Disposable or single-use camera is a simple box camera sold with a roll of film installed, meant to be used once. Most use fixed-focus lenses. Some are equipped with an integrated flash unit, and there are even waterproof versions for underwater photography. Internally, the cameras use a 135 film or an APS cartridge.
While some disposables contain an actual cartridge as used for loading normal, reusable cameras, others just have the film wound internally on an open spool. The whole camera is handed in for processing. Some of the cameras are recycled, i.e. refilled with film and resold.
"Disposable" digital cameras are an innovation, these types of cameras forgoing film and using digital technology to take pictures. The cameras are returned for "processing" in the same fashion as film cameras.
In general the one-time-use camera represents a return to the business model pioneered by Kodak for their KODAK camera, predecessor to the Brownie camera; it is particularly popular in situations where a reusable camera would be easily stolen or damaged, when one's regular camera is forgotten, or if one cannot afford a regular camera.
A company called Photo-Pac produced a cardboard camera beginning in 1949 which shot 8 exposures and which was mailed-in for processing. Cameras were expensive, and would often have been left safely at home when lovely scenes 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 $1.29. Though incredibly similar to the familiar single-use cameras today, Photo-Pac failed to make a permanent impression on the market.
The currently familiar disposable camera was developed by Fujifilm in 1986. Their Utsurun-Desu ("It takes pictures") or QuickSnap line used 35 mm film, while Eastman Kodak's 1987 Fling was based on 110 film. Kodak released a 35 mm version in 1988, and in 1989 renamed the 35 mm version the FunSaver and discontinued the 110 Fling.
In Japan, the Utsurun was released in 1986 for 1380 yen and became widely accepted. Because of the immediate appeal, companies like Konica, Canon and Nikon soon produced their own models. To stay competitive, Fuji introduced advanced features to its original model such as panoramic photography, waterproofing and the inclusion of a flash. Some cameras even have a manual zoom feature which works by shifting two lenses in front of the shutter.
By 2005 disposable cameras were a staple of the consumer film camera market and flash-equipped disposables were the norm.
Disposable cameras are popular with tourists and are also a common solution for underwater photography by those who don't own a dedicated underwater camera or waterproof housing.
Since the late 1990s, disposable cameras have become increasingly popular as wedding favors. Usually they are placed on tables at wedding receptions to be used by guests to capture their unique perspective of the event. More commonly they are available in colors to match the wedding theme such as ivory, blue, white, gold, etc.
So-called "accident camera kits" containing film-based disposable cameras are increasingly being carried in vehicles to take images as evidence after an accident. Film photography is potentially a more credible form of photography in the event of a dispute due to the ease with which digital photography can be edited.
Their often cheap plastic lenses, questionable film quality, fixed focal lengths but quick and 'point and shoot' ease make the disposable camera popular with many photographers who enjoy the 'less than perfect' style these cameras provide, in a move away from digital imagery, 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. The low cost of the cameras makes them a perfect tool for these sorts of projects.
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 a digital camera in 2004. 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 ) for the customer. Almost all digital 'single use' cameras have been successfully hacked 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 superficial impositions (such as a 25 shot limit on an internal memory that can store 100 images).
- "Ferrania Dual Cassette System". Ferrania Technologies. Retrieved 2006-11-17.
- "The First Disposable Camera". Retrieved 2008-11-25.
- "Throw-Away Cameras Gain A Loyal Following in Japan". The New York Times. 1993-01-01. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
- "Kodak: History of Kodak: Milestones 1980 - 1989". Retrieved 2007-12-27.
- Grundberg, Andy (1988-03-20). "CAMERA; This Newcomer Is Disposable". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-12-27.
- "KODAK: History of KODAK Cameras: Tech Pub AA-13". Retrieved 2007-12-27.
- "DISPOSABLE CAMERAS — VARIOUS-COLOURS". Retrieved 2007-03-05.
- "Accident Camera Kit". Retrieved 2007-03-05.
- "Collision.kit". Retrieved 2007-08-21.
- "Federal Consumer Action Center — Auto Insurance — Insurance Tips". Retrieved 2007-08-21.
- "Discovering beauty with disposable cameras / Korea Times". Retrieved 2009-09-13.
- "disposable memory project". Retrieved 2009-09-12.
- "Lose your camera and watch it travel the world". Retrieved 2009-09-12.
- Graham, Jefferson (2004-08-19). "A disposable digital camera enters the market at $19.99". USA Today. Retrieved 2007-08-28.
- "CVS One-Time-Use Video Camcorder Review — CVS Camcorders". Camcorderinfo.com. 2005-06-27. Retrieved 2009-10-09.
- "Pure Digital / CVS Disposable Digital Camcorder". Maushammer.com. 2005-06-13. Retrieved 2009-10-09.