Kodak KE50
The Kodak KE50 is a 35mm auto-focus, easy-load film camera from Kodak's consumer line. Documentation on this model is thin — no production years, original price, or market context survive in the record. What is known comes mostly from period manuals and classified listings.
The camera uses 135 format film and is built around a 29mm glass lens at f/5.6, with a programmed shutter speed. It accepts ISO 100–400 film. The viewfinder is described as a reverse-Galilean type. A notable feature is the Kodak Sensalite flash with automatic power-down to conserve battery life. Some versions of the KE50 included a date-back, and the manual notes that the date-back information must be reset after replacing batteries.
The "Easy Load" designation points to Kodak's drop-in film loading system of this era. Related models mentioned alongside the KE50 include the Kodak KE20, KE25, KE30, KE60, and KC 50AF, though no source explicitly maps the hierarchy between them.
One source (manua.ls) misidentifies the KE50 as a compact digital camera — that is an error. Every other source, including the official manual, confirms it as a 35mm film camera.
Collectors have used the KE50 for street photography — one Lomography upload tags it with "35mm architecture buildings kodakke50 pattaya streetphotography." Current asking prices in classifieds run around 4,000 rubles (~$45 USD) in Russia and 115 BYN (~$35 USD) in Belarus.
Known specs:
- Type: 35mm auto-focus, easy-load film camera
- Film: 135 format, ISO 100–400
- Lens: 29mm glass, f/5.6 aperture
- Shutter: programmed speed
- Viewfinder: reverse-Galilean
- Flash: Kodak Sensalite, automatic power-down
- Optional date-back
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