The Complete Guide to Reloading Disposable Cameras

7

Finally, my research is completed and I am now ready to tell you about how to disassemble a disposable camera and reload it. Despite the fact that the most are "single-use" only, they can be disassembled and recharged with film and a battery.

In order to disassemble the camera, you will need:

  • a disposable camera with the exposed film
  • new film
  • box-cutter
  • several wooden matchsticks or toothpicks
  • screwdriver or other tools that you can use to rewind film

In contrast to conventional cameras where the film from the cassette is wound on the receiving reel, a disposable camera with a film coil is wound into the cassette.

1. Disassemble the camera can only if the entire film is wound into the cassette and rewinding wheel rotates freely. Otherwise, the entire film will be marred. If you want to get hold of the film and insert it into another camera, you need to seal the lens of something opaque and shoot all 27 frames. I think the film from disposable cameras can produce interesting results in other cameras. If the film winding wheel turns freely, you can proceed to the camera disassemble.

2. Carefully cut the plastic.

3. Pick up the latch of the camera from film winding wheel side.
4. Open the lid, where is stored with the film's cassette.
5. Move the battery cover and remove it.
6. Pick up other camera lid latch.

7. Open the camera. Typically, disposable cameras used 400 ISO film.

8. Reception cassette is very special, with gear. You can rewind the tape to another tape from the 400 ISO film (as a rule, minilabs read the DX code of the film and in accordance with it the mode of film development). The modern model of disposable cameras can be used not only film in cassette with gear, but also an ordinary film. Since the camera is designed to work with the 400 ISO film, I recommend using that sensitivity of the film. If you decide to experiment with redscale film made it from the 800 ISO film. And if you shoot a film twice, better use a 200 ISO film. Now we need to rewind the tape from the cassette to the coil.

9. For this, we need two matches or toothpicks. We insert them so that one wheel is blocked once in his groove, and the second lifted the latch that blocked reverse movement scroll wheel.

10. While holding the matches, and close the lid of the disposable camera by inserting a screwdriver into the hole below the coil, and twist it against the stop. Take out the matches. The camera is ready for use!

You can even set the frame counter - count the required number of divisions, lift the white gear with numbers and set it to the desired number. I look forward to your results of experiments with films in disposable cameras!


Switch from single-use to simple-use! The Simple Use Film Camera comes in three kinds, each pre-loaded with classic 35 mm Lomography film: Lady Grey 400 for captivating black & white shots, Color Negative 400 for vibrant color photos, and LomoChrome Purple for psychedelic, purple-tinted photographs. Get it online or from one of our worldwide gallery stores!

written by alexander_krolikowski on 2013-08-06 #gear #tutorials #film #diy #35mm #analogue #lab #camera #homemade #tipster #disposable #reload #reuse #camera-modification

6 Comments

  1. sarahandsarah
    sarahandsarah ·

    cool tipster! like that one :)

  2. modificationmermaid
    modificationmermaid ·

    This is amazing! The shop where I get my pictures developed charges more for disposable cameras, so this is a good way to save money! Thanks.

  3. iamtheju
    iamtheju ·

    I like to do this too. Be careful with some modern disposable cameras though, as the way they come apart can be more complicated and if you accidentally charge the flash there is a chance of electric shock. I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE!

  4. cabreb
    cabreb ·

    Disposable cameras in bright sunlight overexpose about 2 or 3 stops. This way pictures taken in overcast weather and in most cases will be exposed correctly, relying on print film's latitude. If you reload it with 100 or 200 iso film you will obtain better pictures in brlight sunlight and slightly overcast weather. Consider that kodak disposable cameras have a 1/100-1/125 shutter speed and an f/8 aperture!

  5. praktika
    praktika ·

    Followed this with an Ilford XP2 Super disposable.
    Got a bit confused with the counter reset, turns out it doesn't work like a normal one, it just works even with the counter at 0.

  6. arnoldmanda
    arnoldmanda ·

    Wanna try this with a Fuji quicksnap...

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