The Minimalist Photographer

Film Cameras

The Brownie box camera—introduced by Eastman’s company, Eastman Kodak, in 1900—was as revolutionary in its day as the first consumer digital cameras were in ours. The device was a simple one, a box with a simple lens at one end, a roll of film at the other, and bare minimum controls. It cost $1 (equal to around $50 today when adjusted for inflation). The Brownie was the first consumer camera and was marketed as such, with the slogan “You push the button and we do the rest.” The Brownie was responsible for the whole concept of the snapshot. For the first time, taking a photograph did not have to be a big production.

There were many different Brownie models manufactured over the years until the final one in 1962. Later versions of ...