How to Reuse a Disposable Camera
Tools, Loading, Unloading, Exposure, Film Selection, and Home Development
16 min read by Dmitri.Published on . Updated on .
Disposable cameras can be a lot of fun, but they can be limiting in the types of films you can shoot and their lifespan. Thankfully, there is a way to “hack” them back to life with a fresh roll of film. A well-picked combo can help create deliberate exposures and extend the magazine from 27 to 36+ frames!
In this guide, I’ll explain the nuances of selecting film, reloading disposable cameras, metering, and developing (though you can still use a regular lab) for unique results and a fun experience on a budget.
In this guide: Tools. Which film works best in a disposable camera? How to use flash with a disposable camera. Cameras that will refuse to be reused. How to get the film out of a disposable camera. How to reload a disposable camera with fresh film. Developing film from a disposable camera. Recycling a re-used disposable camera. Support this blog & get premium features with GOLD memberships!
🎙️ Further viewing and listening: an interview with Adam James, the creator of the Shitty Camera Challenge (podcast).
Tools.
Kodak FunSaver single-use cameras are loaded with excellent ISO 800 colour-negative film, which I extracted and used with my Nikon F3 with great results. These cameras are cheap and widely available. Most importantly, the plastic hinges they use are soft enough to be pried open without breaking and reused multiple times. FunSaver is a great choice for this task.
FunSaver’s 30mm f10 lens is very fun for casual close-up portraits, whereas its “focus-free” position and a very fast flash recharge frees you up to shoot quickly.
But you can try other cameras too! (Just not these ones.)
Whether you develop and scan at home or not, you will need a dark changing bag (although if you can completely black out your bathroom, letting no single ray of light through — that would work too).
A film leader retriever tool is highly recommended if you plan to develop your film at home. There are ways to get the film out of a 135 cartridge without one, but they can be fiddly or problematic in other ways.
A small flat screwdriver (I used one from a microscrewdriver set) to help pry the plastic hinges open on the disposable camera without breaking them.
A sharp knife or a box cutter for slicing stickers off.
You will also need ample table space and something to protect it from damage, as you’ll be working with sharp tools, like a cutting mat.
All of the above tools should have alternatives in your home, though you should absolutely have a disposable camera and a roll of film you’d like to place inside it. I’ll talk about the kinds of films that would work best with your reloaded disposable below.
