The Kodak Brownie was the camera that basically dragged photography out of the “experts only” corner and put it into the hands of everyday folks. Introduced in 1900, it cost one dollar, used roll film, and was dead simple: point, click, wind. That’s it. No settings, no fuss. Kids could use it. Adults who were afraid of cameras could use it. And suddenly millions of people were taking pictures of regular life instead of stiff studio portraits.
It’s not fancy; it’s not sharp by modern standards. But it democratized photography, made snapshots a thing, and set the stage for the entire 20th-century “everyday camera” market.