Kodak Prostar 111 (1980s)

The Kodak Prostar 111 is a basic 35mm viewfinder camera. It's the kind of snapshot shooter Kodak made in the 1980s for people who wanted straightforward, reliable pictures without fiddling with settings. The record on it is thin, but it points to an unpretentious compact.

The lens is a wide-angle 28mm f/5.6, fixed-focus, with three elements in three groups. A sliding cover protects it when not in use. Film advance and rewind are manual, and there's a built-in flash. That's about the whole feature set. No autofocus, no exposure programs. One source lists the focus type as "Auto," which conflicts with the more specific "fixed-focus" description from another. Given the simplicity of the camera and the explicit lens description, fixed-focus is the more credible reading.

Owners who've shot with it report using Kodak Ultramax 400 film, and one Flickr photographer in Olinda, Victoria, Australia described their results positively. Current listings describe the camera as "designed for straightforward and reliable photography," and one eBay title calls it a "1980`s KODAK PROSTAR 111 35mm VIEWFINDER FILM CAMERA MINT CONDITION." A Russian listing notes the shutter works and the flash fires. Prices vary widely by source, $29.00 NZD at one dealer and $149 AUD at another. That likely reflects condition, accessories, and regional markets.

Production years, original launch price, shutter speed range, battery type, and dimensions are all undocumented. This was never a glamorous camera, and it wasn't meant to be. It was a simple, capable snapshot tool, and the record reflects that.

Known specs:

- Format: 35mm viewfinder film camera

- Lens: 28mm f/5.6, fixed focus, 3 elements in 3 groups

- Lens protection: sliding cover

- Flash: built-in

- Film transport: manual advance and rewind

- Color: black