Which inventor developed a film camera in 1888 and popularized the Kodak brand?

• A. Thomas Edison
• B. George Eastman
• C. Louis Daguerre
• D. Niepce

Answer: (B)

Understanding who made film cameras truly consumer-friendly and launched the Kodak brand. George Eastman developed roll film, a flexible, lightweight film that could be wound and reused, and in 1888 introduced the Kodak camera, a preloaded, easy-to-use device that held a roll of film and could be sent back to the company for processing after all exposures were used. This combination of roll film and a simple handheld camera transformed photography from a studio, plate-based process into a mass hobby, making it accessible to everyday people. Eastman’s innovations lowered costs and simplified handling, creating a recognizable brand that stood for approachable photography. Earlier pioneers laid groundwork for capturing images, but it was Eastman’s approach that popularized a film-based consumer camera and the Kodak name.