Using a Fujifilm Disposable Camera: A Complete Guide

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Professional photographer Crystal Bear shares tips on getting great shots

Co-authored by Crystal Bear and Amy Bobinger, BA

Last Updated: February 2, 2026 Fact Checked

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Operating the Camera

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Taking the Best Pictures

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Selecting a Disposable Camera

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Video

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Tips

Disposable cameras have a unique grain and quality that digital cameras simply cannot replicate. They also create an added layer of suspense and excitement, since you can’t see the photos you took until after you’ve developed them. Fujifilm makes a variety of disposable cameras that are easy and fun to use. We’re breaking down everything you need to know about using Fujifilm disposable cameras, from operating the camera and taking great pictures to choosing the right camera for you.

Quick Guide to Using a Fujifilm Disposable Camera

Professional photographer Crystal Bear says to make sure the subject is in bright, even lighting when shooting with a disposable camera. Here’s how to use one:

Use your thumb to turn the scroll wheel to the right until it stops.
Slide the button up on the front of the camera to turn on the flash.
Look through the viewfinder to compose your photo.
Press the button on top of the camera to capture the picture.
Turn the scroll wheel again before taking the next photo.
Take the whole camera to a photo lab or drug store.

Section 1 of 3:

Operating the Camera

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1
Turn the scroll wheel to the right to advance the film in the camera. Before taking a photo, advance the film to an empty frame. To do this, put your thumb on the horizontal scroll wheel next to the viewfinder and turn the wheel to the right. Continue scrolling the wheel until it won’t turn any further.^{[1]
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- The scroll wheel on a Fujifilm waterproof camera is bright green and located on top of the camera.
- Your camera won’t take a photo if you don’t turn the scroll wheel all the way.
- The scroll wheel is sometimes referred to as the thumb wheel.
Meet the wikiHow Expert

Crystal Bear is a professional photographer and the owner of Summer Bear Photography, where she combines her artistic style with her design background to wedding and portrait photography.

1
Slide the button on the front of the camera up to turn on the flash. Unless you’re shooting in bright light, you’ll get a better picture if you have the flash on. Look at the front of the camera and find the large button with 4 grooves on it next to the lens. Slide it up to charge the flash. You will hear a high-pitched sound as the flash charges. Wait 2–5 seconds for this sound to end. Once the sound is gone, the flash is ready.^{[2]
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- You can turn on the flash before or after you turn the scroll wheel—it doesn’t really matter.
- If you don’t want to use flash, simply ignore this button and leave it in the off position.
- Some Fujifilm disposable cameras don’t have a built-in flash.
Tip: Most Fujifilm cameras have a red button on top that will light up when the flash is ready.
2
Raise the camera up to your eye and look through the viewfinder. The viewfinder is the transparent window on the back of the camera. Hold the viewfinder up to your dominant eye and look through it to frame your photo. Adjust the camera to change the composition of your subject so that the people, landscape, or still life are framed in an interesting way.^{[3]
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- Pay attention to the light source. Generally speaking, you want the light to hit your subject at an angle. Avoid shooting directly into or away from light sources.
- In photography the rule of thirds is a good general rule for framing your subject. Try using this rule by adjusting the location of the camera to put your subject in one third of composition, either vertically or horizontally.
3
Press the button on top of the camera to take a photo. Hold the camera as steadily as you can. To take your photo, press the button on top of the camera all the way down. Once you hear a click, the shutter has finished opening and closing and your photo has been taken. Release the button to finish taking your photo.
- To take a photo with a disposable waterproof camera, pull down the lever on the front of the camera until it clicks, then release it.
4
Continue using your camera until you run out of film. Most Fujifilm disposable cameras come with 27 exposures. To determine how many photos you have left, look at the top of the camera next to the button you use to capture photos. There is a transparent piece of plastic with a number printed underneath it. This number indicates how many photos you have remaining.^{[4]
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- Don't forget to turn the scroll wheel before taking each picture.
- Once your camera is out of film, you cannot take any more photos.
- Some Fujifilm cameras don’t have an indicator to show how many photos are remaining.
5
Get your film developed at a photo lab or drug store. Once you’ve finished using your camera, take it to a photography lab to get the film developed. Or, you can take the camera to a local drug store or pharmacy, so long as they have a photo development department. If you don’t have a store that develops photos near you, mail the camera to a company that develops film, and they’ll mail your photos back to you.^{[5]
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- Some photo labs may be able to develop your film in as little as 1 hour, but others may require a few days.
- Pick up your photos once they’ve been developed.
- It typically costs $8.00–$20.00 to develop the film inside a disposable camera.
- With the right supplies, you can even develop the film at home.

Section 2 of 3:

Taking the Best Pictures

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1
Take pictures in bright, even lighting for the best shots. If you want to take good photographs with a digital camera, Bear says to pay attention to the lighting, because the camera can’t adjust it. She says if you're taking photos of yourself or other people outside and it's sunny out, make sure your subject is facing away from the sun.^{[6]
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Crystal Bear
Professional Photographer

Expert Interview}
- Use the flash if you’re shooting in a darker setting.
- Avoid shooting brightly-lit or reflective surfaces.
2
Keep your hands as steady as possible when you’re shooting. Try resting your elbows against your sides to help hold the camera still, and take a moment before you press the shutter button to make sure you’re steady. Bear says that your hands naturally move a little when you’re breathing, which can result in a blurry picture.^{[7]
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Crystal Bear
Professional Photographer

Expert Interview}
- Bear says it’s especially important to keep the camera still if you’re shooting in the dark. Try resting the camera on a tripod, ledge, or other sturdy surface so the photos don’t turn out blurry.^{[8]
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  Crystal Bear
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  Expert Interview}
3
Stand 5–6 ft (1.5–1.8 m) away from your subject for the best shot. Typically, this is the best distance to get a clear, focused picture, especially if you’re photographing people. It’s fine to stand further away if you’re taking a landscape photo.
- If you want to try taking a selfie,

Section 3 of 3:

Selecting a Disposable Camera

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1
Get a QuickSnap 35 mm camera with flash for general shooting. Fujifilm’sQuickSnap Flash 400 35mm camera is the most common model on the market. The flash makes shooting at night or in overcast conditions easier, but you can turn it on and off between shots as needed. The flash can be turned on before each shot by flipping the button embedded in the front of the camera next to the lens.^{[9]
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- 35 mm refers to the focal length of the lens. Essentially, it’s how wide the angle of the camera is. 35 mm is the standard default setting for most disposable cameras.
- Fujifilm used to make an outdoor model with no built-in flash. This was an extremely popular camera among creative photographers, but Fujifilm has since discontinued it.
Tip: While it has a flash built into the frame, you don’t have to use it for every shot. This means that the 35 mm QuickSnap is probably the best overall choice if you don’t know when or where you’re going to use the camera.
2
Buy a QuickSnap waterproof camera to shoot in wet conditions. Fujifilm’s second-most popular camera is their QuickSnap Waterproof One-Time Use Camera. It can be completely submerged in up to 17 feet (5.2 m) of water and still take high-quality photos. This makes it a great option if you’re traveling to a rainy destination or don’t want to worry about the camera getting ruined at the beach.
- The QuickSnap waterproof camera comes with a built-in strap so that you don’t lose it if you’re in the water.
- The QuickSnap comes in versions with 400 or 800 ISO film. The higher the ISO, the grainier the image typically is. However, images shot at a lower ISO are more likely to end up out of focus.
- There is no flash built into Fujifilm’s waterproof cameras.
3
Use a Superia camera for the highest-quality images possible. The Fujifilm Superia camera is generally considered to be Fujifilm’s best disposable camera, but it’s a lot harder to find and typically costs a little more since the film in the camera is high-quality. It also comes with a built-in flash for shooting in low-light conditions.
- The Superia camera has been discontinued, but you can still find some secondhand—just check to be sure it isn’t expired.
- Superia is also the name of one of the manufacturer’s brands of film, so make sure that you’re buying a disposable camera and not just the film if you’re buying it online.
- The QuickSnap cameras use 400 ISO film, while the Superia uses 800 ISO film. To compensate for the higher ISO, the Superia uses a higher shutter speed so the images are typically more accurate.

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Tips

Since there is no digital screen for you to review your photos, it is hard to guess how a photo is going to turn out once you’ve taken it. This is part of the fun of disposable cameras, though!

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