We’re seeing lots of people pick up disposable film cameras recently and we couldn’t be happier. For some, they’re the perfect gift for the budding photographer. While for others, it’s the perfect tool to capture memories with friends and family in a very uniquely classic way.
And for many people, the disposable film cameras (or their reloadable counterparts) are your very first taste of film photography. There is however, and you may have fallen victim to this, an unfortunately large amount of photographs that don’t turn out as we hoped.
As classic film cameras seem to be only increasing in price, let’s decipher how to make the most out of disposable or the reusable plastic film cameras on the market today.
1. Prepare your expectations
Disposable film cameras are not high-tech, feature packed tools for making fine art prints for the museum (although, I’m pretty sure it’s been done before).
These cheap, plastic boxes can produce some really nice photographs but for the most part, they’re just simple plastic boxes with a plastic lens that for a brief moment, let a little bit of light inside.
So with that, you can only expect so much from these lil critters. Their capabilities are limited and it’s this that really gives these cameras personality and the ‘vintage vibe’.
Embrace the imperfections. They’re delightful.
2. About the limits
While digital cameras and memory cards are advancing wildly, a standard roll of film is still limited to up to 36 photographs. And if you’re buying a disposable camera, you’ll get 27 photographs. And that’s if they all work out properly. That’s not a lot of photos in today’s economy; so do your best not to waste them.
I suppose I can assume that if you’re reading this post, you’re well on your way to trying not to waste your film.
So while you’re limited, it means you want to start to think about each photograph a little more. Take your time. Check the scene and the available light. Line it all up and click the button.
3. Exposure Settings? What's an exposure setting?
All cameras use 3 main settings to make a photograph; Film Speed (ISO), Aperture & Shutter Speed. A disposable camera has all three of these predetermined.
The ISO is usually 400 but if you pick up one of the Kodak Flash disposable cameras, then you’ll get an extra stop* of light to play with.
* a stop of light is a measurement used to determine how much light a camera is seeing
The aperture & shutter speed are both set to about average. F/10 and 1/120th of a second. There’s no way to adjust these settings so understand a few things.
During most daylight hours, these settings will work fine. Cloudy days may produce slightly darker photographs but if you’ve gone the 800 speed film, you should be fine.
Indoors and at night, however, you’ll need a flash and you’ll need to be reasonably close to your subject. How close? Most flashes on disposable cameras are good up to about 1.5-2 metres.
4. Range finders and where's my fingers?
Most cheap disposable/reusable film cameras are range finders. Meaning, you don’t look through the camera lens when framing up the shot. That means you can’t tell by looking through the viewfinder if your finger is covering the lens. That’s something you don’t want to learn about once the film is developed and you have your prints.
Double check your hand position on the front of the camera and get used to where the lens in before you start snapping photographs.
5. DO NOT OPEN THE CAMERA BACK
If you open the back of the camera and the film is still visible, all of those photographs are gone.
OK, so this is more aimed at the reusable film cameras being sold at the moment but please, please for the sake of your photographs, do not open the back of the camera.
Once you have exposed the full roll of photographs, wind the film back into the canister. It often clicks and has tension on the film winder right up to the point when the film is all the way back into its home.
If you’re unsure, bring your camera in store first and ask us to remove the film and provide a quick guide for your next roll.
Samples using various cheap film cameras
