The Kodak Ektralite 10 was my first real camera. A gift I received for, I think, Christmas 1987, I really enjoyed using it, even if my allowance forced me to choose between film and processing. I think I always chose film and don’t have any photos I might have made with it.

Kodak made millions of these value-engineered cameras and likely spent as much on Michael Landon to appear their commercials as they did on anything else related to the product, which they often marketed as a family snapshot camera and a gift for moms, grandparents, and children.

Having long long ago lost the original copy I was given, I purchased one from an eBay seller a few years ago in a fit of nostalgia. There aren’t many companies making 110 film cartridges anymore (I can think of two: Lomography and Reflx Lab), but they are at least available.

Whatever its benefits in helping to miniaturize cameras by marrying existing 16mm film with Kodak’s popular 126 cartridges when it was introduced in 1972, 110 never quite overcame its limitations, only ever really producing muddy, grainy, small prints. Even with the much better 110 cameras manufactured by Pentax, Minolta, and Rollei.

A perfect image recording medium for the #ShittyCameraChallenge.

Well, that was nice to be out to make photos, listen to an album I love, and feel the sun. 🎞️🎶☀️

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— Charlotte ♥ (@lottiejoy.ca) July 23, 2026 at 11:10 AM

So earlier this week, with the sun out and the music in my ears, I loaded a roll of Lomo Color Tiger into my Ektralite and make it grain. Since the 110 reel for my Paterson tank arrived, for the first time ever, I would also be able to develop 110 for myself.

It all turned out the way I expected, which is perfect ☺️

Unfortunately, it was on this walk that I might have let the moment get ahead of my healing, so I’ve had to take things much easier than I might otherwise want to since. Oh well, the little tear will heal and before I know it, I’ll be back to rights!

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