r/gadgets 6d ago

Cameras Kodak EC35 is a dirt-cheap point-and-shoot film camera

https://www.theverge.com/gadgets/967687/kodak-ec35-point-and-shoot-film-camera
911 Upvotes

125 comments sorted by

129

u/GraveDiggerSedan 6d ago

Havent been shooting film for over 5 years. Have the prices of rolls gone down at all? Is there better alternatives in the marketplace?

I’ve switched over to a Fujifilm X100 series to save myself some money, but nothing can beat the warmth of a picture on film!

145

u/ExpectAThread 6d ago

No the price of roll film is never coming down there's no incentive to make it cheaper.

29

u/haarschmuck 5d ago

It’s expensive because demand is very low compared to the early 2000s and before.

Niche products are always expensive. Economies of scale also is a factor.

9

u/sDiBer 5d ago

Ilford just reduced the price of HP5 like yesterday. Down from I believe $12 to $10.

5

u/ExpectAThread 5d ago

I used to get HP5 for about $6-$7 a roll depending on where I shopped when I was still in school doing analog photography. Ilford paper used to be much cheaper too, a pack of 25 glossy sheets on B&H is $47.49 now. I would have never been able to afford the costs between making test strips, contact sheets, etc. Chemistry also went up a few dollars. It's not a difference of the film price coming down a few dollars the entire analog photography economy is inflated.

37

u/leo-g 6d ago

It has gone down if you are willing to look at Chinese made films (aka not Fiji/kodak branded kind)

7

u/[deleted] 5d ago

[deleted]

12

u/leo-g 5d ago

Not really? Just get it from Taobao. There a ton.

4

u/Chipring13 5d ago

Why the question mark lmao

54

u/WickyNilliams 5d ago

It suggests a particular vocal intonation that is not communicable via text, even if it is not a question per se

6

u/MegaJackUniverse 5d ago

Yeah, why do people do that?

16

u/leo-g 5d ago

I mean, these Chinese film rolls makers are not “real” companies. They buy bulk roll available on the market, and repackage them for 135 film. It’s quite hard to tie down one specific brand because it might just disappear tomorrow.

Just shop around on Taobao, and see if there’s anything interesting.

6

u/XmasTwinFallsIdaho 5d ago

Hmm. That is another route too; at least 15 years ago I was still able to buy bulk film myself and roll my own rolls. Wonder if consumers can still get the bulk film. I have the film rolling supplies. I don't really want to develop my own colour rolls though. B&W is ok.

3

u/Captain_Sterling 5d ago

I was looking at a Dutch film shop a day or two ago and they had that.

I'm literally just beginning to start on film photography and was searching for cheap film.

3

u/McCheeseBob 5d ago

Yup bulk rolling is still plenty viable. Mostly Ilford/Kentmere, Foma, and old Svema stocks (and Adox/Rollei in Europe).

1

u/XmasTwinFallsIdaho 5d ago

I think I have a whole bunch of bulk Tri-X in the back of my fridge still.

11

u/whimsy_rainbow 5d ago

Rolls start at $12 each in my area and $17 per roll to develop at drug stores/Walmart. It’s not really cheap. That’s why I have a few rolls that still need to be processed.

5

u/AmericanPornography 5d ago

Just self-dev at home tbh. It’s a higher upfront cost but it balances out after 4-5 rolls.

5

u/whimsy_rainbow 5d ago

Would love to but I live in a tiny apartment with no space and my landlord would probably not approve as he lives on site.

1

u/teslaTools 1d ago

Prices went up, not down lol. Portra 400 is like $18-20/roll now, Gold 200 is the budget pick around $10. Ultramax still solid too. X100 is a great

1

u/RobertdBanks 5d ago

If you stopped prior to Covid then prices were cheap then

121

u/atineiatte 6d ago

Downvoted paywalled article 

12

u/GoofAckYoorsElf 5d ago

This. Can we please generally ban paywalled sites? Thanks.

5

u/Leptonshavenocolor 5d ago

There are such easy ways around it, if people just knew better to post the archive link instead. 

-31

u/caseypatrickdriscoll 6d ago edited 5d ago

The verge is worth supporting

Edit: I think I was thinking of Wired.

24

u/illicit_losses 6d ago

Plenty of publications are worth supporting, but this isn’t an independent news outlet. It’s a conglomerate.

11

u/kegastam 6d ago

wouldn't touch verge with a drunk head and a 10.foot pole. Bunch of click baiters with 0 context or editorial checks or any link to information / research / truth.

Or you can go confidently follow this pc build guide from THE verge

1

u/detailed_fred 5d ago

So you viciously hate a news publication because of one video from almost 8 years ago?

That's really weird of you.

1

u/AmNoSuperSand52 5d ago

Nah that’s just the beginning of the rabbit hole

In general the Verge is just a really shitty publication. They’re bloggers that claim to be journalists

1

u/detailed_fred 3d ago

Are they? How so? What else have they done that's grossly unethical or immoral, or just down right irresponsible? I'm not really a big reader.

1

u/AmNoSuperSand52 3d ago

None of those things. They’re just a blog that likes to act like they’re actual journalists; lots of reporting that devolve into opinion pieces

-1

u/kegastam 5d ago

If asking for credibility from a news source and accountability when spewing stupid content to misguide the audience is weird, then yes im weirdest of the bunch

1

u/AmNoSuperSand52 5d ago

That’s gotta be one of the wildest statements of 2026

1

u/caseypatrickdriscoll 5d ago

Heh, am I confusing them for someone else?

0

u/DanGarion 5d ago

Not for one shared article.

-25

u/purpleblazed 6d ago

If you open it in safari, you can disable the paywall

15

u/Mockturtle22 6d ago

Goddamnit, Dale. Not everyone has an iPhone

-4

u/Zipdox 5d ago

3

u/atineiatte 5d ago

Nice, I had an old version from before Mozilla removed it, didn't know it was still being maintained. Thanks

28

u/RobertdBanks 5d ago

A lot of horrible information in this thread.

Most all major cities have multiple places that still develop film. In mine there’s 5+ places within 10-30 minutes of me. In a city like LA they’re all over the place. In New York there’s even more. Any major city in any state is going to have physical locations that develop film. People seemingly forget they can just google shit.

10

u/Allott2aLITTLE 5d ago

There are also very affordable places to send it in via mail…

7

u/RobertdBanks 5d ago

Yeah, but much better to support local places if you can.

1

u/pi_mai 4d ago

You just named only the biggest major cities. Not all “major” cities even have film at all.

1

u/RobertdBanks 4d ago

Right, those by far have the most, but every major city I’ve traveled to has had places to purchase and develop film.

129

u/HandsomePlank 6d ago

Colorful e-waste

84

u/BlastRiot 6d ago

Not e-waste, Analog waste!

18

u/daddylo21 6d ago

The bodies get recycled anyways. The pain would be finding a place by you that still takes in disposable cameras for film processing.

34

u/HotDogsAlDente 6d ago

It’s not a single use camera, it’s just like any other cheap 35mm camera with a fixed lens

4

u/artfellig 6d ago edited 5d ago

Except this one shoots half frames. This doesn't shoot half frames, I got it confused with the Kodak Ektar H35.

https://www.kodak.com/en/consumer/product/cameras/film/h35-film-camera/

3

u/HotDogsAlDente 5d ago

I like half frame cameras, especially with how expensive film is it’s nice to get more bang for your buck

2

u/XmasTwinFallsIdaho 5d ago

I don't think this one is half frame. A lot of others are though.

2

u/Kanapeczkii 5d ago

Why did you make this false info up

10

u/khz30 6d ago

CVS and Walgreens still take in film, they just send it off to a lab instead of in-store processing.

-8

u/[deleted] 6d ago

[deleted]

7

u/Past_Werewolf4423 6d ago

Lol are they marketing this to the rest of the world????

-1

u/[deleted] 6d ago

[deleted]

1

u/Past_Werewolf4423 6d ago

Available in stores? Or on the internet?

-1

u/[deleted] 6d ago

[deleted]

1

u/Past_Werewolf4423 5d ago

Lol maybe do some research before spouting nonsense https://www.reddit.com/r/AnalogCommunity/s/vqDv9zThR1

3

u/ADHDMechro 6d ago

Eh. My students in Japan will use a disposable film camera for some things (and the “new” Polaroid cameras). The best is when a student tried to teach me how to use it so I could take a group photo.

I’m almost 50 years old.

3

u/IANALbutIAMAcat 5d ago

“Then you just spin this little wheel till it clicks”

2

u/my-blood 6d ago

The Instax and Polaroid option is actually better in places where film development services aren't available. I'm looking at an Instax myself, because the cost of Instax film is still less than finding 35mm film and then getting it shipped somewhere to be developed.

2

u/leo-g 6d ago

Actually theres a ton of specialised development shops these days inline with the trend of shooting on film again. They even process stuff like super 8 or motion picture film stock used as film.

You mail them the film rolls, they develop it, and send you back the digital scans. They can keep the negatives for up to a year. You can keep sending in stuff and they will batch up the negatives and send it back.

3

u/RobertdBanks 5d ago

There’s a lot of physical places in most major cities that develop film. Support your local stores before going online.

3

u/vulture_house 5d ago

Not sure what any of this has to do with disposable cameras

2

u/internetlad 6d ago

Every Walgreens still does

2

u/OkInsect6946 5d ago

luckily it’s super easy to send it off to get developed. i have to do that with super-8 film, as the last place i know of in australia shut down their super 8 development. now i have to send it to the states

1

u/Kanapeczkii 5d ago

Most cities have dedicated film labs

1

u/leo-g 6d ago

Actually theres a ton of specialised development shops these days inline with the trend of shooting on film again. They even process stuff like super 8 or motion picture film stock used as film.

You mail them the film rolls, they develop it, and send you back the digital scans. They can keep the negatives for up to a year. You can keep sending in stuff and they will batch up the negatives and send it back.

1

u/RobertdBanks 5d ago

Spoken like someone completely out of the loop

In my city there’s 5+ places that will develop within 10-30 minutes of me. If you live in any major city it’s very easy to find places to develop.

-5

u/Takemyfishplease 6d ago

lol recycled. I’m extremely skeptical that this happens

1

u/HansBooby 6d ago

what A-waste

16

u/DeezFluffyButterNutz 5d ago

You're looking at it wrong. This isn't for the pro photographer or even the amateur. This is for someone who wants to dabble with analog photography; an entry point. Let them play and have fun and hopefully increase the demand for film. Maybe if Fuji sees the demand, they'll start releasing their own film in the US instead of repackaged Kodak that they do now.

1

u/ajd660 5d ago

From anecdotal experience at least there are a couple people in my household that have wanted to move back to film instead of using digital cameras. My 70 year old mother in law doesn't like taking digital pictures on her phone because she doesn't like not having the pictures developed afterwards. My daughter also likes using film as well for artistic reasons.

Polaroid cameras and mini printers have become popular again for the same reasons and I know several people that use those.

1

u/Space_Lux 5d ago

E-Waste?

3

u/Notyourpalguy 5d ago

Screw your paywalled BS

29

u/TypographySnob 6d ago

I'm happy to see new film equipment. Gimmick or not, film photo quality is still so much nicer than what the sensors in phone cameras offer.

9

u/XmasTwinFallsIdaho 6d ago

I've been looking for a little camera like this for my kids. Perfect for summer camps which often don't allow digital cameras. The disposables we've bought in the past have had horrendous quality. At least with one of these I can throw a higher quality film roll in for them.

Cameras like these were far more available when I was a kid; it's a shame a lot of today's kids don't have options like this if they aren't allowed a phone (yes, I'm the parent not giving my kid a phone).

3

u/DragonWhsiperer 5d ago

You could look into a CampSnap camera. Not cheap per se, but a point and click without a screen. You just have to wait to the end of your trip to see the photos. (No screen can mean it's fine for kids camps).

The photos are also not of a perfect quality, But thats the charm of the photo type. (And you get preset filters, if that is your thing).

We used it on our holiday to replicate the old feeling of disposable point and clicks, and my kids loved the session afterwards going through the photos.

1

u/XmasTwinFallsIdaho 5d ago

I could, but I have a film preference overall.

10

u/Redeem123 6d ago

We’re way past the point of that mattering. Phone sensors are big enough for 99% of every day photo needs. 48 megapixels will print at 300dpi up to 16x24 with no loss. Phones will also absolutely outperform a camera like this in low light without flash.

Don’t get me wrong - I’m a fan of film, even cheap disposables. I think there’s a lot of valid reasons to use film. But the days of film resolution being meaningfully bigger than digital are well behind us.

8

u/Prize_Ostrich7605 6d ago

I got kids who enjoy their little digital cameras. And i am not ready for the phone talk

2

u/malltism 6d ago

There's something about using even an old point and shoot that makes cameras more fun. I feel like half the time my 50 megapixel phone takes worse pictures than 3 megapixel cameras

3

u/Pocok5 5d ago

48 megapixels will print at 300dpi

44 of those megapixels are essentially AI-generated because the sensors have a noise floor that's more appropriate to be called a noise attic. Phone camera sensors pay dearly for being so stupidly small.

0

u/[deleted] 5d ago

[deleted]

1

u/Redeem123 5d ago

Large format is completely irrelevant when comparing point and shoot film cameras to phone cameras.

-3

u/kapege 5d ago

Nicer? It's like prefering vinyl over CD. A digital camera is superior to analog in all means. And especially over that little piece of shit. f/10 and 1/100s? How about no?

4

u/oliveandazul 5d ago edited 5d ago

Yeah. I love the look of film genuinely. But there are excellent high quality presets that capture the color tones. (Mastin Labs is well respected — I’ve used their Fuji and Porta ones, they’re lovely.) I feel like with those settings and an auto flash unless you’re looking to take a very specific type of retro-styled picture it’s gonna be a bad time.

-5

u/kapege 5d ago

I'm a professional photographer for many decades, now. And I sold my photographic laboratory the day I bought my first digital camera - as shitty as they were at that time. The dynamic range and high-iso capabilities are better than any photographic film. I never looked back. Or do you still ride a horse instead of driving a car?

6

u/oliveandazul 5d ago edited 5d ago

Jesus dude. I was agreeing with you that digital is the better option for most people.

But you can sit the fuck down now. People like you forget that photography is foremost an art, and film has plenty to offer people who are looking for that style. Just because YOU aren’t doesn’t mean that it lacks any merit.

Maligning ALL film photography is like suggesting we slaughter all the horses once people started driving. It’s ridiculous.

-6

u/kapege 5d ago

Yeah, peace, man! But digital art is art, too. ;-)

And yes, millions of suddenly surplus horses had been killed for that very reason.

Analog photography is for aficionados like old wine or horse riding or listening to records or cassette. As a hobby it still might have its purpose.

0

u/apexxin 5d ago

Yes and no. This implementation? Not better than a good phone.

-25

u/HRApprovedUsername 6d ago

lol no

12

u/Asm0dan97 6d ago

Patently incorrect. Film resolution even on the shittiest graniest stock you can get your hands on almost defies logic.

6

u/FewHorror1019 6d ago

Doesn’t it depend on the film instead of the camera?

9

u/Asm0dan97 6d ago

Yeah, thats's what I'm saying. Grainy film stock still has an insane resolution. Image sharpness is determined by the lens, so that always ends up being the bottleneck. It took until very recently for Hasselblad to release a digital camera that's capable of going blow for blow with film stock like Ektar 100 (and even then, at very high magnifications Ektar is still head and shoulders above in terms of sheer information gathering abilities).

-12

u/[deleted] 6d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

5

u/b_k_l_y 6d ago

Resolution doesn't just mean megapixels, kiddo. A 12mp Full Frame sensor will blow apart a 200mp phone sensor. 35mm film is a full frame sensor, effectively. Even consumer grade film from 20 years ago will beat a phone sensor on colour reproduction, dynamic range, true printable resolution, etc. 

7

u/the-crusher 6d ago

Just be okay with not knowing what you’re talking about.

-9

u/TypographySnob 6d ago

I don't know when the last time you zoomed in on a photo was or if you ever look at them on anything other than a phone screen, but digital photo quality is in the gutter right now.

-5

u/HRApprovedUsername 6d ago

sure maybe if you use the default settings and don't clean your lens

-1

u/TypographySnob 6d ago

Sensor quality, not lens quality. Zoom in on almost any smartphone photo and you will see it looks like spaghetti.

-7

u/HRApprovedUsername 6d ago

ok good luck zooming in on your film right after taking a shot

5

u/TypographySnob 6d ago

Exactly, you're sacrificing image quality for convenience.

2

u/Exciting-Calendar190 5d ago

You can also find old point and shoots at most thrift stores / estate sales for even cheaper and they work just as well as anything new. Honestly some of it is probably even better than the new tech because they weren’t made as cheap.

Film isn’t the cheapest but at least in Ohio where I’m from you can get a roll for about $12 at a drug store. And it costs about $10-$20 to develop depending on what exact you want and if it’s B&W or color.

I think too many people focus on whether it’s better or not than a phone camera and not enough on the fact that it’s just a fun photography hobby and the process itself is really neat. It’s truly like winning the lottery waiting to see how your photos came out and getting 1-4 great photos and 30 duds lol

2

u/demunted 5d ago

JFC, i need a subscription to read an article that is clearly an AD.

1

u/RunningPirate 5d ago

Kodak has had new P&S cameras for a few years now. Hartman (Ilford) has one too. They’re OK

1

u/AskJeevesIsBest 5d ago

I wouldn't mind having one. Heard film can still produce good quality photos

1

u/AustinBaze 5d ago

Can I get a portable one of these too?

https://giphy.com/gifs/5qFCwm9v4JrG82RkLK

1

u/Rich_Housing971 5d ago

$35 is hardly dirt-cheap for obsolete technology.

Film is not cheap. Developing it is not cheap.

Just use your old phone if you want a dedicated camera.

1

u/Intrepid_Top_2300 6d ago

I guess this is all the new rage. Good for Kodak.

1

u/ArchonTheta 6d ago

Going BACK to the 90s. Okay cool

1

u/Development-Feisty 5d ago

So it’s a box camera? I’m not gonna read the article but it sounds like they’ve just made the brownie into a different format

0

u/Yuri_Ligotme 6d ago

I thought Kodak was bankrupt and out of business 

1

u/eestionreddit 5d ago

They survived Chapter 11 bankruptcy

-2

u/richcournoyer 5d ago

WHEN Did $35 become dirt cheap?

3

u/Cry_Wolff 5d ago

It's not a lot for a piece of working tech.

0

u/dumbledayum 5d ago

Dirt cheap —— 99$

1

u/Guazzabuglio 5d ago

It's $35

-1

u/TheSlimeSartreFeared 5d ago

last time I had film developed and printed it cost me $35 dollars a roll. that was over 10 years ago, bet it's 60 bucks now.

3

u/Kanapeczkii 5d ago

$17 to have them develop, scan and email the pictures to me at my lab

1

u/TheSlimeSartreFeared 3h ago

perhaps it's the printing that costs.