Kodak Disposable Film Camera 35 mm

Product Information

We’re big fans of analogue photography at AP, and have published plenty of articles on how to get the most out of film, including our guide to how to do film photography on a budget, and how to get started with film photography. You have to turn the camera sideways to get landscape results, which is confusing at first. Shot on Kodak Ultramax 400 film using the Kodak Ektar H35. (Image credit: Jon Stapley/Future) Flash – as you can’t change the shutter speed or aperture on a disposable film camera, you need to consider the amount of light when using it. If you’re planning to take photos in the evening or indoors, it’s advisable to get a camera with a built-in flash. Not all models have a built-in flash, so keep an eye out for this feature. Flash performs best between 4ft (1.2m) and 10ft (3m) from the camera. This means anyone standing further than 3m from the camera at night won’t be lit much by the camera flash, resulting in underexposed photos, and anyone too close will be overexposed. Shutter speed – most disposable cameras come with a 1/100 shutter speed but there are a few that have a faster shutter speed – more like 1/120 – which are slightly better for for rapid-fire shots and better at capturing fast-moving scenes. Using the built-in flash can also help capture fast movement.

Contemporary disposable cameras aren't just cheap plastic – manufacturers have stepped up their game, and the little shooters are much more resilient than they used to be. They aren't even as wasteful as you might think: single-use cameras are eminently recyclable, and many of the firms that produce them, like Kodak and Fujifilm, will break them down to reuse the parts in another batch rather than throwing them away. You have to know what you’re getting into. The plastic lens on the Ektar H35 is not going to produce the same level of quality as a 50mm f/1.8, and if you go in with too expectant a mindset, you’ll probably be disappointed when the scans come out. Image sharpness is pretty rough, especially at distance – the lens seems to do best at around 1.5-2m from the subject.If you are not actively shooting a disposable camera, the answer is up in the air for me. While I personally believe everyone who loves photography should be shooting film, even in a disposable format, I am torn on whether or not this camera is made with the average person in mind. Why? Solely due to that battery life. Before owning this camera, I did not have AAA batteries lying around as I do now, nor did I carry them on me “just in case.” It might become a bit of a hassle for someone who wants to take their disposable camera out once in a blue moon simply because I believe they might have to switch to a new battery each time they use it. The Kodak Professional Tri-X B&W 400 - 27 Exposure Single Use Camera features a dual-element lens with focal length of 30 mm, an aperture of f/10, and a fixed shutter speed of 1/125. With that said, I enjoyed shooting with the Ektar H35. I’ve already reloaded it, and armed with the lessons I learned from the first batch of 72 shots (get closer, for god’s sake), I’m confident I’ll continue to have a lot more fun with it.

film– The majority of disposable film cameras (and all the ones on this list) use 35mm film. Film usually expires around 3 years after the manufacture date, but could last longer if kept in a cool, low-light space.Sample shot of Kodak Tri-X by (c) theo_hembury - please note that this was shot in a separate film camera, not this disposable camera. However it will help you understand the likely aesthetic of using this camera Just like the average disposable camera, the Kodak M35 comes with a separate viewfinder and lens. That means that what you see in the viewfinder isn’t exactly what you’re getting because the lens taking the photo is slightly underneath. Disposable film cameras come with their own fixed shutter speed, aperture (mostly f9-11) and focus. Most have a similar design, but there are certain features to bear in mind when choosing which one is right for you: The feel of analog photography simply can't be replicated with a phone. In contrast, disposable cameras let you experience the delayed gratification of pressing the shutter and not knowing how the shot came out for weeks on end. Best of all is, you get physical prints that you can hang up or keep in a scrapbook, rather than digital files left to languish on a hard drive.

Fixed focus – Make sure your subject is at least 4ft (1.2m) from the camera to ensure they are in focus and not blurry. Though for me personally this was a bit of a non-issue, as I had trouble getting the flash to work at all – it definitely powered up at least once, but after that, even with subsequent swap-ins of brand new batteries, it refused to do anything. This wasn’t a huge bother for me personally – I like shooting outdoors and in daylight a lot more than I like firing a cheap on-camera flash in people’s faces – but it was still disappointing. Kodak Ektar H35: Performance He is a Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts, holds a Foundation Degree in Equitation Science and is a Master of Arts in Publishing. He is member of Nikon NPS and has been a Nikon user since the film days using a Nikon F5 and saw the digital transition with Nikon's D series cameras and is still to this day the youngest member to be elected in to BEWA, The British Equestrian Writers' Association.The camera body comes with three coloured gels that you can slide over the flash to give the images different tints and add more creativity to your analogue photography. It may sound contradictory, but this is a reusable disposable camera: you can keep refilling the film, which makes it a more budget- and eco-friendly option to other disposable cameras on the market, if you’re planning on shooting more than the generous 36 shots included in the pre-loaded film. This is practical and economical as a new roll of film usually costs less than buying a whole new camera, as long as you can find film. The Kodak Ektar H35 manages to be good, fuss-free fun while also not quite being all that it promises. The idea of doubling your output from a roll of film is no doubt going to be tempting for a lot of analog photography lovers who are feeling pinched and pressured by the cost of living. And long as you accept (and ideally embrace) the compromises in quality that come with its format, the Kodak Ektar H35 does give you more for your money.