Disposable camera

File:Fujifilm QuickSnap Flash.jpg

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|1949}}. Though incredibly similar to the familiar single-use cameras today, Photo-Pac failed to make a permanent impression on the market.{{cite magazine |url=http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2006/04/05/the-first-disposable-camera/ |title=The First Disposable Camera |access-date=2008-11-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110927174836/http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2006/04/05/the-first-disposable-camera/ |archive-date=2011-09-27 |url-status=dead |magazine=Modern Mechanix |date=September 1949 |issn=0025-6587}}

In 1966, French company FEX introduced a disposable bakelite camera called "Photo Pack Matic", featuring 12 photos (4×4 cm).{{cite web |last1=Halgand |first1=Sylvain |title=Fex Indo Photo-Pack Matic |url=http://www.collection-appareils.fr/x/html/page_standard.php?id_appareil=10860 |website=www.collection-appareils.fr |access-date=23 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030433/http://www.collection-appareils.fr/x/html/page_standard.php?id_appareil=10860 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |language=fr |date=14 February 2014 |url-status=live}}

The currently familiar disposable camera was developed by Fujifilm in 1986. Their QuickSnap line, known as 写ルンです (Utsurun-Desu, "It takes pictures"{{cite news

|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1993/01/01/business/throw-away-cameras-gain-a-loyal-following-in-japan.html

|title=Throw-Away Cameras Gain A Loyal Following in Japan

|access-date=2007-12-27

| work=The New York Times

| date=1993-01-01}}) in Japan, used 35 mm film, while Eastman Kodak's 1987 Fling was based on 110 film.{{cite web

|url=http://www.kodak.com/US/en/corp/kodakHistory/1980_1989.shtml

|title=Kodak: History of Kodak: Milestones 1980 - 1989

|access-date=2007-12-27

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071111131223/http://www.kodak.com/US/en/corp/kodakHistory/1980_1989.shtml

|archive-date=2007-11-11

}} Kodak released a 35 mm version in 1988,{{cite news

|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/03/20/style/camera-this-newcomer-is-disposable.html

|title=CAMERA; This Newcomer Is Disposable

|access-date=2007-12-27

| work=The New York Times

| first=Andy

| last=Grundberg

| date=1988-03-20}} and in 1989 renamed the 35 mm version the FunSaver and discontinued the 110 Fling.{{cite web

|url=http://www.kodak.com/global/en/consumer/products/techInfo/aa13/aa13pg2.shtml

|title=KODAK: History of KODAK Cameras: Tech Pub AA-13

|access-date=2007-12-27

|url-status=dead

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071114170655/http://www.kodak.com/global/en/consumer/products/techInfo/aa13/aa13pg2.shtml

|archive-date=2007-11-14

}}

In Japan, annual sales of disposable cameras reached a maximum of more than 89 million in 1997. Annual sales declined to less than 5 million in 2012, but increased to more than 9 million in 2019. The revived popularity of disposable cameras, such as the Fujicolor Utsurundesu (1986) is an example of Showa retro.[https://mainichi.jp/articles/20211029/k00/00m/040/113000c たまごっち、写ルンです…　昭和から平成、レトロを楽しむZ世代]. Mainichi Shimbun. 30 October 2021.[https://web.archive.org/web/20241127025144/https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=bboXOad2VgM Retro Japan: Disposable Cameras Back in Style - Dig More Japan]. NHK World-Japan. 2022.[https://www.news-postseven.com/archives/20211011_1697871.html?DETAIL なぜ昭和レトロな商品やサービスがヒットするのか　「写ルンです」や「商店街」など]. News ポストセブン. 11/10/2021.

Disposable cameras are popular with tourists and people traveling around the world to save pictures of their adventures.

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.disposablecamerashop.co.uk/products.asp?cid=17|title=DISPOSABLE CAMERAS — VARIOUS-COLOURS|access-date=2007-03-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150508031234/http://disposablecamerashop.co.uk/products.asp?cid=17|archive-date=2015-05-08|url-status=dead}}

So-called "accident camera kits" containing film-based disposable cameras{{cite web|url=http://www.worksafedepot.co.uk/product_details.asp?PID=1148 |title=Accident Camera Kit |access-date=2007-03-05 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070219053721/http://www.worksafedepot.co.uk/product_details.asp?PID=1148 |archive-date=2007-02-19 }}{{cite web|url=http://shop.getbuttonedup.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=7 |title=Collision.kit |access-date=2007-08-21 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070916042421/http://shop.getbuttonedup.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=7 |archive-date=2007-09-16 }} are increasingly being carried in vehicles to take images as evidence after an accident.{{cite web|url=http://www.consumeraction.gov/caw_insurance_auto.shtml|title=Federal Consumer Action Center — Auto Insurance — Insurance Tips|access-date=2007-08-21}} The absence of batteries allows instantaneous usage even after extended storage, for example in a glove compartment.

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,{{cite web|url=https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2009/09/148_43411.html |title=Discovering beauty with disposable cameras / Korea Times |access-date=2009-09-13 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204064101/http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/art/2009/09/148_43411.html |archive-date=2012-02-04 }} 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.{{cite web | title=disposable memory project | url=http://disposablememoryproject.org/ |access-date=2009-09-12}} The low cost of the cameras makes them a perfect tool for these sorts of projects.{{cite web | title=Lose your camera and watch it travel the world |url=http://theridiculant.metro.co.uk/2009/05/lose-your-camera-and-watch-it-travel-the-world.html | access-date=2009-09-12}}

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.{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2004-08-18-puredigital_x.htm|title=A disposable digital camera enters the market at $19.99|access-date=2007-08-28 | work=USA Today | first1=Jefferson | last1=Graham | date=2004-08-19}} 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 {{cite web|url=http://www.camcorderinfo.com/content/CVS-One-Time-Use-Video-Camcorder.htm |title=CVS One-Time-Use Video Camcorder Review — CVS Camcorders |publisher=Camcorderinfo.com |date=2005-06-27 |access-date=2009-10-09}}) for the customer. Almost all digital 'single use' cameras have been successfully hacked{{cite web|url=http://www.maushammer.com/systems/cvscamcorder/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110714050954/http://www.maushammer.com/systems/cvscamcorder/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2011-07-14 |title=Pure Digital / CVS Disposable Digital Camcorder |publisher=Maushammer.com |date=2005-06-13 |access-date=2009-10-09 }} 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).

The high-voltage photo flash capacitors in some cameras are sometimes extracted and used to power devices such as coil guns,{{Cite web|url=http://www.instructables.com/id/Disposable-camera-coilgun/|title = Disposable Camera Coilgun}} stun guns,

homemade Geiger counter projects {{Cite web |url=http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/GeigerCounterEnthusiasts/message/17648 |title=Yahoo! Groups |access-date=2009-11-30 |archive-date=2020-10-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031065012/https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/GeigerCounterEnthusiasts/conversations/topics/17648 |url-status=dead }} and "RFID zapper" EMP devices.{{Cite web|url=https://events.ccc.de/congress/2005/static/r/f/i/RFID-Zapper(EN)_77f3.html|title=RFID-Zapper(EN) - 22C3|website=events.ccc.de}}

• Planned obsolescence

{{reflist|30em}}

• [https://web.archive.org/web/20110118024451/http://sc-smn.jst.go.jp/8/e_bangumi.asp?i_series_code=Q000601&i_renban_code=011 Science Channel's The Making Series: #11 Recycling of Single-Use Cameras] (video)
• [http://www.brownie.camera/fun/ The Kodak Fun Collection, single use cameras page by Remy Steller] ({{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200612113700/https://www.brownie.camera/fun/ |date=2020-06-12 }})
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20100819165222/http://oneusecamera.jimdo.com/ The Collection, single use cameras page by Christophe DUCHESNE]

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Category:Cameras by type

Category:Disposable products

Category:Electronic waste

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