Kodak KB-10 35mm Camera

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And...

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Anyway, back to the camera at hand:

Jumping from a Kodak copy, to a real Kodak, this post will be looking at another point-and-shoot camera from Kodak, this is the Kodak KB-10.

I already went through the history of Kodak in my 200 Color Plus and Instamatic Pocket 10 posts.

With that let’s get into the camera itself.

Now it appears that the Kodak KB series was quite popular (MannShinde 2024), but at the same time I can’t find much info on it. All that I could find was that it was sold to amateurs in the 35mm film market (filmphotography.eu 2021).

It was a cheap point-and-shoot camera manufactured by Kodak’s Mexican branch and “…was located at the lower end of the price scale. This can also be seen in the value of the camera with its black plastic housing…” (filmphotography.eu 2021). 

And because of this camera’s cheap aesthetic and, well, bland look, it probably didn’t draw much attention to be a well-recognised series. Not only that but the first KB camera, the KB-10 (the one in this post), was released in 1996 (filmphotography.eu 2021) and by that time point-and-shoot cameras were already a dime in a dozen (Cooke 2025).

Not only that, but the point-and-shoot camera market was already so far technically advance, as in 1977 Konica released the C35 AF, a compact camera with an autofocus lens (Cooke 2025).

Konica C35 AF. Image Source:
https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/5c284ea796e76f8799c787ae/1654437629108-C606CGNNJJH49B92RA1D/Konica+C35+AF+Flash+On.jpg?format=1500w&content-type=image%2Fjpeg

Something the KB-10 didn’t have (Camerapedia Wiki), despite it being released in 1996, as mentioned! Why is this important? Well because as Cooke (2025) writes:

“In the early 1980s, taking a photograph still required thought, skill, and patience for most people. You had to manually focus your lens, calculate exposure by reading a light meter, and physically advance the film after each shot. Getting eight properly exposed, in-focus photos from a 24-exposure roll was considered a success. Cameras were precision instruments that demanded competence, and most people didn't have the patience to develop that competence.”  

Meaning that camera companies saw the market value in selling easy to use cameras that anyone can pick-up and take pictures with, but to keep people interested in these cameras, they had to make it more advanced and automatic, while at the same time keeping it in the low cost bracket.

Now this could be tricky, as making it too automatic will be expensive, forcing the company to sell it at a high price, discouraging buyers from picking up a model, but on the other hand making it too cheaply and with outdated technology will turn buyers off.

I believe that the KB series falls under the second problem as eluded earlier, with even a reviewer describing the KB-10 as a “no thrill point-and-shoot” (MannShinde 2024), and even Camerapeida Wiki saying that it “…looked like a modern compact camera but was just a primitive viewfinder camera…”

But, as we have seen with the Instamatic 33 and 155, and even the Halina cameras, such as the X101 and Regent, just because there isn’t much info on the camera or the camera has faded into obscurity, doesn’t mean that it wasn’t popular, as there are at least 10 cameras with the KB name on it, and all “…were derived from the KB 10…” (Camerapedia Wiki), most likely to keep up with the advancing market.

Examples include the second KB, the KB-12, 1999 (CollectiBlend 2025) and the (seemingly) last model the KB Zoom, 2003, (Collectiblend 2025).

Kodak KB12. Image Source:
https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/images/Kodak-Eastman-Kodak-KB-12.jpg

 

Kodak KB Zoom. Image Source:
https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/images/Kodak-Eastman-Kodak-KB-Zoom.jpg

I also think that these cameras were not only introduced too late, and combined with the basic functions and the bland looks, this camera was over shadowed by the growing market of not only more advanced point-and-shoot compact cameras, but also by the digital cameras, with Cooke (2025) writing: “…transition to digital should have killed the compact camera. Early digital cameras in the late 1990s were expensive curiosities: the Apple QuickTake and Casio QV-10 produced mediocre images and required computer literacy to use. Sony's Mavica line in the late 1990s bridged the gap between novelty and mainstream, storing images on floppy disks and offering the first truly user-friendly digital experience. This paved the way for affordable 3-5-megapixel models that fully displaced film by 2003-2005. By the mid-2000s, compact film cameras had virtually disappeared from store shelves as digital took over.”

Apple QuickTake. Image Source:
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/uuuXe3tNkJq5BmGwBt5UhC.jpg

Casio QV-10. Image Source:
https://cameralegend.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/casio1c.jpg

Sony Mavica. Image Source:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2d/Sony_Mavica_1981_prototype_CP%2B_2011_%28filter_crop_soerfm%29.jpg

But this is not where the KB series ends, because in 2003, Kodak re-introduced the KB-10 in India at low prices with an “…ad campaign to educate consumers on the ease of photography the product offered. This ad commercial helped the brand sell in millions and etched its presence in the market…” (Tripathi 2023).

According to Tripathi (2023) cameras in India at the time weren’t a common thing and was seen as a luxury item, leading to the average camera sales to be as low as 13%, compared to the European’s 80-100% sales.

But that all changed when Kodak proposed to the bring back the KB10 and with a very clever and funny commercial showing how easy it was to use the 35mm camera, “…which put photography just an arm’s length away from consumers…”  (Tripathi 2023). 

Not only that, but the former VP of Kodak India had the idea of showing how easy it was to use the KB10, and to also show that its quality was on par with professionals’, by having owners of photography studios use their cameras, and then the KB10. This gamble worked as people were convinced that the KB10 had the ability to change the way people saw photography (Tripathi 2023). The KB10 lasted for quite a while, as there were models that were produced up until 2009 (MannShinde 2024) and could have even gone up to the mid-2010s!  

And that seems to be all there is. The only other information I could find was that this camera went by another name, the Kodak Star 1000 (filmphotography.eu 2021).

Kodak Star 1000. Image Source:
https://kamerastore.com/cdn/shop/products/27-04-23-9174.jpg?v=1688978153

Now, with that, let’s have a closer look at the camera at hand.

Released in 1996 in Mexico, this camera weighs 162kg and its size is 133 x 72 x 43 mm (Kamerastore 2026). Made from plastic, this camera is cheaply made and honestly, a bit of a downgrade from the other point-and-shoot cameras on this blog (Sinpo PQ-3, the Praktica Sport  and the Minolta AF-Big Finder), except for the Solar DX-3, that camera is just the worse.

Unfortunately, this camera’s name and markings have faded somewhat, as it originally had markings that were bright and bold. But the colour chosen was dull.

KB10 markings example front. Image Source:
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/619+CX+XqkL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg

KB10 markings example top. Image Source:
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/6195jJzs1SL._AC_UF1000,1000_QL80_.jpg

Now time to examine the camera. Starting with the front-

Lens first.

First is the lens cover, that most point-and-shoot cameras have, and works as the cameras on/off switch, by locking the shutter.

Then there is the lens, which an Aspherical (see my Kodak Disc 8000 post for more information) 30mm with an f/stop of 8 (Bromurefilm 2026). It is a fixed lens with a focus range of 3.94 feet (filmphotography.eu 2021) or 4 feet to infinity, according to the manual. And also according to the manual the lens is also a 2-element lens (see my SX-70 post).

Above the lens-

Is the simple viewfinder.

Next to that is the flash.

This flash has a range of 1.2-5.8 meters, and works with batteries. Unlike the other point-and-shoot cameras, the KB10 doesn’t have a button to turn off the flash. So the only way to have it off is to take out the batteries.

On top-

Here is the shutter release button.

This camera appears to have a single leaf shutter and the manual states that it only has one shutter speed, which is fixed and that is 1/100 second.

After that is the film frame counter.

 This is attached to the film-sprocket teeth, which not only sets the film counter, but also cocks the camera.

Then lastly it is the film rewind handle, similarly to the Solar DX-3, this camera doesn’t have an automatic rewind system and must be done by turning the rewind handle. But unlike the DX-3, with the KB10, you don’t have to hold down a button when turning it, more on this later.

On the left side-

On the bottom corner is the built-in wrist strap.

Bottom-

Here, in the right corner, is the battery compartment.

Now this compartment only powers the flash. The rest of the camera works without the use of the batteries. The batteries are only needed when taking flash photography and uses two AA batteries.

Now for the back-

Here is the film compartment cover.

On this cover is the film window, used to let the user know that there is film inside and what type of film it is.

Next to that is the film door latch, used to open the cover by sliding it upwards.

Above the cover is the flash ready light.

Next to that is the viewfinder.

After that is the film-rewind lever.

 This unlocks the film sprocket teeth to turn the other way so that the film can be rewound by the handle. Once you switch the film lever the lever stays in place, so unlike the DX-3, the user doesn’t have to hold it in.

The lever jumps back in place and locks the teeth when a new film cartridge is inserted and advanced.

Speaking of, lastly is the film advance wheel.

This is a thumbwheel that advances the film. Unlike the other cameras that uses this function, the thumbwheel isn’t connected to the cocking mechanism. Instead, similar to the Instamatic 50, 104 and the RF35, the film that is advanced by the wheel, hooks its sprocket holes into the teeth and turns it, thus advancing the film counter and cocking the camera.

Then finally we have the film compartment.

It is a bare minimum as they come. There isn’t even a pressure plate on the door.

But there are indicator stickers that help teach the user how to safely insert the film.

Screenshot from the manual.

Screenshot from the manual.

What I find interesting is that the film advance spool doesn’t have a slit where the film tip is usually inserted. But this makes sense seeing that the rewind is manual and the thumbwheel can’t turn the other way (to prevent any accidental rewind and causing the film to bunch up in the compartment), so it is one solid smooth piece that allows the film to slip right off when rewinding. 

This camera takes 35mm film, and is compatible with any film that has an ISO of 100, 200 and 400. And because it is a 35mm, it will have a format of 36 x 24 mm. To learn how film works see my Kodak 200 Colorplus post.

This camera is an unassuming piece of camera history, but it is a fun little camera that opened up a new world of possibilities to many amateurs around the world at the fraction of the cost. Although this camera has faded in obscurity and seems to be both widely known and forgotten, I do recommend this camera for anyone who is looking to venture into the film photography realm.

It is lightweight, inexpensive and easy to use. And unlike other point-and-shoot cameras, the KB10 doesn’t need batteries to operate without the flash. Yes, it is a bit outdated compared to the Praktica Sport  and the Minolta AF-Big Finder, but it is mostly on par with the Sinpo PQ-3, and obviously miles ahead when it comes to the Solar DX-3!

And that is it, what do you think? Would you use a KB series camera? Do you think that the other point-and-shoots are better suited for film beginners? Or should we just fade it all out and stick to digital? Let me know in the comments.

And as always, thank you for making it to the end and I hope you enjoyed as much as I did researching it.     

Please remember to check out my Patreon at: patreon.com/OnlineCurator  where you can find my first post of my new series, as well as pictures and links to my other Fantasy Blog series.

Please see the Please help this site post on this blog, for more information.

Or if you want to help in another way, please visit my Displate Store. Thank you for the support. 

List of sources:

Bromurefilm. 2026. Kodak KB10. https://bromurefilm.com/en/products/kodak-kb10?srsltid=AfmBOoog9r8OrSM6wKkUq68atq3XAx8dMUl031jZ_KTOvJCoBye4C0Xy

Camera-wiki. 2025. Kodak KB. https://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Kodak_KB

Camerapedia Wiki. Kodak KB 10. https://camerapedia.fandom.com/wiki/Kodak_KB_10

CollectiBlend. 2025. Kodak Eastman: Kodak KB 12. https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Kodak-Eastman/Kodak-KB-12.html

CollectiBlend. 2025. Kodak Eastman: Kodak KB Zoom. https://collectiblend.com/Cameras/Kodak-Eastman/Kodak-KB-Zoom.html

Cooke, A. 2025. The Rise and Fall of the Point-and-Shoot Camera. https://fstoppers.com/historical/rise-and-fall-point-and-shoot-camera-715387

Filmphotography.eu. 2021. Kodak KB 10. https://filmphotography.eu/en/camera/kodak-kb-10/

Internet Archive. 2014. Kodak KB10 Manual. https://archive.org/details/kodak-kb10-user-manual/mode/2up

Kamerastore. 2026. Kodak KB10- Camera. https://kamerastore.com/en-int/products/kodak-kb10

MannShinde. 2024. Unboxing a Time Capsule: Brand New Kodak KB 10 Camera from 2009. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25kQizkd9wQ

Tripathi, A. 2023. When Kodak KB 10 flashed humour in the boardroom. https://brandequity.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/research/advertising/when-kodak-kb-10-flashed-humour-in-the-boardroom/103523599

Haking’s Products Halina Regent 126 camera

Check out my new children's book, it will officially be released on 27 August 2026, but it is available for pre-orders here: https://pegasuspublishers.com/book/thomas-and-hugabe

And...

Before we begin, I would like to announce that my new Patreon exclusive camera series is now up, with my first post talking about the Chuzhoa M1 Retro Camera. It can be viewed by either joining my Patreon or buy just buying the post for a onetime fee. I hope you will check it out, not only will you be part of an exclusive club, but you will be helping this site out.

You can find the first post on my new series here:

https://www.patreon.com/posts/chuzhoa-retro-m1-151240549?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link 

Remember to also check out my displate:

https://displate.com/artist/bfennsw?art=66e809bf952d9

Anyway, back to the camera at hand:

Moving away from big named brands, this post will be looking at another one of Haking’s products, the Halina Regent 126 camera.

I already went through Haking’s Products company history in my Halina Roy post. So with that let’s get into the camera at hand.

The Halina Regent is a 126 film cartridge camera, like the Halina X101, which is a camera type invented by Kodak (see my Instamatic 104 and 50 & X-15F posts).

Since information on the company is so scarce and that Halina has made many 126 film cameras as a cheaper alternative to Kodak, this camera, like the Halina X101, has virtually no history!

And also similar to Kodak’s Instamatic 33 and 155X, the Halina Regent camera faded into the background and became part of a forgotten series, and was also outshined by better more advanced versions of Halina’s 126 camera range, such as the Simplette Electric (Camera-wiki 2025).

Halina Simplette Electric. Image Source:
https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3121/2390428783_4fed44cfa7.jpg

But from what I can find or see is that the Regent might have been part of a series of Halina 126 film cameras that have a unique look that separates it from previous cameras, similar to Kodak’s Instamatic 155X. Meaning that Halina was just trying to copy Kodak’s next move in trying to either copy or trick people into thinking they were buying a Kodak.

The reason for why I think this is the case, is because the Regent is completely different from other 126 cameras (just like how the Instamatic  33 and 155X are different from the others). And there are other 126 Halina cameras that look similar to the Regent and even some that share the Regent’s distinct looks, such as the face plate, the name of the camera being black and silver and having “126 Cartridge Loading” printed on them.

Examples include the already mentioned Simplette Electric, and then there are the Easy-Matic, the Simplette FC and the Halina 126.

Halina Easy-Matic. Image Source:
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/qh8AAeSwJvtnsfPn/s-l1200.jpg

Simplette FC. Image Source:
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/pbYAAeSw5Jpp103L/s-l400.jpg

Halina 126. Image Source:
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/zDwAAeSwQMdp1kWr/s-l1200.jpg

And to further support my idea that Halina was copying Kodak, is that these cameras came out in the 1970s (Camera-wiki 2025), which is around the same time Kodak released the new look that the Instamatic 155X has.

But this camera could have also come out in the late 1960s, as the shutter release button is similar to the Speedo-Flash, released in 1966 (Camera-wiki 2025), which looks similar to the Instamatic 104 and 50! And when Kodak moved away from that look, so did Halina.

Halina Speedo-Flash. Image Source:
https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3008/2571772357_a11cc75445.jpg

And because Halina was following their competitor’s trends, which stopped them from putting any real thought into designing this camera (unlike the Super X35) and the fact that the Regent is as bare bones as they come without any extra or special features to set it apart and stand out (like the Halina Simplette EE Automatic), makes me think that this is why the camera fell out of the collective consciousness, as I can’t find a trace of this camera anywhere on the internet.

Halina Simplette EE Automatic. Image Source:
https://live.staticflickr.com/5611/15607460825_bdfbafeec7.jpg

The only other piece of information that I can find is from Halgand (2026), which hints that there was a Regent II made, but when I click the link it takes me nowhere.

Now there are two possible reasons for why this camera is so rare and can’t be found, either there weren’t many made or it didn’t sell well, so it was just thrown away. Both of these reason could be a result of the fact that this camera uses Flashcubes instead of Magicubes.

As we know from the Instamatic posts, Flashcubes became outdated with the arrival of Magicubes and if this camera was released in the 1970s, most if not all cameras used Magicubes, as they were easier and much more convenient to use.

But if it came out in the late 1960s then it was nearing the end of the Flashcubes, meaning that the Halina Regent was an out of date camera that used a flash system that no one wanted.

This could be that Haking’s Products either jumped on the trend a bit late (if from the 1960s), and didn’t sell and was just thrown into a landfill or (if released in the 1970s) they were trying to sell cameras to people who still had a bunch of Flashcubes left over and thus meaning they didn’t make many Regent cameras. Either way the Regent didn’t make an impact on the market or the history books.

Either way this camera is unknown and seems to have gotten lost in the race to become the second best next to Kodak.

Anyway… Let’s take a look at the camera itself.

The Halina Regent seems to have been released in the late 1960s-1970s. Its style is most likely inspired by Halina’s more successful cameras, like the Paulette II and other 35mm cameras. 

Halina Paulette II. Image Source:
https://collection-appareils.fr/haking/images/Halina_Paulette_II.jpg

.Its weight is similar to the Instamatic 104 and 50, and its size is 4.5 x 2.7 x 2.5 inches.

Now for a closer examination, starting with the front-

The lens-

The lens is missing the plate that tells us what type of lens it is, but by looking at similar 126 Halina cameras, this plate would most likely say that it is a Halinar (see my Halina Roy post for information on this), with a fixed focus of 45mm (possibly 47 or even 50mm), has an f/stop of approximately between 2.8-5.6 (my guess is that it is 5.6), but since it is copying the Kodak Instamatics, the f/stop could also be 11.

Example of a Halina 126 lens. Image Source:
https://img.bobshop.co.za/f_auto,c_fit,w_300,h_300,d_notfound.png/user/5241009/1000082809_e-ASWPJyr.jpg

Halina 300 lens example. Image Source:
https://live.staticflickr.com/2831/13102927793_8f1ac54840_b.jpg

The glass is plastic and is probably a Meniscus lens (see my Instamatic Pocket 10 post), with an element coating, but I don’t think that is the case here.

On the side of the lens-

Is the shutter speed setting.

It has two settings, instant (the sun symbol) for when there is an abundance of light or when shooting outside and the flash or bulb setting.

Now I am going off of the assumption that this camera is a copy of Kodak’s Instamatics, since some Halina 126 cameras say that they are made specifically for Kodak’s 126 cartridges (Kodapak cartridge), and the fact that this camera uses Flashcubes, we can assume that the shutter speeds are the same as the Instamatic 104 and 50.

Halina Simplette FC. Image Source:
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oc6M4inHO_Y/hqdefault.jpg

That being 1/90 second on the instant setting and 1/40 second on the flash setting.

Next to the lens is the shutter release button.

The shutter on this camera is a simple leaf shutter.

Above the lens, is the viewfinder.

On the right-

Is the eyelet for the wrist strap, which this camera came with.

Left side-

Is the film compartment cover release.

This must be pushed up to unlock the cover.

On top-

Is the Flashcube socket.

The connector being round is what gave it away that it uses Flashcubes.

Underneath-

Is the second indicator that it uses Flashcubes, because here is the battery compartment that powers the Flashcube socket. Unfortunately, this battery compartment is corroded and the latch is jammed. If I try to open it, it’ll not only break the latch, but it will damage the camera as well. So, it will be left as is.

This camera uses two AAA batteries.

On the back-

Is the film compartment cover.

On this cover is the film counter window.

It is missing a few plates. The plates probably said something like, “use 126 film” and “wind film to stop” or it could have just had the Haking’s Product logo on it. It is also possible that it could have also been a flash guide.  

Back of the Halina Simplette FC. Image Source:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oc6M4inHO_Y

 

Back of a Halina 126. Image Source:
https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/7uYAAeSwpZhp1kWq/s-l1600.webp

Above the cover from left to right-

Is the Flashcube socket wheel, which like the Halina Roy must be manually turned to move the cube to the next bulb after every use.

Then there is the viewfinder.

Lastly the film advance wheel.

Which has the exact same cocking mechanism and film sprocket hook/lever as the X101.

Then finally is the film compartment.

This is a simple 126 film compartment, which as I mentioned a few times, uses 126 film (see Instamatic 104 post for more information) and to learn about how film works, please see my 200 Color Plus post.

And that seems to be it. The Regent isn’t the best Halina camera and like the Instamatic 33 is very boring looking. I much prefer the Halina X101 or better yet Kodak’s Instamatics!

Ultimately, this camera is basically just an easier version of the Halina Roy, and an outdated version of the X101. But it doesn’t even come close compared to the Halina Super X35, which out of all the Halina’s on this blog I would highly recommend if you want to add a Halina to your collection.

But what do you think? Do you like this camera? Can you add more information to this camera’s history? Is better than the X101 and Roy or a downgrade compared to them? Let me know in the comments.

And as always thank you for making it to the end and I hope you enjoyed this as much as I did researching it.

Please remember to check out my Patreon at: patreon.com/OnlineCurator  where you can find my first post of my new series, as well as pictures and links to my other Fantasy Blog series.

Please see the Please help this site post on this blog, for more information.

Or if you want to help in another way, please visit my Displate Store. Thank you for the support.

List of sources:

Camera-wiki. 2025. Halina Simplette Electric. https://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Halina_Simplette_Electric

Camera-wiki. 2025. Halina Speedoflash. https://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Halina_Speedoflash

Halgand, S. 2026. Full Text Search. https://collection-appareils.fr/general/html/resultats_eng.php