How much did the original Kodak Brownie camera cost?

The original Kodak Brownie camera cost one dollar.

Eastman Kodak introduced the first Brownie in February 1900, pricing it at US$1. That low price was central to the camera’s success: it made photography accessible to ordinary families and helped turn picture-taking into a popular everyday hobby.

The Brownie was a simple cardboard box camera designed by Frank A. Brownell. It used a basic meniscus lens and roll film, with controls simple enough for beginners—and even children—to operate. Kodak’s business model also encouraged owners to keep buying the company’s film and pay for processing.

A common mix-up involves the improved No. 2 Brownie, introduced in 1901. That model cost $2 and produced larger photographs, while some later Brownie variants had different prices. The one-dollar price belongs specifically to the original 1900 Brownie, not every camera in the long-running Brownie range.