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Kodak Instamatic 300
France Version française
Photos by Sylvain Halgand text by Sylvain Halgand. From the collection of Sylvain Halgand. Last update 2023-02-13 par Sylvain Halgand.

Manufactured or assembled in USA from 1963 to 1966.
Index of rarity in France: Frequent (among non-specialized garage sales)
Inventory number: 117

See the complete technical specifications

Chronology of cameras Kodak 

From the early 1960s to the mid-1980s, Kodak manufactured thousands of cameras in the 126 and 110 formats under the generic name "Instamatic" (trademark registered in 1962). Dozens of versions, including those not bearing this name, were released year after year.
Kodak's idea was not only to sell these cameras but primarily to sell the films that could be used with them. Many other brands followed Kodak's lead and manufactured cameras and films, paying royalties to Kodak.
To achieve its goal, Kodak introduced film cartridges that were very easy to load and cameras that were extremely user-friendly.

Film and 126 camera.

Kodak
The patent 3,138,081 was published on June 23, 1964. It was filed by Kodak, and its inventor was Hubert Nerwin.
This patent pertains to a 35mm film contained in a closed cassette. The cassette is asymmetrical and serves both as a supply spool and a take-up spool. There is no possibility of inserting it incorrectly into the camera due to its design. The film is perforated on one side only. The back of the film is backed by paper bearing a frame number, following the principle of inactinically readable numbers on the back of cameras, eliminating the need for a mechanical frame counter. The camera only requires one drive shaft since there is no need to rewind the film. The cassette is returned to the Kodak laboratory after the last exposure without further handling.

With this innovative system, photographers no longer risk mispositioning the film's starting tab or tearing the perforations. Also known as Kodapak, the 126 format was available in 20 and later 24 exposures (with a brief period of 12 exposures) in both color negative and slide film.




Kodak

Film and 110 camera

Kodak 110On June 1, 1971, patent 3,581,641 for a cartridge camera was published. It was filed by Kodak, with Hubert Nerwin as the inventor. This patent incorporates the principles outlined in patent 3,138,081, referencing it, but the cartridge is smaller in size.

Brevt codage kodakIn 1966, Kodak (with Hubert Nerwin as the inventor) filed a patent (3,444,795) to equip film cartridges (which resembled but were not limited to 126, 110, film, 135 formats) with a coding system that allowed cameras or other devices to recognize the cartridge and its contents. The system was based on notches or notches in the cartridges.

Kodak camera using the 126 film

The evolution of Instamatic 126 cameras primarily followed advancements in flash technology. The early models had a deflector for an AG1 bulb, and then the cameras were modified to accommodate a battery because flashcubes required an electrical pulse. Finally, the Magicube, which still contained four bulbs but no longer required a battery, led to another modification of the cameras. Cameras using the Magicube have an "X" in their name. This "X" is sometimes separated from the number by a hyphen, and other times it's not. Inconsistencies in naming can even be found between the camera itself and its packaging. Cameras using the Flipflash have an "F" at the end of their name.

    Years Lens Shutter Country Misc.

without flash
Instamatic 28
1972-74 11/43
1/40, 1/80 UK  

hot shoe
Instamatic 25
1966-71 11/43
1/40, 1/90 UK  
Instamatic 26   1968-72 11/43
1/40, 1/80 UK  
Instamatic 32
1972-73 11/ 1/40, 1/80 UK  
Instamatic 33
1968-73 11/43 1/40, 1/80 UK
Germany
 
Instamatic 36
1973-74 11/43 1/40, 1/80 UK  
Instamatic 50
1963-66 11/43 1/40, 1/90 UK  
Instamatic 500
1963-65 Xenar 2.8/38 Compur 1/30 to 1/500 Germany Cell

bulb AG1
Instamatic 100
1963-66 11/43 1/40, 1/90 UK
USA
 
Instamatic 150   1964-66 11/43 1/40, 1/90 USA  
Instamatic 200
1965-66 Kodar 7,1/41 1/40, 1/60 UK  
Instamatic 220
1965-66 Reomar 5,6/38   Germany  
Instamatic 250
1964-65 Reomar 2.8/38 Compur 1/30 to 1/250 Germany  
Instamatic 300
1963-66 Kodar 8/41 1/40, 1/90 USA Cell
Instamatic 400
1963-66 Kodar 8/41 1/40, 1/60 USA Cell
Clockwork motor
Instamatic 700
1963-66 Ektanar 2.8/38 1/30 à 1/250 USA Rangefinder
Cell
Instamatic 800
  1964-66 Ektanar 2.8/38 1/30 à 1/250 USA ditto + Clockwork motor

with Flashcube
Instamatic 44 1969-73 11/ 1/50 USA  
Instamatic 104
1965-68 11/43 1/40, 1/90 UK
USA
 
Instamatic 124
1968-71 11/43 1/40, 1/90 USA  
Instamatic 133
1968-70 11/43 1/40, 1/80 UK
Germany
Espagne
 
Instamatic 134   1968-71 11/43 1/50 USA  
Instamatic 154
1965-69 11/43 1/40, 1/90 USA Clockwork motor
Instamatic 174   1968-71 11/43 1/40, 1/90 USA  
Instamatic 204
1966-69 Kodar 6.6/41 1/40, 1/60 UK  
Instamatic 224
1966-68 Reomar 5.6/38 1/30, 1/125 Germany  
Instamatic 233
1968-70 Reomar 6.6/41 1/40, 1/80 UK
Germany
 
Instamatic 304
1965-69 Kodar 8/41 1/40, 1/90 UK
USA
 
Instamatic 314
1968-71 Kodar 8/41 1/40, 1/90 USA Cell
Instamatic 324
1966-67 Reomar 2.8/38 1/30, 1/125 Germany Cell
Instamatic 333
1968-74 11/43 10 à 1/300 Germany Cell
Instamatic 404
1965-69 Kodar 8/41 1/40, 1/60 USA Clockwork motor
Instamatic 414
1968-71 Kodar 8/41 1/45, 1/90 USA
CdS cell
Clockwork motor
Instamatic 704
1965-69 Ektanar 2.8/38 1/30 à 1/250 USA Cell
Instamatic 714
1968-70 Ektar 2.8/38 1/30 à 1/250 USA CdS cell
Instamatic 804
  1965-70 Ektanar 2.8/38 1/30 à 1/250 USA  
Instamatic 814
1968-70 Ektar 2.8/38 1/30 à 1/250 USA CdS cell
Instamatic reflex
1968-70 interchangeable Compur 1/20 à 1/500 Germany Hot Shoe
Instamatic S-10
1967-70 Kodar 9.5/35 1/40, 1/125 USA  
Instamatic S-20
1967-71 Kodar 9.5/35 1/40, 1/90 USA  

with Magicube
Instamatic 55X
1971-72 11/43 1/60 UK
Germany
 
Instamatic 56X
1973-77 11/43 1/50 UK  
Instamatic 76X
1977 11/43 1/50 UK  
Instamatic 77X
1977-84 11/43 1/50 UK
Germany
 
Instamatic 133-X
1970-71 11/43 1/40, 1/80 UK
Germany
Espagne
 
Instamatic 155X
1971-77 11/43 1/40, 1/80 UK
Germany
 
Instamatic 177X
1977-84 Kodar 11/43 1/40, 1/80 UK
Germany
 
Instamatic 233-X
1970-71 Reomar 6.6/41 1/40,1/80 UK
Germany
 
Instamatic 255X
1971-77 Reomar 6,6/41 1/40, 1/80 UK
Germany
5 apertures
Instamatic 277X
1977-1985 Reomar 6.6/41 1/40, 1/80 UK
Germany
 
Instamatic 333-X
1970-71 11/43 10 à 1/300 Germany CdS cell
Instamatic 355X
1971-77 11/43 30 à 1/300 Germany CdS cell

North americans with Magicube
Instamatic X-15
1970-76 11/43 1/45, 1/90

USA

Canada

 
Instamatic X-25   1970-74 11/43 1/45, 1/90 USA  
Instamatic X-30   1971-74 11/43 10 à 1/125 USA  
Instamatic X-35
1970-76 8/41 1/45, 1/90 USA
Canada
CdS cell
Instamatic X-45
  1970-74 8/41 1/45, 1/90 USA CdS cell
Clockwork motor
Instamatic X-90
1970-73 2.8/38 1/30 à 1/250 USA  

with Flipflash
Instamatic X-15F
1976- 11/43 1/45, 1/90 USA
Canada
 
Instamatic X-35F
1976- 8/41 1/45, 1/90 USA
Canada
CdS cell

Hawkeye
Hawkeye Instamatic
1964 11/43 1/40, 1/90 USA Hot Shoe
Hawkeye Instamatic II
1969-72 11/ 1/50 USA Flashcube
Hawkeye Instamatic A1   1969-72 11/ 1/40, 1/90 USA Flashcube
Hawkeye Instamatic F   1964-68     USA AG1
Hawkeye Instamatic X   1971-78     USA Magicube
Hawkeye R4
1966-71     USA  

__________

This is from the same line as the 50, 100, 104 etc. It is an improved version, since the exposure control is automatic, thanks to a cell. This cell is designed for 64 and 160 asa emulsions. It is adjusted by the notches on the cartridge.

This camera was sold for 266 francs in 1966 (Natkin catalog).

Its serial number is KP 303, but on the sole there is also the number 085511.

Kodak Instamatic 300





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