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.
But there are some subtleties.
Let’s start at the beginning. In order to disassemble the camera, you will need:
- disposable camera with the exposed film
- new film
- several wooden matchsticks or toothpicks
- screwdriver or other tool with which you can 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.
Disassemble the camera can only if the entire film is wound into 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 another cameras.
If the film winding wheel turns freely, you can proceed to the camera disassemble.
Carefully cut the plastic.
Pick up the latch of camera from film winding wheel side.
Open the lid, where is stored with the film’s cassette.
Move the battery cover and remove it.
Pick up other camera lid latch.
Open the camera.
Here’s what’s inside:
Typically, disposable cameras used 400 ISO film.
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 to use that sensitivity of the film. If you decide to experiment with redscale film maked 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.
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.
While holding the matches, and close the lid of 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 setting it to the desired number.
I look forward to the your results of experiments with films in disposable cameras!
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