What did George Eastman achieve by 1884 regarding film?

Answer

Patented the first practical roll film

Before creating the camera, Eastman focused on the enabling technology: the medium itself. Having worked on improving dry-plate photography throughout the late 1870s, his efforts culminated in 1884 with the patenting of the first practical roll film. This innovation was fundamental because the flexible nature of roll film allowed for significantly smaller and lighter camera designs compared to the cumbersome equipment needed for glass plates, thus directly contributing to the eventual democratization of photography.

What did George Eastman achieve by 1884 regarding film?
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