Antique_Camera_Guy
Kodak EK6 Instant Camera
This is the Kodak "EK6 Instant Camera". It is an integral instant film camera produced by Kodak from 1976 to 1978. The camera would have originally used the ill-fated Kodak Instant Film Format and would have retailed for about $69.50 USD.
The EK6 features an all-plastic body, manual focus, automatic exposures, a darken/lighten switch, and no built in flash. The camera would have also required 2 J-pack batteries to power the internal electronics. The EK6 is nearly identical to its predecessor, the EK4. The only real difference between the two cameras is that the EK6 features automatic print ejection, where as the EK4 required the user to eject prints manually via a small hand crank.
You will notice that the nameplate on the front of the camera is still intact. Many Kodak Instant Cameras had their nameplates removed as part of Kodak's customer reimbursement program after losing a lengthy legal battle with Polaroid. One of the things that Kodak Instant camera owners were required to do in order to quality for the rebate was to remove the camera's nameplate and mail it to Kodak as proof they had purchased a Kodak Instant Camera (either Colorburst, EK series or Kodamatic). As a result it is not uncommon to find Kodak Instant cameras with missing nameplates, although these are far less collectable than their unaltered counterparts.
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Background on Kodak's Instant Film Format...
During the 1960s and 70s, Kodak manufactured instant film for Polaroid, including film for the hugely successful SX-70. The Polaroid SX-70 was introduced in 1971, and was the first instant camera to use integral film. Unlike pack film, the developing/fixing chemistry, negative and print are all contained within the plastic envelope. This enclosed and mess-free design made integral film convenient and user friendly.
Prior to the introduction of the SX-70, Kodak had already been playing around with the idea of creating their own instant camera. However, it was not until Kodak saw the success of the SX-70 that they decided to get into the instant photography market and create their own system originally dubbed "Colorburst" in 1976. Within a year Kodak was able to capture 30% of the instant photography market, which up to that point had been dominated by Polaroid.
Although Kodak instant film and the SX-70 format did share many similarities, the main difference was how the film was exposed. In Kodak's system the film is exposed front-to-back, which eliminated the need for a mirror to reverse the image. It should be noted that earlier Kodak Instant cameras such as the Colorburst and EK series did have an internal mirror for reversing the image. However, later models such as the Kodamatic, Handle, and Trimprint series did indeed expose the film from the front of the film pack without a mirror. Another difference between the two systems was how the internal electronics of the camera were powered. While the SX-70 film pack featured a built-in, flat 6V battery, Kodak's instant film pack did not, and most Kodak instant cameras required a separate 6V "J-pack" battery (2 in case of the EK6, or 4AA batteries in the "Kodamatic" series")
One could argue that Kodak's Instant film format was superior to Polaroid's SX-70 format for a number of reasons. Kodak instant prints featured a thicker plastic envelope which helped to make the print more durable. Kodak's format also included better developing chemistry, which not only helped to improve colour, but also helped prevent fading. Even 30+ years later, many Kodak instant prints still retain their vivid colours and have generally faired better than most SX-70 prints taken during the late 1970s and early 80s. Kodak also used better quality materials which gave their Instant cameras a build quality that rivalled Polaroid's. For example, Kodak used high quality glass lenses in their instant cameras, where as Polaroid often used simple, plastic, single element lenses.
However, almost as soon as Kodak instant cameras and film appeared on the market Polaroid filed a lawsuit against Kodak for patent infringement in April of 1976. The result would be a long and drawn out legal battle that would last for the next 15 years. In September of 1985, Kodak was found guilty of 7 of the 12 alleged patent infringements and was ordered to pull all Kodak Instant film and cameras from store shelves. In January of 1986, Kodak announced that they would no longer produce their instant film and offered rebates, exchanges and even refunds for customers who had recently bought a Kodak instant camera. In 1991, Kodak ended up paying Polaroid $935 million in damages. The final blow came when Polaroid severed all business ties with Kodak; meaning that Kodak would no longer manufacture film for Polaroid.
Out of all of Kodak's failed film formats, their instant film format was without a doubt the most costly. After legal costs, the massive recall and final settlement with Polaroid, the ill-fated format would have cost Kodak over $1 billion. Kodak tried to become the next Polaroid and ended up shooting themselves in the foot big time.
Kodak EK6 Instant Camera
This is the Kodak "EK6 Instant Camera". It is an integral instant film camera produced by Kodak from 1976 to 1978. The camera would have originally used the ill-fated Kodak Instant Film Format and would have retailed for about $69.50 USD.
The EK6 features an all-plastic body, manual focus, automatic exposures, a darken/lighten switch, and no built in flash. The camera would have also required 2 J-pack batteries to power the internal electronics. The EK6 is nearly identical to its predecessor, the EK4. The only real difference between the two cameras is that the EK6 features automatic print ejection, where as the EK4 required the user to eject prints manually via a small hand crank.
You will notice that the nameplate on the front of the camera is still intact. Many Kodak Instant Cameras had their nameplates removed as part of Kodak's customer reimbursement program after losing a lengthy legal battle with Polaroid. One of the things that Kodak Instant camera owners were required to do in order to quality for the rebate was to remove the camera's nameplate and mail it to Kodak as proof they had purchased a Kodak Instant Camera (either Colorburst, EK series or Kodamatic). As a result it is not uncommon to find Kodak Instant cameras with missing nameplates, although these are far less collectable than their unaltered counterparts.
---
Background on Kodak's Instant Film Format...
During the 1960s and 70s, Kodak manufactured instant film for Polaroid, including film for the hugely successful SX-70. The Polaroid SX-70 was introduced in 1971, and was the first instant camera to use integral film. Unlike pack film, the developing/fixing chemistry, negative and print are all contained within the plastic envelope. This enclosed and mess-free design made integral film convenient and user friendly.
Prior to the introduction of the SX-70, Kodak had already been playing around with the idea of creating their own instant camera. However, it was not until Kodak saw the success of the SX-70 that they decided to get into the instant photography market and create their own system originally dubbed "Colorburst" in 1976. Within a year Kodak was able to capture 30% of the instant photography market, which up to that point had been dominated by Polaroid.
Although Kodak instant film and the SX-70 format did share many similarities, the main difference was how the film was exposed. In Kodak's system the film is exposed front-to-back, which eliminated the need for a mirror to reverse the image. It should be noted that earlier Kodak Instant cameras such as the Colorburst and EK series did have an internal mirror for reversing the image. However, later models such as the Kodamatic, Handle, and Trimprint series did indeed expose the film from the front of the film pack without a mirror. Another difference between the two systems was how the internal electronics of the camera were powered. While the SX-70 film pack featured a built-in, flat 6V battery, Kodak's instant film pack did not, and most Kodak instant cameras required a separate 6V "J-pack" battery (2 in case of the EK6, or 4AA batteries in the "Kodamatic" series")
One could argue that Kodak's Instant film format was superior to Polaroid's SX-70 format for a number of reasons. Kodak instant prints featured a thicker plastic envelope which helped to make the print more durable. Kodak's format also included better developing chemistry, which not only helped to improve colour, but also helped prevent fading. Even 30+ years later, many Kodak instant prints still retain their vivid colours and have generally faired better than most SX-70 prints taken during the late 1970s and early 80s. Kodak also used better quality materials which gave their Instant cameras a build quality that rivalled Polaroid's. For example, Kodak used high quality glass lenses in their instant cameras, where as Polaroid often used simple, plastic, single element lenses.
However, almost as soon as Kodak instant cameras and film appeared on the market Polaroid filed a lawsuit against Kodak for patent infringement in April of 1976. The result would be a long and drawn out legal battle that would last for the next 15 years. In September of 1985, Kodak was found guilty of 7 of the 12 alleged patent infringements and was ordered to pull all Kodak Instant film and cameras from store shelves. In January of 1986, Kodak announced that they would no longer produce their instant film and offered rebates, exchanges and even refunds for customers who had recently bought a Kodak instant camera. In 1991, Kodak ended up paying Polaroid $935 million in damages. The final blow came when Polaroid severed all business ties with Kodak; meaning that Kodak would no longer manufacture film for Polaroid.
Out of all of Kodak's failed film formats, their instant film format was without a doubt the most costly. After legal costs, the massive recall and final settlement with Polaroid, the ill-fated format would have cost Kodak over $1 billion. Kodak tried to become the next Polaroid and ended up shooting themselves in the foot big time.