Kodak Cameo Motordrive (1990)

Little is documented about the Kodak Cameo Motordrive. What the record shows is a compact, fixed-focus 35mm point-and-shoot that folds up. The retractable flash and lens collapse into the body, which makes it an unusually portable snapshot camera for its era. It uses 135 format film and has a built-in flash for low light and backlit subjects. It pairs a 34mm Ektarnar lens with a motor drive for film advance.

The production history is murky. Sources disagree on the introduction year - one lists 1990, another says the camera was produced only in 1995, with an original price of $99.95. The better-supported part is its place in the Kodak Cameo line. It was made in Mexico, was in production only briefly, and was replaced in the catalogs by the Cameo Motor EX. One Kodak history page notes that Kodak had a 17-year gap in 35mm marketing between the Retina S1/S2 (1969) and a return to the format in 1986. It doesn't explicitly confirm the Cameo Motordrive was that camera.

Shutter speeds, aperture range, focusing distances, battery type and dimensions are not documented in any source the archive could find. One current listing shows a unit in good condition at $29.99, hand-tested in Australia with a 30-day warranty. The seller notes the shooting capabilities were not tested. If you own one, the archive would like to hear from you.