Kodak Instamatic 50 and Kodak Instamatic X-15F

 

Going from the unknown to iconic. This post will be a little different because we will be looking at two cameras, which being the birth and death of the Instamatic camera series. This is the Kodak Instamatic 50 and the Instamatic X-15F.

I have gone through the history of Kodak in the Kodak 200 Color Plus Film and the history of the Instamatic series in the KODAK Pocket Instamatic 10 Camera and Kodak Instamatic 104 Camera posts. But I will provide a brief recap.

In 1963, Kodak launched a successful new range of cameras, the Instamatic cameras, which sold 70 million units (Swiss Camera Museum). This camera series was based off of Kodak’s wanting to make photography as easy and simple as possible by basing it off of “the idea of an integrated camera and film system…” (Burrows 2024). 

Instamatic cameras are simplified photography. As the Swiss Camera Museum notes, “… the tiresome need to read the instruction manual, and the errors caused by faulty loading of the film in the camera remained obstacles for a number of users. Kodak dealt with the problem by releasing the Instamatic, a camera which was extremely easy to use and was loaded with the Kodapak, 35mm film contained within a plastic cartridge. All you needed to do was slide it into the camera, and it was ready to take pictures. Once the film was exposed, the cartridge itself could be sent to the lab for development. No more fear of failing to load the film properly, which granted the general public ever-greater ease of access to photography.”

Kodak started this campaign in the fifties. They wanted to create a new camera that was simple, affordable and reliable. This led to a new project, called “Project 13” which became the Instamatic camera series. (Burrows 2024)

“It was designed so that it could be easily drop-loaded into the camera and, importantly, there was only one way to do this. The camera’s transport system only required one sprocket per frame, so the negative size was 28 x 28mm, and the wind-on knob or lever only needed a short travel. The square format meant that the camera didn’t ever need to be turned on its side.” (Burrows 2024)

This camera design was so effective that it was licensed to other camera companies. There were a multitude of Instamatic cameras models that came not only from the UK and USA, but also Germany, Canada and Australia (Burrows 2024). Some of these might have even been exclusive to the country it was released in, such as the first Instamatic, the Kodak Instamatic 50.

The Instamatic 50 was released in February 1963 and was the first of the series, only released in the UK, before the release of the 100 model (which is similar to the Kodak Instamatic 104 Camera) that was sold in the USA. But it seems that the 50 was “joined in Australia, from components of British origin, limiting the difference to a lack of ‘Made in ...’ beneath the logo, with a sticker on the inside to indicate their manufacture.” It was manufactured up until 1966. (Foticos Collection 2025). 

But this isn’t the only Instamatic to carry the 50 name,  as in 1972, Kodak released the Kodak Pocket Instamatic 50, which is similar to the KODAK Pocket Instamatic 10 Camera, although the Pocket 50 has a sliding lens cover and some extra components. (Kamerastore 2025)

Instamatic 50 Pocket Camera. Image Source: https://kamerastore.com/cdn/shop/products/3-KODAK-060008.jpg?v=1665039435&width=990

The Instamatic series had a long run and finally ended with the USAs release of the Instamatic X-15F, the last Instamatic camera, which was manufactured between the years of 1976-1988, and “Kodak made this camera right up until the end of its production of Instamatics…” (Grey 2023).

The X-15F is based off of the design of the Instamatic X-15 camera, which came first in 1970-1976 (FilmPhotographyProject 2024). The cameras are similar to the 100 and 104 models, meaning that both the X-15 and X-15F work the same way, with the only difference being the flash mount options. The X-15 used Magicubes (see KODAK Pocket Instamatic 10 Camera post) and the X-15F used flip flashes (Grey 2023). This is also where the F in X-15F comes from, the F stands for flip flash (FilmPhotographyProject 2024). 

Kodak Instamatic X-15. Image Source: https://i0.wp.com/live.staticflickr.com/65535/52665924460_8c5e5b9ef7_b.jpg?ssl=1

Kodak Instamatic X-15, top view. Image Source: https://i0.wp.com/live.staticflickr.com/65535/52665782404_23d930050b_b.jpg?ssl=1

Flip Flashes. Image Source: https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTfM64AhxpQnogk57Fg75d9BRM9Jsx77AJiinNHPPm_01FxFsN6

But the X-15F isn’t the only camera to be based off of the X-15s body, for Kodak also released others like the X-25, 30, 35, 45 and the Hawkeye Instamatic X (Grey 2023). But the X-15F is the most similar to the X-15 and according to FilmPhotographyProject (2024), the X-15F was the more popular of the two.

6 out of the 7 Instamatic X series cameras. Image Source: https://live.staticflickr.com/5156/7422040672_cfa4042b87_c.jpg

Kodak Instamatic X-30 (the 7th camera in the Instamatic X series). Image Source:
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSccK8mGz6bKiQmFV0II_9fzMFeAoKD-HEh9w&s

Now let’s have a look at the two cameras.

Both are quite small, with the Instamatic 50 being 110 x 67 x 52 mm, with a weight of 200g (135compact) and the X-15F being 127 x 50 x 76 mm, with a weight of 147g (KODAK store 2017). The weight difference comes from the fact that the 50 is made from a combination of metal and plastic, more specifically a “coated metal chamber” and an “aluminium body” (Foticos Collection 2025). The X-15F, however, seems to be made mostly of plastic.

 Now for the front of each camera.

First the lenses…

Both appear to have the same type of lens. Both have a meniscus lens, see KODAK Pocket Instamatic 10 Camera for more information, (Science Museum Group 2025 & Film Photography Project Store 2025) that has an f/stop of 11 and a focal length of 43mm (Foticos Collection 2025 & Film Photography Project Store 2025).

Above the lenses to the left are the shutter releases. 

The 50 has a L-shaped metal shutter button, similar to the Kodak Instamatic 104 Camera and is close to the edge of the body.

The X-15F has a shutter lever, close to the lens, much like the Agfa Clack film camera, Agfa Billy Record 7.7 Pocket Camera, The Utility Falcon Model F and the Rondo Colormatic.

Speaking of the shutter, both of these cameras have a shutter speed of 1/90 second and with a flash mounted on both the shutter speed switches to 1/40 second (Foticos Collection 2025 & Film Photography Project Store 2025). The only difference between the two cameras is that the X-15F only switches to 1/40 second, when the flip flash is attached (Film Photography Project Store 2025), whereas the 50 has a switch next to the lens, that changes the shutter from “bright” to “hazy sun-flash” (Science Museum Group 2025), bright being faster, due it being used when there is a lot of light and the hazy sun-flash, is slower because it is used in low light settings and when a flash is used.

Basically, the 50 can be switched to 1/40 manually for shoots on cloudy days without a flash and the X-15F only switches to 1/40, when there is a flash installed.

Then there is the viewfinder’s position. On the 50, like the 104, is right above the lens and the X-15F, like the Kodak Kodamatic 980L Instant Camera, is on the far right.

 

Now both of these viewfinders have an up and downside. On the 50, it is an upside that it is above the lens, meaning that the user has some idea of what the lens is looking at, making for a more accurate picture, unlike the X-15F, that has the viewfinder off centre, making the risk of taking a picture that slightly (or sometimes) off mark. But the 50s viewfinder has the downside of being very small and narrow, giving the X-15F the upside of having a bigger and wider viewfinder.

On top of the cameras is where the user can find the flash mounts or hot shoe flash mounts.

On the 50 is a more “traditional” hot shoe mount, which uses a Flash holder or Instamatic Flash gun. The shoe mount is a twin contact hot shoe, where the flash holder is slid in (Little Kodaks 2020). Now the holder itself is reusable, but the bulbs (which are AG-1 bulbs or peanut bulbs) are not. The AG-1 bulbs are similar to the Magicubes, in each bulb can only be used once. So, when a bulb is used in the flash holder, it must be replaced. This method of taking flash photography was quite cumbersome, because of the fact that you must reload the flash holder with a new bulb after every use, whereas the flash or magicube could take four flash photographs in four consecutive takes. It is possible that the flash holder needed two AAA batteries to work (camera-wiki).

Instamatic flash holder or flasholder. Image Source: https://http2.mlstatic.com/D_718812-MLM44295748413_122020-C.jpg

AG-1 bulbs. Image Source: https://aeroconsystems.com/image/cache/catalog/demo/flashag1-800x800.jpg

There was also an adapter made to allow the Instamatic 50 to use the flashcubes.

Adapter for flashcubes. Image Source: https://i.pinimg.com/474x/64/f9/63/64f9632f39bed8ee4c204a3a2fbe0ef0.jpg

On the X-15F is what is known as a lug connector, where a flip flash (that has a lug, which connects to the camera) is inserted. A flip flash can be thought of as a more advance (yet also clumsier and bulkier) version of the magicube.

Flip flash. Image Source: https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3873/14417441066_621783b101.jpg

The best way to explain it, is to use an excerpt from Halgand’s (2023) article:

“The Flipflash is in the form of a vertical strip of 8 flash bulbs. At each end, there is a lug to connect it to the camera. The eight bulbs are separated into two series, each corresponding to one of the two lugs. After the first four have burned, it is necessary to rotate the strip 180°. The Flipflash offers the advantage of moving the bulb away from the axis of the lens, which reduces the red-eye effect.”

Next to the X-15Fs flip flash lug socket/connector, is where the wrist strap goes.

The 50 also has a wrist strap, but it goes on the side of the camera. But unlike the X-15F, which only has the strap as an extra accessory, the 50 not only has the strap, but also has the original leather carrying case.

On the other side of the 50 is the film compartment released button/slide, that like the 104, has to be slid upwards to open the film compartment cover.

The X-15F however has its film compartment release button on the bottom left corner.

On the back of both cameras...

Are the film compartments. Both cameras have a similar design. The only differences being the viewfinder and film counter window placement.

Both cameras’ film compartment covers open the same way and both cameras take 126 film.

Which I talk about in the Kodak Instamatic 104 Camera post. But I will give a quick overview of the film, by quoting an excerpt from Burrow’s (2024) article:

“It was designed so that it could be easily drop-loaded into the camera and, importantly, there was only one way to do this. The camera’s transport system only required one sprocket per frame, so the negative size was 28 x 28mm, and the wind-on knob or lever only needed a short travel. The square format meant that the camera didn’t ever need to be turned on its side. The actual image area of 26.5mm square gave rise to the film’s designation of ‘126’.”

126 film. Image Source: https://live.staticflickr.com/8675/27855440953_793a109bc2_b.jpg

Now it is time to talk about another difference between the 50 and the X-15F, which is the shutter cocking mechanism and film advance levers.

Both cameras have film advanced levers, similar to the 104 and work in the same why. To advance the film to the next frame, the user pushes the lever forward to the front of the camera alongside the body.

There are two differences between the levers. One is that the 50s is on the left side of the camera body and the X-15Fs is on the back but gets pushed to the side of the body to advance the film.

The second difference is how the camera cocks and readies the shutter to fire. On the X-15F, the cocking mechanism is connected to the film advanced lever. When the X-15F lever is moved it releases a needle that seems to stop the film by hooking into one of the film’s sprockets, thus cocking the shutter.

On the 50 it is different, because the lever is separate from the cocking mechanism. The 50 also has a film needle, but unlike the X-15F, the 50s needle, hooks into the film’s sprocket, not to hold it in place but to set off the cocking mechanism. In other words, the 50 only cocks the shutter when the film hooks into the needle, then when the lever advances the film, the sprocket moves the needle from left to right, thus cocking the shutter.

But as some may have noticed, there is another difference, which is that the X-15F has a partial name on it, which honestly, like the Kodak Instamatic 104 Camera that has the name Mclean scratched on it, makes it more valuable and interesting. Just knowing that this camera was used and the adventures and memories it captured fills me with more appreciation for this camera.

Anyway, there it is, the first and last cameras of the Instamatic series. The one thing that surprised me was how similar both cameras are! But it just shows the pure genius of these cameras that Kodak didn’t even have to change the formula when making them. It makes me wonder if Kodak should consider bring back this design and the 126 film?

Thank you for making it to the end and as always, I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I did researching it.

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List of sources:

135compact. Kodak Instamatic 50. https://135compact.com/kodak_50.htm

Burrows, P. 2024. Kodak Instamatic: a brief history of the best-selling camera that shot the swinging sixties. https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/features/kodak-instamatic-a-brief-history-of-the-best-selling-camera-that-shot-the-swinging-sixties

Camera-wiki. Kodak Instamatic 400. http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Kodak_Instamatic_400

FilmPhotographyProject. 2024. Kodak X-15 Instamatic 126 Cartridge Film Camera. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCaV6qQ4rt4

Film Photography Project Store. 2025. FILM CAMERA - 126 Kodak Instamatic X-15F (Vintage - Tested). https://filmphotographystore.com/products/film-camera-126-kodak-instamatic-x-15f-vintage

Foticos Collection. 2025. Kodak Instamatic camera 50. https://foticoscollection.com/en/item/kodak-instamatic-camera-50/3344

Grey, J. 2023. Kodak Instamatic X-15. https://blog.jimgrey.net/2023/03/13/kodak-instamatic-x-15/#:~:text=Introduced%20in%201963%2C%20Kodak's%20Instamatic,load%20film%20in%20subdued%20light.

Halgand, S. 2023. Kodak Instamatic X-15F. https://www.collection-appareils.fr/x/html/page_standard.php?id_appareil=414

Kamerastore. 2023. Kodak Pocket Instamatic 50 – Camera. https://kamerastore.com/products/kodak-pocket-instamatic-50

KODAK store. Kodak Instamatic X-15F Camera. https://www.amazon.com/Kodak-Instamatic-X-15F-Camera/dp/B0056PK7F2

Little Kodaks. 2020. Kodak Instamatic Flash Tests - Vintage Cameras in 4K. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIYeSzZe_6E

Science Museum Group. 2025. Kodak Instamatic 50 camera. https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/objects/co8210887/kodak-instamatic-50-camera

Swiss Camera Museum. Instamatic. https://www.cameramuseum.ch/en/discover/permanent-exhibition/the-century-of-the-film/instamatic/