Kodak is launching a new point-and-shoot with a price point accessible to just about everyone. The EC35, which is available now, is just $35—and it comes with a feature set to match that MSRP. Which is to say there’s not much going on here at all. That said, it could be perfect for those looking for that disposable aesthetic without wanting to buy an entirely new camera after every roll.
The EC35 is just about as minimal as a 35mm camera can come. It’s got a 24mm acrylic lens with a fixed f/10 aperture and 1/100 shutter speed—very similar to what’s on offer from popular disposables like Fujifilm’s QuickSnap series. It’s got a built-in automatic flash, too (you’ll definitely want to use it, given that fixed aperture), and a manual wind and rewind. The EC35 takes one AAA battery, which is included in the box alongside a roll of film.
While the EC35 is certainly low-tech, it does offer some benefits over a disposable camera. It’s refillable, for one thing, so you can carry around extra rolls of 35mm film and keep shooting as long as your heart desires. It has a slide cover to protect its lens and avoid accidental pocket shots. The EC35 comes in a slew of really cute colors, too: Midnight Black, Vanilla White, Butter Yellow, Lavender, Powder Blue, Blush Pink, and Avocado Green. About half the colors have already sold out, so act fast if you don’t want to end up with the plain black one. (To be fair, even the black and white colors do have some nice accents.)
If you couldn’t tell by the color schemes here, the EC35 is definitely aimed at Gen Z, which has been leaning heavily into analog photography as of late. The heavily processed images created by smartphones just don’t interest younger generations as much as they used to, and low-budget film cameras provide an easy way to lean into a more classic photography aesthetic.
Kodak and Fujifilm have both been beefing up their beginner camera lines, showing film photography isn’t just a passing fad—it’s an industry trend worth investing in.
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