Disposable Cameras–The New Photographic Success Story

Remember when disposable cameras were all the rage? Before digital cameras (we thought) came along and blew them out of the water? Well, they’re back. And the reason they’re back is the very thing that ousted them in the first place. Disposable cameras are becoming the fun alternative to digital cameras in the same way that digital cameras were once an expensive way to replace disposables.

How’s that? Well, disposable cameras carry something increasingly unique: film. A person can still buy non disposable cameras that take film (just)–but they’re horrifyingly expensive and pretty difficult to get hold of. And that makes disposable cameras suddenly a niche market item.  Disposable cameras are the only way the average man or woman on the street can still use 35mm film, without that they have to search high and low for the stuff and then pay a small fortune for the privilege of using it. Even the film is difficult to buy, without the body of a disposable camera to hold it in. It’s becoming increasingly difficult to find a high street store that stocks canisters of 35mm film, and the Internet daily becomes riddled with banners announcing sales of “final stocks”.

The average man or woman on the street still wants to use 35mm film, it seems. Judging from the surge in popularity experienced by disposable cameras over the last year or so, there’s something about genuine photographic film that digital just doesn’t replace.

Digital is easy, true, and cheap: it’s also almost indefinitely self-sustaining. With access to a decent memory card (which, these days, costs less than a fiver) and a computer or ‘phone, anyone can store a lifetime’s worth of photos and never have to buy another bit of kit. What digital isn’t, and never will be, is surprising. Not at entry level, anyway. All normally affordable digital cameras allow users to inspect their shots as they are taking them. 35mm film, on the other hand, and the disposable cameras that hold it, doesn’t reveal its mysteries until it has been developed.

That always used to be the magic of photography–that grace period between pressing the shutter release button and picking up a shiny packet of photos from the developer’s store. It’s a magic, judging by the steadily growing sales of disposable cameras, that people aren’t willing to do without. Digital photography might be cheap, easy, convenient and instant:  but some things, like pleasure, are best left with a delay. Thanks to disposable cameras, people who remember the good times can relive that magic for a little while longer.

About the Author

Shoebox360 is the perfect solution for collecting and viewing photographs of your special occasion. Disposable Cameras allow users to rediscover the art of composing a moment that, once the shutter has been pressed, is gone forever. For more information please visit http://www.shoebox360.com/

35mm vibrating DOF adapter on a cheap JVC mini dv camera

Fuji X-TRA800 QuickSnap Superia ISO 800 Single Use Camera with Flash – 27 Exposure $0.01 Pre-loaded with Superia X-tra 800 speed filmIdeal for all outdoor/daylight pictures27 exposures…

Fujifilm QuickSnap 400 Speed Single Use Camera with Flash (10-Pack) $24.08 The QuickSnap Flash 400 camera features a compact body and comes pre-loaded with Fujicolor 400 speed film. This One-Time-Use camera produces very sharp pictures and features a 10-foot built in flash. The QuickSnap Flash 400 camera is fun & easy to use, and is great for taking pictures indoors or outdoors. The continuous flash switch makes it easier to take multiple shots, letting you concentrate e…

Polaroid 300 Instant Camera PIC-300R $57.99 Instant is back! The new Polaroid 300 Instant Camera has everything you loved about instant photography back in a fun and one-of-a-kind Polaroid way. With four lighting settings and an auto-flash, your photos will be perfect every time. Take the 300 Instant Camera with you to capture the fun instantly….

Polaroid 300 Instant Camera PIC-300B $63.99 The Polaroid 300 Instant Camera has everything you loved about instant photography back in a fun and one-of-a-kind Polaroid way. The 300 takes business card-sized instant color photos that are perfect for sharing! Features 4 scene settings, automatic flash, energy saving mode, and a compact, easy-to-hold design. Works with standard AA batteries….