and later Ektachrome in 1946. These color films set the standard for color photography and were widely used by both professional and amateur photographers. In 1963, Kodak launched the Instamatic camera series, which used a drop-in film cartridge, making it easier than ever for consumers to load and unload film.

One of Kodak’s most notable contributions to the camera market was the introduction of the Retina series. First launched in 1934, the Retina cameras were manufactured in Germany by Kodak’s subsidiary, Dr. August Nagel Werk. Initially designed as folding cameras, the Retina series evolved to include both rangefinder and single-lens reflex (SLR) models. The Retina rangefinder cameras, such as the Retina II and III series, were praised for their compact design and high-quality lenses, while the Retina SLRs, beginning with the Retina Reflex in 1957, offered photographers an advanced and versatile system. The Retina line played a significant role in popularizing 35mm film, as it introduced the 135 film cartridge, which became the standard for 35mm cameras. The Retina cameras’ innovative features and superior optics made them a popular choice among photography enthusiasts and helped further cement Kodak’s reputation as a leader in the industry.

Kodak also pioneered digital imaging.  The company’s first digital camera, the Kodak “DCS-100”, was introduced in 1991, but it was expensive (about $20k in 1991 dollars) and targeted at professional photographers, government, and industrial applications. The Kodak DCS line evolved throughout the 1990’s and early 2000’s, the true pioneers of modern digital photography.

A consistent theme I’m encountering with the history of American camera companies is that 1) they really did lead the way in everything, decades ahead of competitors, and 2) they eventually go out of business.  The demise of Kodak is the subject of future study.

Kodak filed for bankruptcy in 2012 and has since undergone a restructuring process, shifting its focus toward imaging solutions, printing, and brand licensing. Although Kodak’s influence in the photography industry has waned, its historical contributions to the development and popularization of photography are undisputed.

Generalized Kodak Timeline…

1888: Kodak introduced the first Kodak camera, a simple box camera preloaded with a roll of film, which made photography more accessible to the general public.

1888: Eastman American Film, the first flexible roll film produced by Kodak, was introduced alongside the first Kodak camera. It was a paper-backed roll film that simplified the photographic process.

1889: Eastman Transparent Film, a celluloid-based film, replaced the earlier paper-backed roll film, making photography more convenient and versatile.

1900: Brownie camera series, an inexpensive and easy-to-use box camera, was launched. The Brownie series introduced photography as a popular hobby for average Americans.

1901: Kodak introduced 120 roll film, a medium format film that gained popularity among both professional and amateur photographers. It remains in use to this day.

1912: Vest Pocket Kodak, using 127 roll film, was introduced as a smaller film format for more portable cameras, targeting amateur photographers.

1923: Kodak released 16mm film, initially intended for amateur filmmakers. The format eventually became widely adopted for various purposes, including professional film production and television broadcasting.

1932: 8mm film, a smaller and more affordable motion picture film format, was introduced by Kodak. It became popular for home movies and amateur filmmaking.

1934: Kodak’s Retina series, a line of 35mm cameras, was first released. Initially designed as folding cameras, the series eventually evolved to include rangefinder and single-lens reflex (SLR) models.

1935: Kodachrome, the first color film, was released. It set the standard for color photography and was widely used by both professional and amateur photographers.

1937: Kodak Bantam series, a line of compact cameras using 828 roll film, was introduced. The cameras were known for their small size and portability.

1939: Kodak Tourist series, folding cameras using 620 film, was launched. These cameras featured various lens and shutter combinations and were popular for their portability.

1946: Ektachrome, another color film, was introduced. It offered photographers a faster processing time compared to Kodachrome and was also more versatile in terms of lighting conditions.

1951: Kodak Signet series, a line of 35mm rangefinder cameras, was introduced. The series was known for its quality lenses and sturdy construction.

1957: First reflex camera released, the Retina Reflex.  With a built in exposure meter, world class German optics, and an innovative and simple “turn the dial until that thing is in the center” approach to achieving correct exposure — the Retina Reflex was the forefront of technology.

1963: Kodak Instamatic series, a line of easy-to-use consumer cameras with a drop-in film cartridge, was launched. It made the process of loading and unloading film simple and quick.

1965: Kodak released the first professional color negative film, Kodak Professional Vericolor II (VPL).

1965: Super 8 film, an improvement on the 8mm format, was introduced. It featured a smaller sprocket hole size, which allowed for a larger image area on the film.

1972: Kodak Pocket Instamatic series, compact cameras that used 110 film cartridges, was introduced. The cameras were popular for their portability and ease of use.

1976: Kodak introduced the Ektralite series, a line of cameras that used 110 film cartridges and featured built-in electronic flash units.

1982: Kodak introduced an improved version of its professional color negative film, Kodak Professional Vericolor III (VPS).

1982: Kodak Disc series, a line of cameras that used disc film, was introduced. The cameras were compact and featured electronic exposure control, but the image quality was often criticized.

1992: First digital “filmless” Camera released.  The Kodak DCS (“Digital Camera System”) would evolve throughout the following decade, both inventing and defining “professional digital imaging.”

1996: Kodak Advantix series, a line of cameras designed for the Advanced Photo System (APS) film format, was launched. These cameras simplified the process of taking, developing, and printing photos

1996: Advantix, an Advanced Photo System (APS) film, was launched by Kodak in collaboration with other industry players. This film format aimed to simplify the process of taking, developing, and printing photos, but its popularity was short-lived due to the rise of digital photography.

The Others…

While Kodak dominated the American camera manufacturing landscape during the twentieth century, several notable companies established their presence in the industry by offering strong alternatives and innovations.

Arguably the most significant competitor to Kodak was the Polaroid Corporation, founded in 1937 by Edwin H. Land. Polaroid pioneered instant photography, introducing the first instant camera, the Polaroid Land Camera Model 95, in 1948. The company continued to innovate with models such as the Polaroid SX-70 in 1972 and the OneStep in 1977, capturing a substantial market share. Despite facing bankruptcy in 2001 and 2008, Polaroid has maintained a presence in the photography world, with the brand now focusing on digital imaging.

Another prominent competitor was Graflex, originally founded as the Folmer & Schwing Manufacturing Company in 1890. Graflex became renowned for its large format cameras, especially the Graflex Speed Graphic, used by photojournalists from the 1930s to the 1950s. The company was eventually acquired by Kodak in 1956 and ceased operations in the 1970s.

Ansco, founded in 1841 as E. Anthony & Co., was another major American camera manufacturer. The company changed its name to Anthony & Scovill in 1902, and by 1907, it had introduced its own folding camera, the Ansco Buster Brown. In 1928, Ansco merged with German company Agfa to form Agfa Ansco, which later became GAF Corporation. Throughout its history, Ansco produced a range of cameras, including the popular Anscoflex series. The company ultimately ceased camera production in the 1980s.

Similarly, the Keystone Camera Company, established in 1919, was known for producing a wide range of consumer cameras and projectors. Keystone introduced the K-8 8mm movie camera in the 1930s and later ventured into still cameras, such as the Keystone 60 Second Everflash in the 1960s. The company filed for bankruptcy in 1991.

Bell & Howell, founded in 1907 by Donald J. Bell and Albert S. Howell, primarily manufactured motion picture equipment. Their Filmo and Eyemo cameras, introduced in the 1920s, were widely used by professional cinematographers and the military. Bell & Howell ventured into still cameras as well, such as the Foton camera in 1948 and the Auto 35 Reflex (made by Canon) in 1970. Although the company is still operational, its focus has shifted away from cameras.

Another significant competitor was the Burke & James Company, established in 1897 by founders Walter Burke and William James. The company became known for its large format cameras, such as the Press King and the Ingento series. Burke & James ceased operations in the 1970s.

Koni-Omega, founded in 1952, was a joint venture between American company Omega and Japanese company Konishiroku (later known as Konica). Koni-Omega produced medium format cameras, such as the Rapid series, which were popular among professional photographers for their compact size and high-quality optics. The Koni-Omega brand was eventually phased out in the 1980s.

The Universal Camera Corporation, established in 1932, gained popularity with its affordable and user-friendly Univex cameras. One of their most notable cameras was the Univex Mercury, introduced in 1938, which was the first American-made 35mm camera with a rotary shutter. The company ceased operations in 1952.

Ciro, founded in 1941, was an American camera manufacturer that became known for its Ciro-Flex series of twin-lens reflex cameras. The company was acquired by Graflex in 1951 and continued to produce cameras under the Graflex brand. The Ciro-Flex cameras were known for their affordability and high-quality optics, making them popular among amateur photographers. Ciro’s camera production eventually ended in the late 1950s following the acquisition.