Photography is one of the cooler leisurely pursuits someone can have. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the more expensive, especially if you’re hoping to put some real heart into the craft. Kodak’s new EC35 (technically it’s from Reto Project under the Kodak name) hopes to change that with a reusable 35mm shooter that’s also cheap.
You’re essentially paying a dollar for every millimetre the EC35 puts into your hands, making it a steal at approximately R575 when converted directly. There’s no telling whether hopeful Saffas will get their hands on it without copping a shipping fee, however. With the brand as big as it is locally, it shouldn’t be an issue… we hope.
Kodak of all trades
The relatively low entry point might put you in mind of flimsy plastics and low-quality shots. The EC35 is anything but. It’s got an all-plastic body, sure, but that’ll make it easier to carry ’round with you in a pocket. It’s equipped with an automatic flash, completing its semi-retro look that’ll appease the young’ins.
Kodak’s EC35 is made to be as easy to use as possible. The 25mm two-element acrylic lens (with a fixed f/10 aperture and a 1/100-second shutter speed to boot) is more than capable of capturing everyday shots without much knowledge or input required. Well, other than its owner’s finger pushing the trigger. The results are… decent.
Owners frame up their shots by peering through the optical viewfinder on the rear, while the flash gets its juice from a single AA battery. And to get the proper retro experience, you’ll need to wind and rewind that film. With, like, your hands, if you can imagine it. The EC35 also throws in a sliding lens cover, serving as a shutter lock.
It’s available in a range of colours, too. There’s midnight black, vanilla white, butter yellow, lavender, powder blue, blush pink, and avocado green. The camera alone will run you about R575 ($35), though tack on an extra R165 ($10) and you’ll get a bundle that throws in a strap and a 24-exposure roll of Kodak’s Ultramax 400 film.
