Kodak M38

In 2021, Sino Promise Group Limited, a China-based company, unveiled the Kodak M38, a camera for 35mm film. It acquired the license for the “Kodak” brand and produces a range of 35mm cameras under this name. It is marketed in specific markets by RETO Production Ltd, a Hong Kong-based company.

The camera is available in many colors. For example, it comes in yellow, dark blue, dark red, black, white and purple.

The M38 comes with a fixed lens. With a focal length of 31 mm, it has the widest aperture of f/10 and is made of a plastic lens element.

The focus of the lens is fixed and cannot be adjusted. To prevent blur, the subject should be at least 100 cm away.

The Kodak M38 is not equipped with an exposure meter. The exposure settings are fixed: Aperture is f/10 and shutter speed is fixed at 1/120 second. There is no bulb mode for this camera.

Sufficient light is provided by the built-in flash. Although the flash intensity is not adjustable, the flash can be activated or deactivated.

The camera does not have a tripod socket or a self-timer, nor does it have a double exposure function.

According to the manual, the camera weighs 116 grams. The dimensions are 11.4 x 6.3 x 3.5 cm. The 35mm photo camera is powered by a AAA battery (eBay / Amazon*). The battery needed for flash operation is not included.

Films for the Kodak M38

The camera is supplied without films. The M38 is designed for use with 35mm film. Despite the popularity of digital cameras, the 35mm format remains an important aspect of photography, and various producers continue to make film in this format.

For color images with the M38, Kodak Ultramax 400* is recommended, while Kodak TRI-X 400* is recommended for black-and-white images. In tests, both films have performed well in typical applications.

However, there are a variety of other films that can be used with this camera, including those from other manufacturers such as Lomography, Foma, Rollei, and Fujifilm, which provide suitable 35mm films for the Kodak M38.

Color films are usually developed using the C-41 development process, which is available at all photo labs that develop 35mm film. Black and white films, however, must be processed with a special black and white developer.