This Lady Carefree was manufactured in Germany by Balda. There is another model with the same name, but of Japanese origin.

This camera is low-end, similar to the simplest Kodak Instamatics. At the time of its distribution, Argus no longer handled any manufacturing and simply marketed third-party cameras.

There are no settings, everything is made of plastic. However, there is a real hinge for the back, not just a thinning of the back like on some Instamatics.

With its rectangular elements surrounded by lines, 'embroidered' ¹ patterns, contrasting writings, and shades of beige, ochre, and gold, the camera is aesthetically quite successful. Its 'feminine' appearance is in line with its name.

¹ Embroidered' refers to plastic moldings.

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Balda followed Kodak in the path of the 126 and released a whole range of cameras using the new film cartridge.

Film and 126 Camera

The patent 3,138,081 was published on June 23, 1964. It was filed by Kodak, and the inventor's name is Hubert Nerwin.

It involves a 35mm film contained within a closed cassette. Asymmetric, it serves both as a supply spool and a take-up spool. There is no possibility of inserting the film the wrong way in the camera due to its design. The film is perforated on one side only. The back is lined with paper bearing a frame number, employing the principle of an unexposed back on cameras to avoid the need for a mechanical frame counter. The camera only requires one drive spindle since there's no need to rewind the film. The cassette is returned to the Kodak laboratory after the final exposure without any additional handling.

With this innovative system, the photographer no longer runs the risk of mispositioning the film start tab or tearing the perforations. Also known as Kodapak, the 126 film was available in 20, later in 24 exposures (the 12-exposure version existed for a short time), either in color negative or for colour slides.

The Balda cameras evolved in parallel with those manufactured by Kodak to adapt to the new flashbulbs.


The shape of the cameras changed during the series' existence. The shutter release of the early models is integrated into the front face and is black (Design 1).
Later, it is larger and forms the top and left edge of the front face (Design 2).
The most advanced models change in design. The lens is retractable (Design 3). The mechanism for the movement of the lens was the subject of several patents filed in 1971 by Balda. The inventor was Karl-Heinz Lange (US3709129 and DE2136183).

		Years	Lens	Shutter	Design	Misc.
Models using Flashcube
104		c.1968	Fixfocus	Single speed	1	Winding knob. No setup. Fake cell
304		c. 1968	Fixfocus	1/60	1	Like 104, but automatic exposure
504 electronic		c. 1968	Fixfocus	18 to 1/250	1	CdS cell
544 electronic		c.1972	Fixfocus		1
644 electronic		c.1972	Symbols		1 (?)
144		c.1971-77	Fixfocus	Single speed	2	Winding knob. No setup
344		c.1972	Fixfocus		2	Like 144, but automatic exposure
844 electronic		1971-77		18 to 1/300	3	CdS cell, Light signals in the viewfinder. Retractable lens
Models using Magicube
144-X		1971-77	Fixfocus	Single speed	2	Winding knob. No setup
344-X		c. 1972	Fixfocus		2	Like 144-X, but automatic exposure
824-X		c. 1974-77		1/40 and 1/125	3	Collimated viewfinder. Retractable lens
834-X		c.1974-77			3	Lights in the viewfinder indicating the setting (sun, shade, or flash). Retractable lens
844-X electronic		c.1972-77		18 to 1/300	3	CdS cell, Light signals in the viewfinder. Retractable lens
944-X electronic		c.1974-77	Isconar 5.6/35 Fixfocus	8 to 1/1000	3	CdS cell. Retractable lens