The Vintage Kodak Instamatic 110

September 29, 2011

I hadn’t taken out my Kodak Instamatic 110 camera since the late 70’s. My Smile Saver was a childhood gift that I never had the heart to toss away like so many other fantastic toys and gadgets that came my way.

Fast-forward to this year’s 12×12 YVR photo marathon. While reserving a pair of tickets for the post-event exhibit (held last weekend at PhotoHaus Gallery on West 7th Avenue), I happened to mention to Angela Chih that I’d be bringing in some show and tell that evening.

This promise is what motivated me (to get my husband) to head to our crawl space in order to dig out the box containing the camera and case, not to mention the 4-sided Magicube bulb and holder.

Here are a few photos of the camera. I recovered a used roll of 110 film in the brown furry-lined case that I am going to take to London Drugs for developing. Stay tuned, as I’m hoping to show them off (it’ll be a surprise to everyone, myself included, as to what my ‘last roll’ contained) in a follow-up post.

Specs

Years in production: 1973-1976
Lens: 25mm, f/11 Meniscus
Shutter: 2 speed
Film type: 110 cartridge
Picture size: 13mm x 17mm
Original list price (USD): $23

I just hope that the years spent in boxes didn’t ruin that roll of film beyond repair. I also aim to purchase several rolls of pocket Instamatic film while there’s still a few rolls left to be had.

How I wished I’d saved the packaging and collection of stickers that came with the camera! At the time, tennis was my thing, but I’m hitting the internet to try and find an original sticker sheet to recall what the other choices were.

Anyone else out there with a 110?

Sovrn

Tagged in: Instamatic 110 Smile Saver, Kodak, pocket camera, vintage camera

8 Comments

Comment by Angela Chih — September 29, 2011 @ 11:22 am

This is SO awesome! I haven’t seen those film rolls since the 90s though. I’m guessing they’re extinct? :o( That would be so sad cause you need to take this out for a spin!
Comment by arianec — September 29, 2011 @ 11:41 am

I’ll have to hunt some down. Assuming the camera still works, I’m not nearly done experimenting yet !
Comment by Tim — September 29, 2011 @ 3:48 pm

I see you linked to my blog, so I thought I’d help out as a small thanks with this link: http://www.frugalphotographer.com/

You can find 110 film on there from $3.29. Good luck. I’m looking forward to seeing the results.
Comment by arianec — September 30, 2011 @ 8:38 am

Hi Tim,

Saw that link and yes, I aim to get rolls sent to Canada; they seem like one of the few choices left out there! Thanks. I’m looking forward to getting my first roll developed; should be ready early next week.
Comment by MJ Ankenman — September 30, 2011 @ 10:13 am

Wow…that is a blast from the past. My first reaction was “I remember the stickers”! My memories of this camera are that we bought it for my grandfather for Father’s Day as he was planning a trip to England, his first overseas trip ever. I was given the honour of picking out and putting on the sticker for him. I choose the Canadian flag since he was going to be travelling. Looking forward to seeing the pictures.
Pingback by 35 Year Old Instamatic Pix Developed | ariane c design — October 25, 2011 @ 9:51 am

[…] couple of weeks ago, I relocated my first camera, stored for years in its case. The Kodak Instamatic 110 was a hip little gadget in […]
Comment by Simon Leung — March 5, 2014 @ 1:27 pm

The Kodak Instamatic 10 (picture) is exactly the same camera I started photography with when I was 7 years old in 1977. Mine was silver,it had a little Kodak pouch case and the magicube flash. 2 years later I began shooting 35mm SLR with my own Nikon F2 in black and matching non-metered prism that had the famous non-ai 20mm f/3.5 nikkor-ud auto lens.
Comment by Ariane Colenbrander — March 5, 2014 @ 4:30 pm

Simon,

Glad to hear someone else got some enjoyment out of it, and then certainly upgraded quite a bit to that Nikon F2 🙂