Reusable Disposable Cameras? 29
Darth Cider asks: "A friendly film developer showed me how to open a disposable camera. Nothing to it, just pry them open. They're reloadable, and the flash versions contain two ordinary AA batteries, worth keeping. The film can be removed without tools for developing whether you return the camera or not. So I'm wondering about Kodak's Max HQ, with two-element aspherical lenses said to be as good as those in their 35mm cameras. Advanced flash unit, too. Haven't found one on the shelf to check it out. Anybody tried to hack this camera? Retail price is said to be under $20." This might be something to look into if your planning any photo projects for fun.
Of course you're supposed to reuse them! (Score:1)
What's the point? (Score:1)
Buy a decent camera instead, it does make a difference (I just upgraded to a Rebel2000/EOS300 from a Canon compact; my new pictures are *so* much better.).
Just be careful... (Score:3)
He then charged the circuit up. But because the flash was broken, there was no obvious way to discharge it. So he picked up someone's penknife and shorted across the flash terminals.
Nice bang. Nice flash. Nice shower of sparks. And two tiny notches taken out of the blade of the penknife. We didnt want to find out what it would do to soft wet flesh...
Baz
Re:Allegedly, they are recycled... (Score:1)
The only recycling that went on was all of us who worked there reusing the batteries, flashes, and some of the nicer disposables.
Some are very easy to reload and WILL take normal film. But for most you have rewind your own film onto the original spool and use a new cartridge case. It's a pain but some other friends who were into photography got a real kick out of me giving them "disposable B&W" cameras.
I also used the flashes which with a little bit of work can be made into nice slave units. At college I was able to blow off using the studio for some projects because I had enough little flashes to get the same effect at home
Also when I first started working at that lab I was still in high school. I put together a project where I made a bunch of B&W disposables and gave them to incoming freshmen who were interested in photography. Kind of like shooting with a Holga to learn about how it's not the equiptment but the photographer....only this is even cheaper
Re:Allegedly, they are recycled... (Score:2)
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Re:Just be careful... (Score:1)
Dammit, I need a new place, with space for a workshop.
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Re:Just be careful... (Score:1)
YFTS "and I stopped pumping gas and ran".
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Re:Just be careful... (Score:2)
I'm surprised that 2 AA's caused the spark you talk about, but then again I've seen the kind of sparks a 9V can make.
Someday I'll show you the gouge in the screwdriver that I accidentally shorted across live AC current. I'm only here today thanks to the insulative nature of the handle. As they say, plastic makes it possible...
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Allegedly, they are recycled... (Score:3)
Never tried reusing one, though. Sounds like a simple project to tinker around with.
Re:Just be careful... (Score:2)
Yeah, I did that once - but with one of those changable bit screwdrivers - let's just say you can't change the bit anymore (it is now welded).
Actually, the worse electrical "shocking" experience I ever saw happened near a gas station at a Circle K. Across the way, a guy was working on an A/C unit on top of a hamburger joint. Well, he fucked up, and forgot to turn the power off. All I remember was that I was pumping gas, then I heard the unmistakable sound of an electrical arc (like from an arc welder), but MUCH louder. I turned, and saw this guy stumbling back (damn near fell off the roof!) away from a two foot long "jet" of electrical "fire" shooting out the side of this A/C unit. Lasted for about a second, then stopped.
I am not sure I would hire that company for my A/C repair needs...
Worldcom [worldcom.com] - Generation Duh!
Well... (Score:2)
Worldcom [worldcom.com] - Generation Duh!
Re:They use normal 35mm film but.... (Score:1)
Not Hardly. Unless you've tinkered quite a bit with a disposable camera, they are difficult to open "accidentally". there's the Kodak sticker covering the seams on all 4 sides, plus the groove / latches to deal with.
Don't get me wrong; These are easy to open with screwdrivers, especially of you don't care what latches you break and how ugly it might be when you put it back together. But they aren't likely to voluntarily divulge their contents as the result of rapid deceleration following a fall of less than 15 feet.
They use normal 35mm film but.... (Score:2)
In addition, in a normal camera, you wind film out of the canister, then rewind it back when you're done. In a disposable, you are actually rewinding it while you shoot each picture, it comes unwound inside the camera already.
Here is a bit of information about reusing disposable wide angle cameras [tripod.com].
Re:They use normal 35mm film but.... (Score:1)
That's actually not that unusual. My dad has a Canon EOS Rebel II (very nice camera for 8 or so years ago) that pulls all of the film out when you first insert the roll and then pulls it back in as you snap pictures.
As an old teaching assistant (Score:1)
Re:They use normal 35mm film but.... (Score:2)
Many high end cameras now support this function. The reason should be pretty obvious: If the back is opened for some reason ("Gee, I thought it was empty!"), the film with your Ansel Adams quality pictures won't get wiped out.
Since a cheap camera is more likely to bust open if you drop it (or tinker with in the car while driving to Florida...), you'll only lose the last 1 or 2 pictures.
Ya. (Score:2)
Some are Easier than Others... (Score:2)
Most disposables just use 35mm film. Depending on the camera, they might need to be reloaded in a darkroom, but there are some which do not.
You might want to dig through the results of This google search [google.com] for more details.
Heck, if this encourages you, why don't you get one and rip it open and let us know what you find?
One problem (Score:3)
The big question is, why bother? You can get a cheap 35mm camera with better optical quality for around $30 or less; and it will last longer than a disposable unit. Now go out to your nearest K-Mart and buy one of those kids' cameras and give up the silly idea of "hacking" something useless.
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"One future, two choices. Oppose them or let them destroy us."
Re:Just be careful... (Score:1)
Re:I recycle them for... (Score:2)
They are recycled (Score:1)
Did that with 35 tubes and 70 caps... (Score:1)
theres a surprise inside (Score:3)
kodaks are the easiest to take apart. when you're done taking pictures wind the wheel for a while to get the film wound all the way into the canister. pop the tabs on the sides of the camera and take outthe film and AA. now pop the tabs on top and bottom. as mentioned earlier the flash circut can zap you. for the saftey concious (being people who wont work on a power supply turned on and plugged in) take a metal object with an isluated handle (screwdriver, needlenose, hammer) and touch both terminals on the big capacitor. as soon as the afterimage of the sparks goes away, pop that circut board out. you now have a flash or a low end tazer. simlpy put the battery back in and press the button. when we were fiddling with these we got zapped about 20 times before we got smart enough to cover the board circut board with tape.
the other posters are correct in that the camera is reloadable and reusable. practice first with old film. take the case off, and remove the flash if you dont want/need it. wind it around the spindle on the left using a screwdriver to wind the film out of the canister. you will need to recalibrate the dial that tells how many pics are left. that done place the cover back on. when you use good film load it inside a very dark room or a box with holes for your hands (available at photo stores, but if youre ganna reuse a disposable camera.....).
i can see these cameras used about 3 or 4 times, after that the tabs probly wont hold the case together, and hey you never can have too many flash boards.
sorry i rambled but im heavily caffinated right now.
well... (Score:1)
Anyway, the main problem with this is winding new rolls of film into the cameras then keeping them light-sealed. When you open up most disposable cams, regardless of how carefully you do it, you generally tend to break and bend up the plastic, which in most cases (but not all, if you're ridiculously careful) will create various light leaks, exposing your film. Also, it's hard -- near impossible -- to get your film to wind in the entire way, as disposable cameras tend to be wound out at the factory and when you advance film you're actually pulling it into the can. You've got to expose more of the bottom of the camera to get this to wind right, and it's gotta be done in total darkness. If you can't afford a cheap 35mm consumer-grade camera, don't bother trying to mess with these -- you'll need a dark box, etc. just to reload film. Kinda pointless.
Though, people would bring in these wedding cameras, and we'd tear them apart and they'd be like "be careful! those were expensive!"
Check the ratings (Score:2)
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I did you one better (Score:2)
This only works with some varieties of flash unit; the polarity or wiring of the "ready" light versus the trigger circuit is wrong on some others.
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Re:Did that with 35 tubes and 70 caps... (Score:2)
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Re:Did that with 35 tubes and 70 caps... (Score:1)