Kodak's new 35mm film camera only costs $35, and I can't stop thinking about the iconic Olympus Mju

Photograph of the Kodak EC35 film camera in seven different colors, placed on a cover with the lens cover sliding open and closed — (Image credit: Kodak / RETO)

Reto Project has launched a new Kodak brand film camera, the Kodak EC35
It’s a total point-and-shoot, with focus and all settings fixed
However, it does feature a sleek sliding lens cover, in the style of the Olympus Mju from the early 1990s.

A new Kodak film camera has just been announced. And the reason for the tortured use of passive voice in the previous sentence is that it’s not actually made by Kodak.

The Kodak EC35 is a 35mm film camera manufactured by Reto Project, a company that licenses the Kodak name to produce a line of analog and digital cameras. Although my favorite is the Kodak Snapic A1, a sleek little 35mm film, its most popular version, by far, has been the small keychain digital camera, the Kodak Charmera.

Reto typically produces simple point-and-shoots, and the Kodak EC35 is exactly that. You need 35mm film and all its settings are fixed, with a shutter speed of 1/100 second and an aperture of f/10. The lens is fixed focus – there’s not even the option to switch from near focus to far focus like there was on the Snapic A1 – and it’s a 25mm optic. The camera also has a built-in flash.

What really caught my attention about this camera was its design. Specifically, the fact that it features a beautifully curved sliding lens cover that protects the optics when not in use. This is a chip from the Olympus film camera block: the iconic Olympus Mju immediately comes to mind.

Photograph of Kodak EC35 film camera placed in a backpack outdoors — (Image credit: Kodak / RETO)

All the style, some substance

Although I tend to associate sliding lens covers with the Olympus

And I also like the idea of having a lens cover in a practical sense – not just aesthetic! Many of these cheap compacts, like the Snapic A1, Ektar H35N, etc., don’t have a lens cap or lens protection of any kind, which means it’s easy for the lens to get dirty, dusty, or bumped. The cover also doubles as a shutter lock, meaning the camera won’t end up accidentally shooting photos while it’s in your bag.

The EC35 is available in an attractive range of colors: Midnight Black, Vanilla White, Butter Yellow, Lavender, Powder Blue, Blush Pink and Avocado Green. I normally say “give me black or give me death” when it comes to cameras, but I admit that this yellow version is quite striking.

The EC35 is powered by a single AA battery (which is only needed for the flash) and weighs a pleasantly slim 102g. It’s available on its own for $34.99 / £35.99 (around AU$50) or as a bundle with a 24-photo roll of bright and colorful Kodak Ultramax 400 for $44.99 / £45.99 (around AU$65).