Disposable camera

A disposable or single-use camera is a simple film camera, sold with film pre-loaded. Unlike more conventional cameras, a disposable is designed to be returned whole, where the entire camera is disposed of, and only the processed film returned to the customer.

Typically, they have very limited controls, with no ability to control focus, zoom, aperture or shutter speed. To aid with lighting, most are equipped with an integrated flash. Internally, modern disposable cameras use 35 mm film, but older models also used APS or 110 cartridge film.

While some disposables contain a normal roll of film,^[1] others just have the film wound internally on an open spool. Some cameras are recycled; refilled with film and resold.

Due to their ephemeral nature, disposable cameras feature as a novelty item at weddings and other events, and waterproof versions exist for underwater photography.

A company called Photo-Pac produced a cardboard camera beginning in 1949 which shot eight exposures and was mailed-in for processing. Cameras were expensive, and would often have been left safely at home when photo opportunities presented themselves. Frustrated with missing photo opportunities, H. M. Stiles had invented a way to enclose 35mm film in an inexpensive enclosure without the expensive precision film transport mechanism. It cost US$1.29(equivalent to $17.46 in 2025). Though incredibly similar to the familiar single-use cameras today, Photo-Pac failed to make a permanent impression on the market.^[2]

In 1966, French company FEX introduced a disposable bakelite camera called "Photo Pack Matic", featuring 12 photos (4×4 cm).^[3]

La cámara desechable que conocemos hoy en día fue desarrollada por Fujifilm en 1986. Su línea QuickSnap , conocida como Utsurun-Desu ( en japonés :写ルンです, lit. ' Toma fotos ' ^{[ 4 ]} ) en Japón, utilizaba película de 35 mm , mientras que la Fling de Eastman Kodak de 1987 se basaba en película de 110. [ ^{5 ] Kodak} lanzó una versión de 35 mm en 1988, ^{[ 6 ]} y en 1989 la renombró FunSaver y descontinuó la Fling de 110. ^{[ 7 ]}  

En Japón, las ventas anuales de cámaras desechables alcanzaron un máximo de más de 89 millones en 1997. Las ventas anuales disminuyeron a menos de 5 millones en 2012, pero aumentaron a más de 9 millones en 2019. La renovada popularidad de las cámaras desechables, como la Fujicolor Utsurun-Desu , es un ejemplo de la estética retro de la era Showa . ^{[ 8 ] [ 9 ] [ 10 ]}

Las cámaras desechables son populares entre los turistas y las personas que viajan por todo el mundo para guardar fotografías de sus aventuras.

Desde finales de la década de 1990, las cámaras desechables se han vuelto cada vez más populares como obsequios para bodas . Generalmente se colocan en las mesas de las recepciones nupciales para que los invitados capturen su perspectiva única del evento. Lo más común es que estén disponibles en colores que combinen con la temática de la boda, como marfil, azul, blanco, dorado, etc. ^{[ 11 ]}

Los llamados "kits de cámara para accidentes", que contienen cámaras desechables de película ^{[ 12 ] [ 13 ],} se llevan cada vez más en los vehículos para tomar imágenes como evidencia después de un accidente. ^{[ 14 ]} La ausencia de baterías permite un uso instantáneo incluso después de un almacenamiento prolongado, por ejemplo, en la guantera.

They often have cheap plastic lenses, below average film quality, and fixed focal lengths. The quick ease of the 'point and shoot' method that these disposable cameras were made for make them popular with many photographers who enjoy the 'less than perfect' style these cameras provide, in a move away from digital imagery,^[15] which can also be seen in the rise in popularity of 'lomography'. This has also led to a number of 'lost art' type projects where disposable cameras are left in public spaces with a message for anyone finding the camera to take some images and then post the camera back, or pass it on to another person.^[16][17]

Digital one-time-use cameras (and also digital one-time-use camcorders) are available in some markets; for example the US saw the introduction of one such digital camera in 2004.^[21] Digital disposables have not had the success of their film based counterparts, possibly from the expense of the process (especially compared to normal digital camera use) and the poor quality of the images compared to either a typical digital camera, or a disposable film camera. Usually, the display shows the number of shots remaining, and once this is completed, the camera is returned to the store. The digital files are then extracted from the camera, and in return for keeping the camera, they are printed out or stored to CD (or DVD in the case of the video camera ^[22]) for the customer. Almost all digital 'single use' cameras have been successfully hacked^[23] to eliminate the need to return them to the store. The motivations for such hacking include saving money and, more commonly, the challenge of overcoming artificial impositions (such as a 25 shot limit on an internal memory that can store 100 images).

• Planned obsolescence

• Serie "The Making" de Science Channel : #11 Reciclaje de cámaras de un solo uso (video)
• La colección Kodak Fun, página de cámaras de un solo uso por Remy Steller ( Archivada el 07/01/2018 en Wayback Machine )
• La colección, página de cámaras de un solo uso por Christophe DUCHESNE