Single-use film cameras are incredibly popular for vacation photos. If you find yourself wishing you had your camera from home, you can easily pick up a disposable camera at the nearest drugstore or convenience store for $20 or less.

Disposable cameras also add a fun element to significant events like weddings or parties. Event planners and wedding photographers often buy them in bulk, placing one at each guest table or filling a big glass bowl with them at the bar. This not only provides guests with a fun activity that enhances the event’s happy and lively atmosphere, especially as the drinks start flowing, but it also captures unique moments from different perspectives. Plus, your guests essentially become your photographers!

Another excellent use for single-use cameras is during activities where your primary camera might get damaged, such as hiking, climbing, beach outings, or rainy days. They’re also fantastic for younger kids to use, thanks to their simplicity and straightforward operation.

Why All The Hype?

The Contax T2 has become one of the most talked-about, blogged about, Tweeted about 35mm film point-n-shoots of all time. It has a cult following similar to the Leica M6. That kind of attention begs what all the hype is about, and is it warranted? While the Contax T2 is a great camera and certainly deserved the attention it received back in the ’90s, it’s priced at a point that pushes it beyond the reach of many analog shooters. At over $1,000 for a 35mm point and shoot Contax T2 in excellent condition, it’s a lot of cash, especially when the great image quality is at the same standard as many other cheaper options.

Contax T2 Specifications

Let’s look at some of the specifications for the titanium body Contax T2. The second-generation Contax T was released to the world in 1990, marking an updated version of the pro-grade compact 35mm film camera. Aside from its compact form, the most significant selling point of the Contax T2 was the Carl Zeiss T* Sonnar 38mm f/2.8 lens. It featured a lens assembly with five multi-coated elements in four groups and delivered sharp and bright images.

The Contax T2 was also notable due to being available in a range of finishes, including champagne silver, black, and gold. Beyond that, the user-friendly Contax T2 provided film shooters with automated functions such as Autofocus and Program AE. When it comes to performance, it’s worth pointing out that the Contax only has a 1/500 second fastest shutter speed.

How About The Quiet Achiever?

We have the larger, bulker, and goofy-looking Canon EOS Rebel T2 at the other end of the spectrum. Our second T2 doesn’t have the sleek looks and charms of a point-and-shoot Contax. But what it offers is a budget-friendly alternative that packs in many features, performance, and exceptional image outcomes. Where the Contax option costs over $1,000, the Canon T2 with a 40mm pancake lens will only set you back around $150. Imagine all the fantastic film, processing, and printing you can afford with the savings alone? 

Canon Rebel T2 Specifications

Where the Contax T2 was released in 1990, the Canon EOS Rebel T2 is a much younger SLR. Launched in 2004 with far superior technology onboard, the Canon Rebel T2 was known as the EOS Kiss 7 in Japan and the EOS 300X everywhere else. The Rebel T2 is a 35mm film SLR that (at the time) achieved the fastest AF speed in its class. Add to that seven controllable focus points compared to the single one in the Contax. Thanks to its 2.5fps continuous shooting performance in AI Servo AF Mode, it was a delight amongst sport and wildlife photographers. Not bad for a film camera! 

Attached to our Canon EOS Rebel T2 is the Canon EF 40mm f/2.8 STM lens with manual and full autofocus options. Aside from brilliant AF performance, the Rebel T2 cranked out a maximum shutter speed of 1/4000 of a second and an X-sync speed of 1/125 second via the internal flash unit. The final standout feature of the Canon EOS Rebel T2 was the rear backlit display to monitor camera settings. Another neat trick that the Rebel T2 has is the ability to shoot multiple exposures for creative outcomes. 

What’s The Point… And Shoot?

It may seem a little silly to compare a compact point-and-shoot 35mm film camera such as the Contax T2 against the younger and more advanced Canon Rebel T2. And yet here we are doing just that! The point of this exercise is to demonstrate that hype, popularity, and celebrity endorsements are not always what they appear. Granted, there’s a lot to be said for loving a particular era of film camera design. However, when it comes down to dollars and cents, it’s hard to argue that the Contax T2 is a better pick than the cheaper Canon Rebel T2. You can pick up a great 35mm film camera that features an impressive number of bells and whistles at a fraction of the cost. Plus, it’s an interchangeable lens camera that can be used as a point and shoot with the 40mm pancake or drop a pro-grade 85mm f/1.2 on and capture stunning portraits. 

Remember that the Canon Rebel T2 launched 14 years after the Contax T2, so you would expect the features and technology to be more advanced. It’s also important to keep in mind that investing in a high-quality 35mm camera is more than the up-front cost of the camera. You need to have funds for film, developing, and printing and the moments you drop into The Darkroom for your film fix. Be sure to check out our latest YouTube video over at TheDarkroomLab channel, where we go into much more detail comparing these two film cameras. Plus, you’ll get to see the results of shooting with each T2 camera and how the Canon Rebel T2 with the 40mm pancake nailed it every time!

Below are the side-by-side FujiFilm C200 examples.

Canon Rebel T2

Contax T2

Our Expectations For The Lens and Picture Quality

TRI-X 400

Sporting an aesthetic ‘modern’ look, it’s clear with the outer color scheme that this camera is different from their traditional single use cameras with some similarities. For instance, there’s the built-in viewfinder, flash, a flash recharge button, and a lens. At its heart, though, it’s different. As we all know, it’s not on the outside that matters; it’s what’s on the inside. You’ll find 27 exposures of Tri-X 400 film and a dual-lens setup within the inner cogs, transistor, and battery.

This camera produces surprisingly sharp results, especially around 4-10ft. It plays to a softer level at infinity, common for single use cameras due to their fixed focus lens configuration. However, we can say the dual-lens design is the sharpest we have tested compared with all other single use cameras. In terms of picture quality, the results are very good. As a bonus, if you are shooting in direct light, expect some lens flare to add some personality to your photos.

Film grain is consistent with or without a flash. Put simply; enthusiasts will love this camera model. Thanks to the look of Kodak Tri-X 400, there’s a classic grain structure, strong contrast and bond tones that shine through despite being a single use camera. For portraits, it’s a better story. The grain lends itself to the professional look we all aspire to capture. Images are rich with detail, and the 400 ASA doesn’t leave you without much detail loss – even when using the flash.

An Onboard Flash Designed For Non-Daylight Conditions

There’s a secret weapon on this camera – the flash. Built with ease of use in mind, the power flash recharges quickly, thanks to the hidden large capacitor storing the energy. After pressing the recharge button, the flash will be ready after some time. There’s an onboard red LED light to give you an indication of when it’s ready. However, if you decide the flash isn’t needed after pressing the flash charge button, then wait some time, and the LED will turn off.  The flash was used for the photos below.

Kodak’s Oldest Black and White Film In a Single Use Camera

If you have ever shot a roll of Tri-X 400 before, you’ll know about the beautiful grain rendition you get from this iconic film. Released in 1954, Kodak’s iconic Tri-X 400 has covered many iconic events. From weddings, world events, and personalities, the classic black and white film has seen it all. That’s why we are so excited to see Tri-X 400 in a single use camera. Now, enthusiasts and those starting out in film have the chance to achieve a similar look from a single use camera.

As a professional film lab, The Darkroom sees a ton of black and white film go through our dip and dunk film processing. There’s a sense of nostalgic emotion whenever we process a roll and develop a customer’s vision for them. It will undoubtedly be the case when we see Kodak’s Professional single use Tri-X 400 film camera come back into our lab for processing.

Black and white photographs offer a different perspective compared with color photos. They help convey a message of simplicity while taking away any distracting elements in a frame. So when it comes to printing your photos from this new single use camera, it makes sense to see them on a professional silver gelatin photo paper. Many of our customers opt for this vision as it allows them to tangibly share memories with family and friends.

The Photos You Can Expect To Capture With the Kodak Single Use Tri-X 400 Camera

The new 400TX  single use camera offers a gateway to a new world for the younger generation who may not be so familiar with older film cameras. Whether you plan on traveling with a one-time use camera, capturing a new band cover, photographing a street scene, or being the life of the party, the Tri-X 400 does it all with class. With a camera and film combination all in one – there’s no need to ‘break the bank’ to get started. All you need to do is rip open the packaging and decide if you plan on using the flash or not. The rest is just thinking about the composition you want to capture before pressing the shutter button.

To give you an idea of what the film quality is like from this camera, we asked our best photographers to test the camera in various environments, then scanned the negs for your viewing pleasure. As you can see, there’s a variety of scenes from low-light, indoor, backlit, night, flash, and no flash.

Throughout the photos, we saw consistency in contrast with bold shadows and lofty yet crisp highlights. Tonality was consistent in daylight and throughout indoor environments with the flash. Subjects appearing close to the offset flash do appear overexposed (that’s somewhat of a given); however, if you are pushing the limits of this camera, you may find this to be a creative advantage.

What We Think About Kodak’s New Tri-X Single Use Camera

We highly recommend Kodak’s new single use Tri-X 400 Camera. You’ll get to explore a new side of creativity as the world becomes simplified in black and white. We see this camera being popular for the younger generation who may have never experienced photographing with a roll of Tri-X 400. Through our lab, we see a horde of single use cameras coming in for processing. With this new release, there’s no doubt in our mind that we will be just as busy processing Tri-X 400 as true black and white prints.  All the photos below are without flash.

The latest Disposable Cameras Reviewed, Ranked, and Compared

When you are looking to capture moments, you don’t want to get wrapped up in the technical side of things. Disposable cameras take care of that for you with their fixed aperture, shutter speed, and focus.

For many years now, the term “disposable camera” often brings to mind a cheapo version of an old-school point and shoot. Picture one hanging on the front counter at your local pharmacy-a quick grab in case you need it for some last resort photography that is bound to produce mediocre results. But this isn’t always the way these cameras are used! There’s actually quite a lot of quality disposable film options out there if shot with care – so we rounded up and compared the top options. View the post

Best Disposable Cameras of 2021

Ilford Sprite 35 II – An affordable way to jump into analog photography

How Do We Rate Each Waterproof Disposable Camera?

As disposable underwater cameras, both the Fujifilm and Kodak perform exceptionally well. While the Fuji only goes to a lower depth, the difference is negligible. If there isn’t enough light, both cameras will underperform. That’s why we only recommend the cameras for snorkeling or swimming in the pool rather than diving.

Both cameras present an O-ring seal for maximum waterproof protection. Based on our minilab experience, we feel the Kodak is a more robust build making it almost impossible for the camera to experience a water leak.

The Best Disposable Cameras

The DarkRoom tests the top single-use cameras, new and existing, to see which took the best pictures.

What is the Best Disposable Camera? Click to find out. 

How Does The Waterproof Camera Image Quality Compare?

Both the Kodak and the Fujifilm underwater cameras produce good-looking images when viewed independently. However, upon comparing the two side-by-side, the Fujifilm images are by far crisper with greater detail and hard-line sharpness than seen with the Kodak. Edges and detailed areas are slightly fuzzy with the Kodak MAX camera. It is mainly due to the higher quality of the Fujifilm lens. It’s also worth pointing out that the Fujifilm QuickSnap Marine’s brightness is more evident without creating unwanted highlights. It appears that Kodak has focused more on making their lens sunscreen and scratch-proof versus being optically sharp.

Underwater Camera Film Grain Differences

The Kodak MAX Underwater 800 is pre-loaded with a 27-exposure roll of Kodak MAX Versatility Plus Film with an 800 speed ISO. The film delivers a fine grain consistently across the dark and well-lit areas. The Fujifilm FUJICOLOR QuickSnap Marine packs a roll of Fujicolor Superia X-TRA 800 ISO 35mm – 27 exposures. The Fujifilm grain is broad and not as attractive as found with the photos from the Kodak camera.

Disposable Waterproof Camera Ergonomics Comparison

As discussed, both cameras are pocketable and easy to handle. The Fujifilm and the Kodak cameras have a bulkier look than a traditional disposable camera due to their additional waterproof housing. The rubber wrist straps are awkward to use but do the job, mainly to prevent your floating camera from running away with the tide. The Kodak features a large dial that is super easy to use while snorkeling to wind forward your film. Fujifilm is not as prominent and a little fiddly. While the shutter release is located in the winder on the Kodak, with the Fujifilm, the shutter release is a sizeable push-down lever on the front of the camera. These are not cameras intended for all-day carry. But they are both adequately designed to ensure a sure grip while negotiating underwater environments.

Is There Much Distortion Between the Fuji and Kodak?

In terms of distortion, The Fujifilm FUJICOLOR QuickSnap Marine can better balance the shadows and highlights compared to the Kodak MAX. It is primarily due to Fujifilm’s better quality lens – 32mm F10 fixed focus lens with a shutter speed of 1/125. It’s also worth pointing out that the framing of the Kodak was off. Shot outcomes were unpredictable as what was in frame at the time of the exposure is not what was in frame with the final print. It is disappointing given how tricky it is to capture accurate compositing while shooting underwater in the first place. The framing with the Fujifilm QuickSnap was precise as expected.

By far, the Fujifilm is the better camera out of the two. When looking through the images, the first two things you’ll notice are color and sharpness. In both areas, the Kodak is underwhelming. There’s a sense of muddiness and blur. Finer details are lost, and the edges of subjects seem to mold into each other without definition. Fuji, on the other hand, is like chalk and cheese in comparison.

The fixed focal length of 32mm on the Fuji provides a WYSIWYG (What You See Is What You Get) in a real-life shooting scenario. The viewfinder on the Kodak misaligns compositions. You end up getting a photo that’s more to the left than the Fuji. Aside from that, the only things going for the Kodak are warmer color temperature and fine film grain. The finer film grain tries its best to compensate for Kodak’s lack of a sharp lens but unfortunately lacks the image quality when compared with the Fujifilm underwater disposable camera.

What is a rangefinder? It’s a camera with a range-finding focusing mechanism that shows two images enabling the photographer to measure the subject’s distance and take photographs that are in sharp focus.

Both are great cameras; it just depends on what you’re looking for and what your budget will allow. So if you’re trying to decide whether to spring for a Leica or get the most out of a Canonet, we’ve put together a caparison to help with your decision.

1. Cost

Let’s get it out of the way: the Canon Canonet QL17 GIII is cheap. You can usually buy them for well under $200, and since the Canonet has a fixed lens, that means you get both a camera body and a lens at that low cost. When purchasing a Leica there is a lot more to consider. Leica has made many rangefinders over the years and has a wide selection of lenses. Depending on what model you’re looking to buy, used Leica bodies start (at the low end) around $500, and brand new bodies can get all the way up to $4,500—not including a lens. Leica glass can range from a couple hundred to thousands of dollars.  While there is a major price difference between the Canonet and the Leica, the extra cost comes with value. But considering how inexpensive the Canonet really is, it’s a really good camera.

2. Versatility

Overall, Leica is a much more versatile camera. Unlike Canonet’s fixed 40mm f/1.7 lens, Leica rangefinders have interchangeable lenses. Most Leica’s have in-camera light meters which are much more precise than the Canonet’s external light meter which is located on the front of the lens and can be confused by backlit scenes. When it comes to viewfinders Leica also has the Canonet beat. Leica rangefinder viewfinders are much larger and brighter than the Canonet’s, making them easier to compose and focus quickly. Leica rangefinders have a max shutter speed of 1/1000 which is one stop faster than the Canonet’s 1/500th. Lastly, Leicas can use modern-day batteries while Canonet’s are older and use Mercury-based batteries. Since Mercury batteries aren’t made anymore, you need to use a modern-day 1.5-volt Alkaline battery which can affect the light meter a little bit.

The Canonet does have a few advantages over Leicas though. The Canonet is much smaller making it great for travel and everyday shooting. With its quick load feature, it’s much faster and easier to load than a Leica as well. The Canonet’s 40mm f/1.7 lens is also a leaf shutter. This means it can flash sync at all of its shutter speeds, unlike Leica’s 1/60th or below.

3. Quality

The Canonet wins hands down when it comes to affordability, but pales in comparison to the versatility of Leica Rangefinders. While totally subjective, the great equalizer of these two cameras is the quality of images they produce. Yes, when it comes to building quality, Leica definitely has the Canonet beat but when it comes to the quality of the images they produce it’s much closer. Despite being a cheap fixed lens camera, the Canonet produces incredibly sharp images. Since it has a max aperture of f/1.7 it’s also great in low light situations and produces very pleasant bokeh. Of course, you also get incredible image quality with Leica—even better—when considering all the high-end lenses they offer.

Canonet – B Portra 160

Leica MP – B Portra 160

Canonet – B Portra 160

Leica MP – B Portra 160

Canonet – B Portra 160

Leica MP – B Portra 160

Canonet – B Portra 160

Leica MP – B Portra 160

Canonet – B Portra 160

Leica MP – B Portra 160

Canonet – B Portra 160

Leica MP – B Portra 160

Canonet – B Portra 160

Leica MP – B Portra 160

Canonet – B Portra 160

Leica MP – B Portra 160

Canonet – B Portra 160

Leica MP – B Portra 160

Canonet – B Portra 160

Leica MP – B Portra 160

Canonet – B Portra 160

Leica MP – B Portra 160

Canonet – B Portra 160

Leica MP – B Portra 160

Black & White Photo Comparison

Leica MP + 40mm f/2 Summicron with Tri-X 400 vs the Cannot with HP5 400.  In this test, we shot at box speed and used the camera light meters.

Leica MP - Tri-X 400

Canonet - HP5 400

Leica MP - Tri-X 400

Canonet - HP5 400

Leica MP - Tri-X 400

Canonet - HP5 400

Leica MP - Tri-X 400

Canonet - HP5 400

There is a lot of expensive, top-of-the-line gear out there. You know all about it because it’s pretty much the only gear you see posted about on film accounts. Leica, Hasselblad, Contax, even point-n-shoots are getting pricey these days. But we’re here to tell you, it’s not all about the gear or how much it costs.

For example, more than half of the content posted on our social media is taken with a Canon EOS film body that costs less than $100. We often shoot with a Canon Rebel that costs roughly $15 paired with either a Canon 50mm f/1.8 or 40mm f/2.8–both of which cost around $100.

This camera looks cheap and is cheap BUT it doesn’t mean it’s incapable of amazing results.

I often find that I not only enjoy the experience of shooting with a Canon Rebel over a Leica, but I also like the results better. And not only that–for less than $150 you get a 2000th max shutter, a smart matrix meter, multiple exposure mode, a variety of other modes, exposure compensation, a flash, and so much more. Yes, cameras like these aren’t nearly as durable and may feel cheap, but that’s the beauty of them.

What is a good film camera for beginners?

You don’t have to worry about the possibility of breaking it because it’s easily replaced. That makes these great everyday cameras for travel, adventure, hiking, rainy days, etc. One downside is that they’re not mechanical like a Canon F-1, Nikon FM2, Leica m6, etc. But the Canon Rebel batteries are tiny and last forever, so all you need to do is keep a pair of batteries in your bag in case you need them!

Trev reviews a camera you probably don’t hear much about or see frequently, other than maybe on our own Instagram. It’s not a Leica; it’s not a Nikon FM2, Nikon F3, Pentax 67, Hasselblad, or one of the expensive point shoots that you can get these days. It is a camera that has pretty much created about 50 percent of the content that you’ve seen on our The Darkroom website. It’s typically not a camera that’s on anyone’s top 10 list.

You’ve seen the Canon Rebel, likely because you’ve heard of the digital ones. Before digital, Canon made Rebels for film photography. There are many different models, but first, how I came to start shooting with this camera is five years ago, I got a Canon Elan 7, my first autofocus film camera. I got this camera just because I found a good price on it and it fit my hand well and I just all the functions work for me.

Naturally, I wanted to upgrade to the Canon EOS-1V, because it’s considered the holy grail of EOS Canon cameras. Still, I couldn’t afford that, so I went with the next best thing, the Canon EOS 3. The EOS 3 specifications are technically better, it’s a little more rugged and shoots at 8,000 of a second and shoots six frames a second, which is really fast. However, I found myself picking up the Canon Elan 7 because it’s smaller, has a convenient pop-up flash, and it is significantly quieter.  The Canon EOS 3 shutter sounds like a Samurai sword, drawing a lot more attention.

My wife wanted to start shooting film and got a Canon Rebel with a white 40mm pancake lens, looking goofy I didn’t give it much thought, but then saw her photos. They were as good as my Canon Elan 7 and EOS 3, just as sharp, and the metering was good [More on metering].  I decided to get one for myself, one with a black 2.8 40mm pancake lens. I found that I could take the 40mm lens and put it on the  EOS 3 and get the same/similar image with my Rebel.

When it comes to film cameras, it’s about the quality of the film, the lens, and exposure, the camera body just holds everything together. If you know how to use your camera, the in-camera meter, and your camera works well, you’ll get very good photos regardless of how expensive the camera.  Over the years I’ve preferred the Rebel over the Elon 7, mostly because it just works for me.

It may be considered controversial, but there’s a lot of hype around expensive high-end point-and-shoot cameras like the Nikon 35Ti, Nikon 28Ti, Minolta TC1, Contax T1, Contax T2, Olympus Stylus Epic, but the Canon Rebel generates photos better than all of them. While the Rebel is bigger, you can change out the lens for your desired focal length, you’ll get faster autofocus, manual focus, shutter priority, pop-up flash, and many other features. You also be able to create double exposures.

You can find the Canon Rebel for $50 or cheaper, but I recommend you buy from a place that will test them.  Below are some of our favorite photos taken with the Canon Rebel.

Do you have a cheap camera that you would recommend? Let us and our readers know in the comments.

Matt Day is a well-known photographer on YouTube and Instagram. He’s from Ohio and a friend of The Darkroom.
Mattdayphoto

Here’s a quick-start guide to shooting film with the Pentax K1000

The Pentax K1000 is a popular camera that was produced from 1976 to 1997 and it’s still easy to find. The K1000 is popular among photography students and new-coming amateur photographers because of its minimal features, making it simple to use and a good film camera for beginners. The all-manual operation and minimalist features include the ability to control shutter speed and aperture.

What Film to Use?

While there are many different film options, one of the best to start with is Kodak Gold 200. It’s commonly found and great for many daylight situations. The ISO for this film is 200 (ISO is the film speed), which will be used when loading and setting up the camera. Lower speed films (like 100 or 200) have a finer grain and typically have better quality, but can blur the subject if it’s in motion. Generally, higher film speed is used in lower light conditions and lower film speed is better for shooting in brighter light.

To set the film speed on the camera, lift the outer ring on the shutter speed dial and rotate the dial until the number matches the speed of your film.

Amazing Photos with Cheap Cameras
Cheap cameras under $100 that take great photos, perfect for travel, adventure, hiking, rainy days or your daily shooter.

Loading Film

1. Lift the film rewind level all the way and insert the film cartridge. 
2. Once film cartridge is in place, push down the film rewind lever
3. Tuck the film leader in the slit in the take-up spool
4. Advance film a couple of frames to ensure the film is completely engaging and wrapping around the spool
5. It’s important to confirm the teeth are lined up with the sprocket holes.
   …Close camera back and advance film a couple more times to confirm the film rewind level is turning too. 

Adjusting for the Best Exposure