Topic: Interesting Developments for Film.

[Skorj]

Two developments in the film domain, a bit old now I guess, but presented together in a recent edition of Asahi Camera (June 2006), in their non-digital section.

First, Rollei's Retro 400, also available as a Retro 100 as well it seems. A bit more expensive than the regular disposable, but what the heck, it even looks like a camera.

Also, Fuji Film's Natura Black. A special version of their semi-cultish Natura device. The 'black' version gets a few manual controls and an f1.9 lens. Coupled with the recommended Natura 1600 film, you get a pretty versatile, PaS camera for the pocket.

http://fujifilm.jp/personal/filmcamera/35mm/naturas/index.html

http://www.retrophotographic.com/shop/69/index.htm

No excuses now.

Some more can be found here: http://filmwasters.com/blog/archives/47



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[gary m]

Very cool. I just got done reading this article on CNN today about how disposables are alive and well in this digital age
http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/06/12/cameras.disposables.reut/index.html

[Francois]

Really surprised to see that Fuji is still making film cameras that look decent in Japan. All we can get here are the venerable ZoomDate series (which looks... well... dated) and the Instax cameras.

I thought they were completely out of the film camera business...
I do miss their professional roll film cameras. Too bad they pulled the plug on these instead or relocating the manufacturing.

[Janet_P]

That sounds great. Do you think there's any chance that you'd be able to unload it in a darkroom and reload with more film?

Janet

[gary m]

That sounds great. Do you think there's any chance that you'd be able to unload it in a darkroom and reload with more film?

Janet

Hi Janet, most disposable cameras that I played around with advance the film back into the canister. I just got done reloading a Polaroid Zoom lens model. Takes some figuring out how to do it, but basically you put the film back in, close it, and them using a screwdriver or other homemade tool, advance the film until the fresh film is on the take up reel. As you shoot pictures, when you advance the film, it will go back into the canister. Sometimes they are more trouble then they are worth

[Francois]

And sometimes, even if it seems like an easy reload, it just doesn't work.
Around 7 or 8 years ago, I had bought a Fuji Panoramic Disposable. I was planning on refilling it with T-Max.
Was I surprised when I found out it couldn't be done! 
I don't know if the Fuji disposable cameras still work the same way but in the model I had bought, the film advance was done using an undulating (toothed, corrugated, whatever you might call it) spool, not a fork like driver like all cameras. The film canister was a special design in that regard. When you put a regular film in, it would just slip and not fit properly. The only solution a thought of was cutting the spool with a saw and crazy glue it to the camera...   

[moominsean]

i'm at work so i don't remember the name of it, but you can actually puchase refills for your disposable online. dcs canisters i think...