Kodak Star 275 (c. 1990–1993)

The Kodak Star 275 is a simple, Chinese-made 35mm point-and-shoot from the early 1990s. Kodak sold cameras like it by the millions to people who wanted snapshots without thinking about apertures or focus. The record on it is thin, but what exists shows an unpretentious, fixed-focus snapshot camera.

It used a focus-free 33mm f/5.6 lens with a built-in flash, and ran on two AA batteries. One source dates it to 1990. Another says it was introduced in 1993 at $27.99, complete with batteries and a roll of film. Both dates appear in the record with no definitive tiebreaker, so take them as approximate. The camera appears to be identical to the Photo fx model, minus that camera's brightly colored controls.

The Internet Archive notes the Star 275 was introduced at $27.99 in American dollars, about $56 in 2022 money. A YouTube post by VCR & VHS Girl described it as "lightweight, easy to use, and perfect for beginners who want to experience film photography without complications." The camera was made in China, though one listing claims a U.S. country of origin - likely an error in the listing text.

What's documented about this camera is mostly found in resale listings rather than technical literature. No shutter speed range, flash guide number, or viewfinder details survive in the available record. One collector's unit reportedly had a non-working flash, a common fate for these simple cameras. At least one non-functional example was repurposed into a novelty photo stand. Examples still surface regularly on second-hand markets.

Known specs: