Intro to Disposable Cameras: The Fujifilm Quicksnap and the Kodak FunSaver by Samantha Stortecky

Written by Samantha Stortecky

If you’re like me and you’re getting up there in age, you probably remember growing up with one of your friends or family members always shooting a disposable camera.

And, as we in the film community like to say, film isn’t dead, and that goes for disposable cameras as well!

They are no longer just for nostalgic purposes!

No matter where you are in your film journey, shooting disposable cameras are so much fun. They are incredibly simple, straightforward, and easy to find.

One of the two well-known disposable cameras I’ve tried is the Kodak FunSaver (find on Amazon) and the Fujifilm Quicksnap (find on Amazon).

I’ve shot both on multiple occasions, and, today, we are talking about these two cameras to give you a better understanding of which brand will best suit your disposable camera needs.

Purchasing and Pricing

Let’s talk about purchasing. I can tell you, both the Quicksnap and FunSaver are easy to find.

As far as online, I’ve found both on sites such as Amazon and Adorama.

I’ve also had great luck finding the Fujifilm Quicksnap in stores like Walmart or Walgreens. This makes it a great camera to pick up at the last minute or at any time you get the desire to shoot film and don’t want to wait for it to be shipped to your home!

For pricing, both cameras are very similar in price. Each camera has one roll of film in it with 27 exposures (27 images), and each camera is around the $12 mark.

Shooting and Handling

When it comes to shooting, the Kodak FunSaver is an 800 iso film. This enables you to have a bit more flexibility when it comes to shooting.

You’ll have a better range for how much light you need to shoot, giving you more location options both inside and outside.

This camera has a range of 4 feet to 11 feet when taking up close images, but also works beautiful when taking landscape images!

The Fujifilm Quicksnap is a 400 iso film stock with an automatic flash recharge. It also has a shooting range just like the Kodak Funsaver of around 3 to 10 feet from your subject.

Focusing Disposable Cameras

There is no ability to focus with a disposable camera, so I have found it best to center your subjects when shooting up close, or stick to images where you want everything in focus, such as landscapes. Otherwise, you risk getting blurry images.

I’ve found that both disposable cameras do well with landscapes, very similarly to the Instax Wide 300. (You can read more about the Instax Wide 300 here.)

Using the Flash

Both cameras have a flash button. The flash must be turned on manually, which is great for when you’re shooting in broad daylight and don’t need the extra flash to help.

However, when shooting in low light situations, you can’t forget that the flash won’t automatically turn on, you must press the button yourself!

And one of the things I love about both cameras is that they both have the instructions on the back of the actual camera.

No matter where you are, you’ll always have the ability to know what you’re doing and how to get the best picture from your camera!

Handling and Comfort

As far as handling goes, I will admit that I find the Kodak FunSaver to have much better handling.

Both cameras are very simple and straightforward to use, but I have noticed that the Kodak FunSaver does have a more high-quality feel to it as well as a more comfortably shaped camera.

Comparing Images From the Fujifilm Quicksnap and the Kodak FunSaver

Color Tones

I’ve always found Kodak to have a much more colorful appearance when it comes to their film. When shooting it in broad daylight in a place with a lot of details (such as the beach), this is where I find the Kodak FunSaver really shines!

The film inside the Kodak FunSaver is Kodak Gold 800 film stock which to me, resembles Kodak Gold 200 and 400 quite a bit but with just a bit more grain in each image. Think warm tones!

As for the Fujifilm Quicksnap, it really takes on a cooler toned appearance, really favoring the greens and blues in the images. When comparing it to another Fujifilm film stock, I’d say Fujifilm Superia 200 and 400 is the closest!

Image Quality

When it comes to image quality, it’s good to set your expectations appropriately.

These cameras don’t have super high-quality film stocks in them, and are made with plastic with plastic lenses. Because of this, the images you take are going to look more like they were shot with a toy camera. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing!

Final Thoughts

I find that disposable cameras are best used when you just want to have a little fun. They are also great if you are new to film and want to start dipping your toes into the analog world.

No matter what, have fun with it, because, despite these cameras being inexpensive and small, they are mighty and awesome!

Hopefully, this article inspires you to purchase a few disposable cameras and toss them in your bag for whenever you get the urge to shoot some film!

Have you ever shot with a disposable camera before? If so, what were your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below, and don’t hesitate to reach out to me on Instagram if you have any questions or just want to chat about film!

Thank you so much, Samantha! Samantha is a regular contributor here at Shoot It With Film, and you can check out her other articles here, including how to shoot Fuji Pro 400H and how to shoot Kodak Portra 400.

You can also check out more of Samantha’s work on her website and Instagram.

Leave your questions about the Fujifilm Quicksnap and the Kodak FunSaver below in the comments, and you can pick up the cameras for yourself on Amazon here: Fujifilm Quicksnap Disposable Camera and Kodak FunSaver Disposable Camera

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Samantha Stortecky

Samantha Stortecky is a family photographer and a regular contributor for Shoot It With Film. Find her other articles here, such as How to Shoot Kodak Portra 400 and 5 Unique & Experimental Film Stocks You Need to Try.

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