Buying guide
The Best Disposable Cameras in 2026
The short answer
The best disposable camera for most people is the Kodak FunSaver: ISO 800 color film, 27 exposures and a built-in flash, for $16.49 to $19.99 at US stores on October 28, 2026.
The Darkroom lab rated it the best overall of the eight disposables it compared, and Digital Camera World's 2026 guide names it the best color disposable. For black and white, get the Kodak Tri-X 400 single-use; for the pool or beach, a waterproof Fujifilm QuickSnap Active or Kodak Sport.
- Best overall
- Kodak FunSaver, from $16.49glazerscamera.com
- Shots per camera
- 27 on most modelsimaging.kodakalaris.com
- Developing
- About $16 at The Darkroomthedarkroom.com
- FunSaver flash range
- 4 to 11.5 ftimaging.kodakalaris.com
- QuickSnap Active depth rating
- 35 ft (10 m)fujifilm.com
- Black and white at any lab
- Ilford XP2 Super, QuickSnap B&Wfujifilm.com
The best disposable cameras in 2026
Camera Dojo has not tested these cameras. The picks come from where labs and reviewers agree: The Darkroom lab's comparison of the disposables it develops, Digital Camera World's 2026 guide and reviews, a 2017 Format ranking republished by The Phoblographer and blog comparisons, checked against Kodak and Fujifilm spec pages. Owner forums such as Reddit and Photrio could not be read for this update, so the consensus leans on labs and editors. Prices are from US stores on October 28, 2026.
Kodak loads it with 800-speed color film, 27 exposures, and The Darkroom rated it the best overall of the eight disposables it compared, crediting the film's latitude in both bright sun and low light. Digital Camera World's 2026 guide also names it the best color disposable, and a 2017 six-camera test by Format, republished by The Phoblographer, ranked Kodak's ISO 800 flash camera best overall. More in our Kodak FunSaver guide.
Watch out: The flash reaches 4 to 11.5 feet and must be charged before every picture; Kodak's Power Flash recharges on its own and reaches 14.5 feet, but Legacy Photo Lab had it sold out on October 28.
Sources: imaging.kodakalaris.com, thedarkroom.com, digitalcameraworld.com, thephoblographer.com, glazerscamera.com, uniquephoto.com, legacy-photolab.com
- 02
Fujifilm QuickSnap Flash 400
Parties and weddings where guests pass the camera around
$18.95-$18.99, Oct 2026
Push the flash switch up once and it stays on, glowing red when ready, so nobody has to remember to charge it, as The Darkroom points out. Fujifilm lists ISO 400 color film, 27 exposures, a 32mm f/10 plastic lens at 1/140 sec and a flash rated for 1 to 3 m (about 3 to 10 feet), powered by a AAA battery. Glazer's sells a 2-pack for $34.95.
Watch out: Colors run cool: Shoot It With Film saw it favor greens and blues, and The Darkroom notes it often goes magenta on skin tones and whites.
Sources: fujifilm.com, thedarkroom.com, shootitwithfilm.com, uniquephoto.com, glazerscamera.com
- 03
Kodak Professional Tri-X 400 single-use
Best true black-and-white film look
$17.75-$19.95, Oct 2026
Kodak loads 27 exposures of Tri-X 400 behind the same self-recharging flash as its Power Flash, which Kodak rates at 4 to 14.5 feet, though Digital Camera World's reviewer put its range at around 1 to 3 m. The Darkroom's ratings table gives it five stars, the top score among its black-and-white disposables, and at $17.75 from Unique Photo it was the cheapest black-and-white camera on this list.
Watch out: Tri-X needs traditional black-and-white developing, not C-41, and Digital Camera World notes processing costs about as much as the camera.
Sources: imaging.kodakalaris.com, thedarkroom.com, thedeadpixelssociety.com, digitalcameraworld.com, uniquephoto.com, glazerscamera.com, cinestillfilm.com
- 04
Ilford XP2 Super single-use
Black and white that any color lab can develop
$22.99-$24.45, Oct 2026
XP2 Super develops in the C-41 color process, so Unique Photo says you can hand the finished camera to any C-41 lab. The Darkroom found it very sharp and great in open daylight. Fujifilm's new QuickSnap Black and White ($22.90 MSRP) also develops in C-41 and has a 1 to 3 m flash; Digital Camera World names it its best black-and-white pick, but Procam had it out of stock on October 28. See our XP2 Super film guide.
Watch out: The Darkroom found the XP2 camera weak in low light, so it does best outdoors in daylight.
Sources: uniquephoto.com, thedarkroom.com, fujifilm.com, fujifilm.com, camerajabber.com, digitalcameraworld.com, procam.com, glazerscamera.com
- 05
Ilford HP5 Plus single-use
Classic black-and-white grain, if you have a B&W lab
$22.99-$24.50, Oct 2026
The Darkroom's write-up recommends it most of the three black-and-white disposables it compared, praising its tones, contrast, grain and exposure latitude, though its ratings table gives it three stars to the Tri-X camera's five. It holds 27 exposures of HP5 Plus and has a built-in flash.
Watch out: It needs true black-and-white processing, in home chemistry or at a lab with a dedicated black-and-white service, per Glazer's.
Sources: thedarkroom.com, glazerscamera.com, uniquephoto.com
- 06
Fujifilm QuickSnap Active
Pool, beach and snorkeling in daylight
$24.75 MSRP, Oct 2026
New for 2026, it replaces Fujifilm's old waterproof QuickSnap with a tougher housing and a wrist strap, and is rated to 35 feet (10 m) with ISO 800 color film, 27 exposures. Digital Camera World picks it as the best waterproof disposable, and in The Darkroom's side-by-side test the older Fujifilm waterproof model gave far crisper pictures than the Kodak.
Watch out: There is no flash, and no US store checked had it in stock on October 28; the older QuickSnap 800 Waterproof was $18.99 at Glazer's and the Kodak Sport $16.95 at Unique Photo.
Sources: fujifilm.com, camerajabber.com, digitalcameraworld.com, thedarkroom.com, glazerscamera.com, uniquephoto.com
- 07
Lomography Simple Use
More shots per camera, and a body you can reload
$19.90, Oct 2026
It comes loaded with 36 exposures instead of the usual 27, includes colored flash gels, and can be reloaded with new film after the first roll, according to The Darkroom, whose ratings table gives the color version four stars. Glazer's had the Lady Grey 400 black-and-white version at $19.90.
Watch out: The Color Negative 400 version, also $19.90, was sold out at Glazer's on October 28, 2026.
Sources: thedarkroom.com, glazerscamera.com
How to choose a disposable camera
Start with where you will shoot, then decide on color or black and white, then add the developing cost to the sticker price. Most disposables share the same fixed f/10 setup, so film, flash and lab access matter more than the logo.
- Flash or no flash. Get a flash model for anything indoors, at night or in shade. The Darkroom says the most common problem it sees is underexposure because the flash wasn't used. Kodak's Daylight and Sport and Fujifilm's QuickSnap Active have no flash.
- ISO 800 or ISO 400. The FunSaver's 800 film handled bright sun and low light in The Darkroom's comparison, and Digital Camera World calls ISO 400 or above the most versatile for mixed indoor and outdoor light. Our film ISO explainer covers why.
- Color or black and white. Tri-X and HP5 need a black-and-white lab; XP2 Super and the QuickSnap Black and White go to any color lab.
- Water. Only the waterproof models (QuickSnap Active, Kodak Sport) belong in a pool or the ocean, and both need daylight.
- Number of shots. Most hold 27. Kodak's Daylight comes in 27 or 39, and the Lomography Simple Use holds 36.
- Total cost. The Darkroom charges about $16 to develop a disposable, so a $16.49 FunSaver works out to roughly $1.20 per photo. Compare labs in our developing price table or run your own numbers in the film cost per photo calculator.
- Lowest price. Unique Photo listed a Solo single-use flash camera with 400 film at $13.95, and Glazer's had the FunSaver at $16.49. The Darkroom calls its own $16.99 Darkroom Cam cheaper than any new disposable and lists it first in its ratings table, so keep in mind that the lab sells it.
Stay 4 to 8 feet from your subject: disposables are fixed at about f/10 and 1/125 sec, focus from 4 feet, and The Darkroom puts the sweet spot at 4 to 8 feet.
Sources: thedarkroom.com, thedarkroom.com, digitalcameraworld.com, imaging.kodakalaris.com, fujifilm.com, uniquephoto.com
Disposable cameras compared: film, flash and developing
Every model below shoots 35mm film and goes to the lab as a whole camera. Flash ranges are the makers' figures.
| Camera | Film | Shots | Flash | Develop at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Kodak FunSaver | Kodak 800 color | 27 | 4 to 11.5 ft, charge before each shot | Any C-41 lab |
| Kodak Power Flash | Kodak 800 color | 27 | 4 to 14.5 ft, recharges automatically | Any C-41 lab |
| Fujifilm QuickSnap Flash 400 | ISO 400 color | 27 | 1 to 3 m (about 3 to 10 ft), switch stays on | Any C-41 lab |
 Kodak Tri-X 400 single-use | Tri-X 400TX black and white | 27 | 4 to 14.5 ft, recharges automatically | Black-and-white lab |
| Ilford HP5 Plus single-use | HP5 Plus black and white | 27 | Built in | Black-and-white lab |
| Ilford XP2 Super single-use | XP2 Super black and white | 27 | Built in | Any C-41 lab |
| Fujifilm QuickSnap Black and White | ISO 400 black and white | 27 | 1 to 3 m (about 3 to 10 ft) | Any C-41 lab |
| Kodak Sport | Kodak Ultra Max 800 color | 27 | None | Any C-41 lab |
| Fujifilm QuickSnap Active | ISO 800 color | 27 | None | Any C-41 lab |
| Kodak Daylight | Kodak 800 color | 27 or 39 | None | Any C-41 lab |
| Lomography Simple Use | Color Negative 400 or Lady Grey 400 | 36 | Built in, with color gels | Depends on the film |
Sources: imaging.kodakalaris.com, fujifilm.com, fujifilm.com, fujifilm.com, uniquephoto.com, glazerscamera.com, thedeadpixelssociety.com, thedarkroom.com, glazerscamera.com
Kodak vs Fujifilm: FunSaver or QuickSnap?
| Kodak FunSaver | Fujifilm QuickSnap Flash 400 | |
|---|---|---|
| Film | Kodak 800-speed color, 27 exposures | ISO 400 color negative, 27 exposures |
| Flash range | 4 to 11.5 ft | 1 to 3 m (about 3 to 10 ft) per Fujifilm; The Darkroom says 1 to 4 m |
| Using the flash | Press and hold to charge before every shot | Push the switch up once; it stays on and glows red when ready |
| Lens and shutter | Not listed on Kodak's page | 32mm f/10 plastic lens, 1/140 sec |
| Look, per reviewers | Handles bright sun and low light well (The Darkroom) | Cooler greens and blues (Shoot It With Film); magenta skin tones at times (The Darkroom) |
| Rankings | Best overall of eight in The Darkroom's comparison; best color pick in Digital Camera World's 2026 guide; best overall in Format's 2017 test | Four of five stars in The Darkroom's table, three on its own review page |
| Price, Oct 28, 2026 | $16.49 Glazer's, $18.95 Unique Photo, $19.99 Legacy Photo Lab | $18.95 Unique Photo, $18.99 Glazer's, $34.95 for a 2-pack |
Pick the Kodak FunSaver if
- You will shoot indoors or after dark a lot: ISO 800 film gives more room in dim light
- You want the camera most reviewers rank first
- You want the lowest price found for a name-brand flash camera ($16.49 at Glazer's)
Pick the Fujifilm QuickSnap Flash 400 if
- Guests will pass it around and forget to charge the flash
- You like cooler greens and blues
- You want a 2-pack for a couple or a weekend away
Sources: imaging.kodakalaris.com, fujifilm.com, thedarkroom.com, thedarkroom.com, digitalcameraworld.com, thephoblographer.com, shootitwithfilm.com, glazerscamera.com, uniquephoto.com, uniquephoto.com, legacy-photolab.com
Which black-and-white disposable cameras need a special lab?
Two of the black-and-white disposables develop like color film and two do not, so check before you buy. Kodak's Tri-X and Ilford's HP5 Plus use traditional black-and-white film, which needs home chemistry or a lab with a dedicated black-and-white service.
Ilford's XP2 Super and Fujifilm's QuickSnap Black and White use black-and-white film made for the C-41 color process. Unique Photo says the XP2 camera can go to any C-41 lab, and Fujifilm says its camera needs no special black-and-white developing. Our guide to where to develop a disposable camera lists labs that take both.
- Any color (C-41) lab: Ilford XP2 Super single-use, Fujifilm QuickSnap Black and White, and every color disposable.
- Black-and-white lab or home darkroom: Kodak Tri-X 400 single-use, Ilford HP5 Plus single-use.
Sources: glazerscamera.com, thedeadpixelssociety.com, uniquephoto.com, fujifilm.com
Best waterproof disposable camera: QuickSnap Active or Kodak Sport?
| Fujifilm QuickSnap Active | Kodak Sport | |
|---|---|---|
| Film | ISO 800 color, 27 exposures | Kodak Ultra Max 800, 27 exposures |
| Flash | None | None; Kodak says outdoor and daylight use only |
| Depth rating | 35 ft (10 m), per Fujifilm | 50 ft per The Darkroom; Unique Photo lists both 50 and 35 ft; Kodak's page gives none |
| Lens and shutter | 32mm f/10 plastic lens, 1/125 sec | Not listed on Kodak's page |
| Sharpness | The Darkroom found the older Fujifilm waterproof model far crisper than the Kodak | The Darkroom's main guide still recommends the Kodak for slightly sharper images |
| Price, Oct 28, 2026 | $24.75 MSRP; not in stock at US stores checked | $16.95 Unique Photo, $22.99 Legacy Photo Lab |
Pick the Fujifilm QuickSnap Active if
- You want the model Digital Camera World ranks best for water
- You can find one in stock, or the older QuickSnap 800 Waterproof ($18.99 at Glazer's)
Pick the Kodak Sport if
- You want one that is easy to buy now: it was in stock at two US stores on October 28
- You want the lowest price ($16.95 at Unique Photo)
Sources: fujifilm.com, camerajabber.com, imaging.kodakalaris.com, thedarkroom.com, thedarkroom.com, digitalcameraworld.com, uniquephoto.com, legacy-photolab.com, glazerscamera.com
How to get good photos from a disposable camera
Most bad disposable photos come from the same few mistakes. These steps follow The Darkroom's advice and Kodak's instructions.
- 1
Wind until it stops
Turn the thumbwheel until it will not turn any more before every shot. The counter counts down from 27.
- 2
Use the flash unless you are in bright sun
Indoors, at night, in shade or with the sun behind your subject, turn the flash on. Skipping it is the most common cause of dark photos The Darkroom sees.
- 3
Wait for the ready light
On a FunSaver, press and hold the flash button until the light on top glows. On a QuickSnap, push the flash switch up and leave it on.
- 4
Stand 4 to 8 feet away
Focus is fixed from about 4 feet, and The Darkroom puts the sweet spot for sharpness and flash exposure at 4 to 8 feet.
- 5
Match the camera to the light
Daylight-only and waterproof models have no flash. Keep them for outdoor shots in good light.
- 6
Hand in the whole camera
When the counter reaches 0, take the entire camera to a lab. Send Tri-X and HP5 cameras to a lab with a black-and-white service.
Sources: thedarkroom.com, thedarkroom.com, imaging.kodakalaris.com, digitalcameraworld.com, glazerscamera.com
Disposable camera prices at US stores
| Seller | Item | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glazer's Camera (Seattle) | Kodak FunSaver, ISO 800, 27 exp | $16.49 | Lowest FunSaver price found |
| Unique Photo (Fairfield, NJ) | Kodak FunSaver, ISO 800, 27 exp | $18.95 | In stock; $17.95 each for 20 or more |
| Legacy Photo Lab | Kodak FunSaver, ISO 800 | $19.99 | In stock |
| Legacy Photo Lab | Kodak Power Flash, 27 exp | $19.99 | Sold out |
| Unique Photo (Fairfield, NJ) | Fujifilm QuickSnap Flash 400, 27 exp | $18.95 | Usually ships in 5 days |
| Glazer's Camera (Seattle) | Fujifilm QuickSnap Flash 400, 27 exp | $18.99 | Limit 10 per customer per 7 days |
| Glazer's Camera (Seattle) | Fujifilm QuickSnap Flash 400, 2-pack | $34.95 | |
| Legacy Photo Lab | Fujifilm QuickSnap Flash 400, 2-pack | $37.99 | In stock |
| Unique Photo (Fairfield, NJ) | Kodak Tri-X 400 single-use, 27 exp | $17.75 | Usually ships in 7 to 14 days |
| Glazer's Camera (Seattle) | Kodak Tri-X 400 single-use, 27 exp | $19.95 | |
| CineStill | Kodak Tri-X 400 single-use | $19.95 | Only 1 left, max 1 per customer |
| Glazer's Camera (Seattle) | Ilford XP2 single-use, 27 exp | $22.99 | |
| Unique Photo (Fairfield, NJ) | Ilford XP2 Super single-use, 27 exp | $24.45 | In stock |
| Glazer's Camera (Seattle) | Ilford HP5 Plus single-use, 27 exp | $22.99 | |
| Unique Photo (Fairfield, NJ) | Ilford HP5 Plus single-use, 27 exp | $24.50 | In stock |
| Procam | Fujifilm QuickSnap Black and White, 27 exp | $19.99 | Out of stock; MSRP $22.90 |
| Unique Photo (Fairfield, NJ) | Kodak Water & Sport, ISO 800, 27 exp | $16.95 | In stock |
| Legacy Photo Lab | Kodak Sport waterproof, 27 exp | $22.99 | In stock |
| Glazer's Camera (Seattle) | Fujifilm QuickSnap 800 Waterproof, 27 exp | $18.99 | Older model, replaced by the QuickSnap Active |
| Glazer's Camera (Seattle) | Lomography Simple Use, Lady Grey 400 | $19.90 | Color Negative 400 version sold out |
| Unique Photo (Fairfield, NJ) | Solo single-use flash camera, 400 film, 27 exp | $13.95 | In stock; budget option |
| The Darkroom | The Darkroom Cam, Kodak 400, 27 exp | $16.99 | The lab's own camera; includes a mailer |
| Legacy Photo Lab | Harman EZ-35 reusable camera with HP5 film | $24.79 | Sale price; only 1 left |
Prices checked October 28, 2026. They change often.
Questions people ask
Is Kodak or Fujifilm better for a disposable camera?
For most people, Kodak: the FunSaver's ISO 800 film was ranked best overall by The Darkroom and by a 2017 Format test. Fujifilm's QuickSnap Flash 400 is easier at parties because its flash switch stays on, but its ISO 400 film runs cooler and can turn skin tones magenta. Underwater it is less clear: The Darkroom's dedicated waterproof test found the older Fujifilm waterproof camera far crisper than the Kodak Sport, while its main guide leans toward the Kodak.
Sources: thedarkroom.com, thephoblographer.com, shootitwithfilm.com, thedarkroom.com
What film does a Fujifilm disposable camera use?
Fujifilm lists the QuickSnap Flash 400 as ISO 400 color negative film developed in C-41, without naming the stock. The new QuickSnap Active uses ISO 800 color film, the QuickSnap Black and White uses ISO 400 black-and-white film that also develops in C-41, and Glazer's lists the older QuickSnap 800 Waterproof with Fujicolor Superia X-Tra 800.
Sources: fujifilm.com, fujifilm.com, fujifilm.com, glazerscamera.com
Are disposable cameras still worth it?
For a party, wedding or trip, yes, as long as you count developing. Name-brand cameras cost about $16 to $25 at US stores in October 2026 and The Darkroom charges about $16 to develop one, roughly $1.20 to $1.50 per photo. If you will shoot often, The Darkroom says reloading a Lomography Simple Use is much more cost-effective than buying a stack of single-use cameras.
Sources: thedarkroom.com, digitalcameraworld.com, glazerscamera.com, uniquephoto.com
How much does it cost to develop a disposable camera?
About $16 at The Darkroom, a mail-in lab, and Digital Camera World notes that processing often costs about as much as the camera. Tri-X and HP5 cameras need a lab with a black-and-white service, which narrows your choices, while XP2 Super and the QuickSnap Black and White go to any color lab.
Sources: thedarkroom.com, digitalcameraworld.com, glazerscamera.com, uniquephoto.com, fujifilm.com
How many pictures does a disposable camera take?
Most take 27, including the Kodak FunSaver, the Fujifilm QuickSnap and the Ilford and Tri-X black-and-white cameras. Kodak's Daylight comes in 27 or 39 exposures, and the reloadable Lomography Simple Use holds 36. When the counter reaches 0, the roll is done.
Sources: imaging.kodakalaris.com, fujifilm.com, thedarkroom.com
Why is Gen Z using disposable cameras?
A YPulse study reported by Digital Camera World found up to two-thirds of Gen Z and younger millennials use analog tech, and YPulse links the trend largely to digital burnout. Young shooters interviewed by InsideHook also point to the wait for prints: a 19-year-old who posts disposable-camera videos on TikTok said the anticipation is part of the appeal.
Sources: digitalcameraworld.com, insidehook.com
Can you take a disposable camera through airport security?
Yes. TSA recommends packing cameras that contain undeveloped film in your carry-on bag, or taking them to the checkpoint and asking for a hand inspection.
Sources: tsa.gov
Can you reuse a disposable camera?
Not a true single-use camera: you hand the whole camera to the lab, and The Darkroom says it recycles every single-use camera it develops. Reloadable lookalikes take new 35mm film: the Lomography Simple Use comes with 36 exposures and flash gels, and Legacy Photo Lab had the Harman EZ-35 reusable camera on sale for $24.79 on October 28, 2026.
Sources: thedarkroom.com, thedarkroom.com, legacy-photolab.com
Sources
Every fact on this page comes from one of these. How we choose and check sources is in our methodology.
Show all 30 sources
Editorial reviews 12
- The Darkroom: The best disposable (single-use) cameras
- The Darkroom: Kodak FunSaver disposable camera review
- The Darkroom: Fujifilm QuickSnap disposable camera review
- The Darkroom: Best waterproof disposable cameras
- The Darkroom: The Darkroom Cam
- Digital Camera World: The best disposable cameras in 2026
- Digital Camera World: Kodak Black & White Tri-X 400 Single Use Camera review
- Digital Camera World: Retro tech is back, majority of Gen Z uses analog cameras
- Camera Jabber: Fujifilm marks 40 years of QuickSnap with its first black and white disposable camera
- The Dead Pixels Society: Kodak Alaris announces Tri-X 400 single-use camera
- The Phoblographer: Tested & Ranked: Six Disposable Cameras (via Format)
- InsideHook: Why are so many young people obsessed with disposable cameras?
retailer 11
- Unique Photo: Disposable film cameras
- Unique Photo: Kodak FunSaver
- Unique Photo: Kodak Tri-X 400 single use
- Unique Photo: Ilford XP2 Super single use camera
- Unique Photo: Ilford HP5 Plus single use camera
- Unique Photo: Kodak Water & Sport
- Glazer's Camera: Single use and reloadable film cameras
- Glazer's Camera: Ilford HP5 Plus single-use camera
- Legacy Photo Lab: Disposable cameras
- CineStill: Tri-X 400 single use camera
- Procam: Fujifilm QuickSnap Black & White 400
official 6
Independent blogs 1
Keep reading
Film cameras
Kodak FunSaver: 27 shots of ISO 800 film for $15.95 to $21.99. What 94 reviewer and owner opinions say, flash tips, and what developing really costs.
Film cameras
Walgreens, CVS and Walmart still develop disposable cameras but rarely return negatives. Compare them with local and mail-in labs on price and wait, Oct 2026.
Developing and scanning
Yes, CVS, Walgreens and Walmart still develop 35mm film and disposable cameras. Prices, wait times, formats and if you get negatives back, checked Oct 2026.
Film stocks
HP5 vs Tri-X: reviewers find Tri-X 400 punchier, HP5 Plus flatter and more forgiving. Grain, pushing, developing times and October 2026 US prices.
Instant cameras
The best instant camera for most people is the Instax Mini 13, $89.95 in October 2026. See 8 picks from reviewer consensus, plus Polaroid film cost per photo.
Film cameras
A half frame camera gets 72 shots from a 36-exposure roll. Pentax 17 ($500) vs Kodak Ektar H35 ($46-$50): lens, focus, film, labs and who should buy which.
