It’s a Printer; No; It’s a Camera; No; It’s a Memo Maker; No…It’s All Three!

A Swiss Army Knife is an amazing collection of various blades, tools, and a magnifying glass all housed inside a single pocketable case. It’s the de facto do anything, anywhere device. It’s too bad that a similar device doesn’t exist for photographers…or, does it?

In this context, a photographer’s “do anything, anywhere” device would have to combine more than just a potent camera along with an equally versatile printer. Both Polaroid and Fujifilm have created a large number of cameras with built-in printers. Rather, a photographer’s multi-faceted tool would have to add one more useful feature to its repertoire. Well, in the case of the Kodak answer to this challenge, a user-configurable memo maker is the missing feature.

Shaped like a Paul Bunyan-sized roll of 35mm film, the Kodak Memo Shot Era MS100 is officially known as an instant camera and photo printer. Naturally, ensconced within the product’s name is the third feature, “memo shot,” or, specifically, a memo maker. Remarkably, these three, seemingly dissimilar features are all bundled up neatly into an easy to use and versatile product.

The secret sauce for making the Memo Shot a competitive product is the employment of an onboard micro-sized thermal printer. No, this isn’t a point-of-sale (POS) sales receipt-type printer, this is a revolutionary, high resolution, grayscale photographic printer. Prints made with the Kodak MS100 measure 2.7- x 1.8-inches on a glossy paper that has an adhesive backing. Each roll of user-replaceable paper can print 30 images.

There are two distinctly different methods for printing with the Kodak Memo Shot. First, you can use the MS100 camera for capturing an image and printing it immediately onto the photographic paper. This works via a two button sequence: the camera button captures the image and freezes it on the LCD, while the printer button prints the image. It’s simple and direct, but lacks any editing capability.

[Please note: you are NOT able to save or transfer any photograph from the MS100 to your smartphone. In other words, if you take a photograph with the Memo Shot camera, you must print it immediately or you’ll never see it again.]

Printing Sticker Magic

Secondly, a more advanced option lets you print any photograph in your smartphone’s gallery. In order to better utilize the full potential of the thermal printer, you will need to install an App called Kodak Memo for your Android or iOS smartphone. Using a Bluetooth connection that is initiated on the MS100 by pressing the text button, you must pair with your smartphone: for Android called Kodak Memo_xxxx and for iOS called Kodak Memo_xxxx_iphone.

This is a full-featured App that enables editing any gallery photograph prior to printing. You’ll also use the App to create and print labels. It’s easy, fun, and pretty darn flexible for adding text to symbols and EMOJIs and then printing a glossy/sticky label. Think of all of those labels you can now add to camera bags, pouches, and boxes for identifying the items that are hidden inside.

Priced at $49.99, the Kodak Memo Shot Era MS100 comes with one roll of thermal photographic paper inside the camera. Additional rolls of paper can be purchased as a higher priced package that is combined with the MS100.

Just like that Swiss Army Knife, the Kodak Memo Shot Era can be carried in your backpack. Unlike the knife, however, the Memo Shot can also be used for capturing a photograph of the elusive Bigfoot. Just remember to immediately make a print, otherwise, your viral proof will be gone.

Enjoy.

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