Kodak plastic cameras at Freestyle

gone · Mar 17, 2022

Oops. I posted a link here from a Freestyle email on some new all plastic Kodak cameras, one of which was pretty close to a real camera (the Ultra) but apparently the link in the email that allows online viewing isn't working. It posts my email content. Then I went to the Freestyle website, and none of the cameras that they mentioned in the email are there! Does anyone know how to get to these cameras?

cramej · Mar 17, 2022

These? Film Cameras | Freestyle Photo & Imaging

gone · Mar 17, 2022

Thanks! Yes, those cameras, and I meant the Ultra F9 toward the bottom. That's a neat little camera that's unfortunately quite limited in it's features. It looks small and nicely styled. If they made one w/ no flash, a crank-style film advance and a decent shutter I'd buy it.

https://www.freestylephoto.biz/390252-Kodak-Ultra-F9-35mm-Film-Camera-with-Flash-Green-White

I don't get that page on my browser, time to clean out the cookies and search history.

AgX · Mar 17, 2022

What does "Multi Sprockets" mean in Freestyle's descriptions?

A toothed wheel instead of a transport lever?

cmacd123 · Mar 17, 2022

AgX said:
What does "Multi Sprockets" mean in Freestyle's descriptions?

A toothed wheel instead of a transport lever?

well, the m38 shows a single sproket wheel just like my Berrette (my first 35mm Camera) where the wheel turns one rotaion to reset the camera. I am downloading the english manual from Sino-Promise, but was surprised that such a simple camera has a manual over 50 megs in size. perhaps a bigger file is more impressive.

6 colour pages, and it looks almost like a basic snapshot plastic camera I bought about 20 years ago. (almost looks like the SAME camera that is)

cmacd123 · Mar 17, 2022

https://kodak.sinopromise.com/uploads/files/kodaklicensingproducts/KODAK Film Camera F9/F9 user manual - EN.pdf
sems to be the link for the 60 meg F9 Manual in english. (the Chinese version was only 30 megs, ask how I know.)

the picture in that does not clearly show the inside of the camera, but I believe that it is basically the same. (I atched a thumbnail of the shot out of the TC version of the manual)

looking at the e-mail from Frestyle, the two lower models differ in the flash rating - specified by the size of the Capacitor in uF.!

M35 has 15s recycle time (70uf) while the M38 has 15s recycle time (120uf). the f9 also has 15s recycle time (120uf)

the f9 not surprisingly has a f9 lens, while the other two have an F10! all single element plastic lenses.

at USD 33.99, 40.99 and 49.99 one would almost think that we were being pranked.... (how many stops difference between f9 and f10?) (not as many as between f8 and f11)

AgX · Mar 17, 2022

In the manual no sprockets at all are mentioned. So it remains enigmatic.

Agulliver · Mar 20, 2022

"we want a new film camera!"

"Surely Kodak or someone could make a cheap film camera?"

"NOOO NOT LIKE THAT"

Remember, this kind of product isn't aimed at us. It's aimed at someone who wants something a step above a single use camera, and who's functions can be figured out by someone who's only ever used a phone camera before. They'll buy Kodak Gold and Ultramax and if they like it they'll continue buying film and getting it developed. If they want to learn more, then they'll buy something more serious but which requires a lot of knowledge which is alien to them.

gone · Mar 20, 2022

Agulliver has a good point, these cameras are for people that are curious about film. I guess that's so, it's hard to figure out marketing these days as none of it makes any sense to me anymore, and I worked in that field for many years.

The attraction of these little starter, film cameras is that they're reasonably cheap, and you know they'll work when you buy them, unlike an old used film camera that may or may not work OK.

Nitroplait · Mar 20, 2022

The color lab I use sells loads of disposables.
Young people, predominantly women, love the obvious imperfections - they are not even interested in getting better pictures - the lab tried to sell used P&S in the price range of €50-100 but no-one bought them.
A "reuseable-disposable" on the other hand may have some appeal from an environmental perspective and perhaps also price?
If it helps keeping the film and lab industry profitable (without raising the price I have to pay) then I am all for it.

AgX · Mar 20, 2022

And in additon you get "multiple sprockets" which must be attractive to some...

cmacd123 · Mar 20, 2022

I did some looking at amazon Canada, and they show both a Ilford brand camera, (
Ilford Sprite 35-II Reusable/Reloadable 35mm Analog Film Camera)
as well as an AgfaPhoto brand camera (
Agfa AG603001 Photo Analogue 35 mm Photo Camera )
which both look quite a bit like these "Koda-Promise" items, right down to the wide-angle f9 lens. - around the same price also.

they also have a
( Harman/Ilford Reusable Film Camera) in the same ball park which comes with two rolls of Kentmere film. (65.99 CDN)

(I assume the Ilford Sprite is from the "other folks" who are allowed to use the Ilford name.)

Kodak plastic cameras at Freestyle

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency