Get to Know Your Film Disposable Camera Before Hitting the Streets
Before going out and shooting with your film disposable camera, also known as
single-use cameras, it can be helpful to understand all its components and how it functions to get the best pictures possible. All film disposable cameras are designed to be easily used by anyone and are comprised of a simple plastic lens, a shutter, and film winder that winds a roll of pre-loaded film after every picture you take. These cameras are single use, meaning that once you have taken all the pictures provided on the pre-loaded roll in the camera, it cannot be used again. Once your roll is done, these disposable cameras can be submitted whole to your
film developing lab of choice for processing.
Most disposable cameras come with a flash for low light and indoor photos. Each roll of film in a disposable film camera generally has 27 photos, though some may have 15 or 39 photos. The number of photos which can be taken with your disposable camera will be marked on the packaging.
The lens of a disposable film camera has a fixed shutter speed, meaning that the amount of time the lens will open to expose the film inside cannot be changed for the lighting situation of the photo. It’s also important to know that
all film, including the film pre-loaded into a disposable camera, has a set ISO rating or sensitivity to light. The higher the ISO the more sensitive it is to light however, the higher the ISO the grainier your image will be. While some disposable film cameras have faster film loaded in them, making them better for low light situations such as taking photos indoors, a flash can be a great way to ensure your photos will turn out perfectly, regardless of the ISO of the film. Not all disposable cameras come with a flash but purchasing one that does will help you get the most out of your roll of film.
When choosing which disposable film camera to purchase you will often see major brand name cameras like:
There are also non branded or off-brand disposable film cameras available on the market. Quite often these cameras are loaded with cheap film and the build quality of the camera itself is subpar. While these options might seem more affordable, they do not produce the same quality images and can be a big letdown when you get your disposable camera developed.
So, where to buy disposable cameras? That’s easy –
Annex Photo in Toronto offers a selection of disposable cameras but you can also find at many stores that sell film.
Different Types of Disposable Cameras
The world of disposable cameras is varied in selection with many different types of disposable cameras available to try your hands at. There are many options available when it comes to
simple color disposable cameras.
There are also specialty disposable cameras available like
waterproof disposable cameras that are designed to be used when in or around water. They are designed similarly to a normal disposable camera except that they do not have a flash on the camera and the camera is encased in a waterproof plastic housing. Waterproof disposable cameras are perfect for a beach day, scuba diving, boating, and general use around water. It’s important to note that these disposable cameras do not have a flash and for best results should only be brought 5 meters below the surface of the water.
It could also be fun to consider using a
black and white disposable film camera to experience your memories uniquely with nostalgic-tinted
photography creativity.
3 Easy Tips to Help Make your Disposable Camera Photos Perfect
The simple design of a disposable film camera makes it versatile and easy to use, yet it can be frustrating and confusing to not always have all your pictures turn out. These simple tips and tricks will help you to take better photos with your disposable film camera and help you to achieve that perfect roll.
Disposable Camera Tip #1: Distance
Sometimes when getting your photos back from a disposable camera, it might become apparent that some of your shots are annoyingly out of focus. This is because a disposable camera’s fixed lens is mainly designed to be used at a distance of 1-3 meters from the subject you are photographing. If you are too close to or too far, there is a chance that your photos will be blurry and not as sharp as you had hoped. In this case, it’s good to remember to try to take your photos within this distance range of 1-3 meters to get the best quality from your disposable camera.
Disposable Camera Tip #2: Lighting
It’s also very common and puzzling at times to not get back all the images you took on the camera. When this occurs, it generally means that there was not enough available light to capture the image on the film strip and therefore produces a blank image. To avoid missing pictures on your roll, it is important to keep in mind what type of lighting you are shooting in and always trying to take your images in well-lit scenes.
When outdoors in daylight settings, this is usually not an issue; however, it can be helpful to stay aware of trying to take photos with lots of available sunlight to achieve great photos. When shooting a subject that is in shadows or especially when indoors, it’s important to use the flash on your disposable camera to ensure that your images turn out well.
Disposable Camera Tip #3: Using the Flash
Lots of available natural light might not always be present in the scene you are trying photograph, which is especially true when taking photos indoors. This is where the disposable film cameras flash comes in handy.
Often, utilizing the disposable film cameras flash when indoors is imperative to capturing your desired image. When shooting indoors it might seem like the artificial light from indoor lighting is strong enough to capture your image, the reality is that film is not as sensitive to light as the human eye. You might have experienced this very issue when taking a photo indoors on a smart phone where you quickly realized you need to use your phones flash to capture the image. That’s why using the cameras flash is a great tool to achieve perfect exposure with your disposable film camera indoors, but it’s important to know that a flash is only effective at a certain range. For all disposable film cameras this range is between 1-3 meters from your subject allowing the flash to fill in enough of the desired scene with light.
Fun and Creative Ways to Use your Disposable Film Camera
One of the best features of a disposable film camera are how easy they are to carry with you anywhere you go. It’s super handy to always have a disposable camera in your bag to capture your favorite memories as you walk through the world.
This portability along with its durability makes disposable film cameras a great companion while going hiking, camping, or running around the city with friends. With a disposable film camera, you never have to worry about damaging or breaking expensive camera gear while out and about taking photos. Disposables are quite durable and can be put through a lot of wear and tear making them a carefree addition to any trip or outing!
They are also a great gift for guests at events due to their affordability and ease of use! One creative way of capturing memories at a celebration can be to provide guests with disposables that cherish and remember the event for many years to come. Disposable cameras make a great addition to weddings, baby showers, or even that big family BBQ you are planning for this summer!
Whatever the event or outing, having a disposable film camera on you is a fun and carefree way to make your memories come to life through nostalgic and exciting photos you can easily share with friends and family once developed.
Where Can You Get Your Disposable Cameras Developed?
Once you have taken all your photos it’s time have your
disposable cameras developed – just take your disposable film camera to a
film developing lab to process your roll of film. Some film processing labs, including
Toronto’s Annex Photo, will not only process and print the film that is in your disposable film camera but also
scan and print your images so that you can use them as you would any other digital image (send to friends, post on social media, etc.) and if you wish to print down the line, you can pick your best shots from the roll.
When choosing what
film developing,
photo scanning, and other photographic services you would like done with your disposable camera, it’s good to consider what you are planning on doing with your photos. Prints are a great way to be able to hold and enjoy your memories in a tangible way that we don’t always get to experience anymore with the popularity of smartphones and digital photos. Many labs, including
Annex Photo, offers the ability to print more than one set of photos allowing you to give prints away to friends and family to share these special memories.
Get Creative with Your Photography and Try a Disposable Camera for Your Next Adventure
Disposable film cameras are a carefree and creative way to make your memories come to life, and a great way to try out film photography. If you find yourself really enjoying the process of using disposable film cameras and are interested in a further exploration into film photography, the
experts at Annex Photo are always here to answer your questions and help you take your next steps.
Want to try film disposable cameras?
