Disposable camera

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Image:Kodak-Max-Outdoor-Camera-Promotional.jpg The disposable or single-use camera is a simple box camera sold with a roll of film installed, meant to be used once. Most use focus free lenses. Some are equipped with an integrated flash unit, and there are even water proof versions for underwater photography. Internally, the cameras use a 135 film or an APS cartridge. While some disposables contain an actal 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 a recent innovation. These types of cameras forego film and use digital technology to take pictures, and 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 Brownie camera; they are particularly popular in situations where a reusable camera would be easily stolen or damaged.

The disposable camera was invented jointly during the mid-1980s by Kodak and Fujifilm; Kodak's original Fling was originally based on 110 film but was eventually replaced by the FunSaver line with 35 mm film and APS film, while the Fuji Utsurun-Desu or QuickSnap line used 35 mm from the beginning.

In Japan, the Utsurun was released in 1986 for 1380 yen and became widely accepted. Traditionally, cameras had been quite expensive in Japan and were only used during special occasions, and typically only by the male of the household. As a result of the introduction of cheap, lightweight disposible cameras in Japan a cultural shift began, where parents and children were able to take photos, creating the "snap happy" racial stereotype that still persists today. 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.

As of 2005 flash-equipped disposables are the norm. By the early 1990s such cameras were being produced by many companies, and are now a staple of the consumer film camera market.

Digital one-time-use cameras are available in some markets, but are somewhat controversial due to the expense of the process (especially compared to normal digital camera use) and the poor quality of the images compared to a typical digital camera.

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 pressure bag.

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