kodak 304

i finally got around to developing the film in my old kodak 304 instamatic camera the other day. i originally picked this camera up over a year ago at thrifttown. it's getting harder and harder to find these in the thrift stores. this one only set me back five bucks. i like it because it reminds me of the one bobby brady used in the episode where he took up photography. (i've even got a working flash cube should the need arise)

anyway, like all good purchases that are too good to be true, i soon realized there was nowhere to buy film for it anymore, except on the internet, and then it had to ship from australia! (it takes 126 stock which is very similiar to 110) so i plunked down thirty more bucks for three rolls figuring the time of its disappearance was imminent, and had them slowboat it to me. while i waited for my little package from down under i searched the internet for all the information i could find. this is what is great about the internet. i was able to find and download an original manual and learn the whole history of this camera from its early inception in 1963 as the kodak 100 (designed by frank zagara) which at the time was kodak's latest heir to the brownie legacy meaning it was a cheap and simple camera for the masses.

after a few hiccups in learning to load and advance the film, i was soon on my way. i carried the little camera around with me through the end of the summer and into the fall and snapped away. then after i'd shot the roll i packed it away and we moved. a few months ago i pulled it out of a box and remembered the film was still inside. after calling around i also found that i had to go all the way into downtown sacramento to get it developed. apparently i not only bought some of the last stock from the aussies, but found one of the last remaining shops that actually processes the stuff. and they have to send it out.
so, on saturday i got the call that it was ready and rode down to pick it up. when i went to pay for the roll my eyes got real big as the lady told me "that'll be thirty dollars." what?! are you kidding me? apparently mr. eastman's dream of cheap affordable cameras for the masses has been sideswiped. reluctantly, i handed over my hard earned cash to the lady. i couldn't back out now. as i walked back to my cycle, a little poorer and not much wiser i looked through the prints. 23 out of 24 made it through. pretty good i guess. and although it was nice to look back through these shots that had been a little time capsule, as i added up the cost ($70 not counting gas to the camera store) i had to ask myself had it all really been worth it?
i can think of lots of other things i could use $70 for. well anyway, i guess i'm going to have to find the answer to that question sometime soon, because i still have two more rolls of the stuff!