Slashdot Mirror
Reusable Disposable Cameras?
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.
Disposable cameras with flash normally have warnings on them, and for good reason. A friend and I took one apart and hacked out the circuitry that charges the flash. By poking the switches with a wooden spoon we could charge the flash up and then discharge it. Then my friend broke the flash bulb.
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
I'm told (was it from reading the package) that when you turn the camera in, the components of the camera are 'recycled' into making new ones. I certainly don't know the process, but it makes sense if some of the components have a good price/weight (for shipping) ratio.
Never tried reusing one, though. Sounds like a simple project to tinker around with.
I've worked as a photo developer for about 2 years (and about two years ago) .. the problem is that the film has a different shaped sprocket at the top of the spool. You cannot load regular 35mm film canisters in them without modifications.
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.
--
"One future, two choices. Oppose them or let them destroy us."
One future, two choices. Oppose them or let them destroy us.
sitting around in a hotel room at about 2 AM on class trip, me and my rommates got bored and started dismantling these. they were pretty much the only camera everyone was using so we had plenty.
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.