Kodak Brownie

In 1900, the Kodak Brownie democratized photography as a $1 cardboard box camera using 15-cent roll film, transforming it from an expert craft into a pastime for children on a Sunday afternoon. Selling over 250 million units, it created the snapshot concept and outperforms #3 Nikon F in accessibility, being 99% cheaper than professional cameras of its era. Every family photo album for the next century traces back to this box, which was 30% lighter than the typical rival camera and enabled mass-market photography at a fraction of the cost.