Kodak Ektramax (1978–1981)

The Kodak Ektramax is a pocket camera for 110 cartridges, produced in the United States from 1978 until 1981 with an original list price of $87.50. Its lens is what sets it apart in the 110 format. It's a 25mm f/1.9 Kodak Ektar, the fastest lens ever put on a mass-market Kodak 110 camera, and it was designed for low-light shooting. The construction was a modified triplet, with a glass first element and three plastic elements. It also had an aspheric element, which was unheard of for a 110 camera at the time. A Kodak technical paper reported on these aspherics in 1979, noting the lens made low-light photography available to 110 users.

The camera uses manual zone focusing. The focus scale sits on top of the body and runs from 4 feet (1.2 meters) to infinity. The recommended focus distances are mirrored in the viewfinder as pictograms, which is handy for a camera aimed at flash snapshot use. It came with a substantial 34-page user manual, which is more interesting than a straight photo of the camera itself. Kodak made the Ektramax commonly black, and the boring exterior belies some photographic chops. A 1979 print ad for the camera featured Michael Landon.

Little else is documented about the Ektramax. No shutter speed range, ISO range, flash specs, or battery type are recorded in the available sources. It has been included in at least one roundup of the best 110 cameras, and a current dealer listing prices a body at CAD $28.00. The Ektramax appears to be among the last generally available Ektar lenses, following the 26mm f/2.7 units on the top-of-the-line 110 Instamatic cameras.

Known specs:

- 110 film cartridge format

- 25mm f/1.9 Kodak Ektar lens (one glass element, three plastic, with aspheric element)

- Manual zone focusing, 4 ft to infinity

- Made in the United States, 1978–1981

- Original list price: $87.50