When should I use the flash on a Kodak FunSaver disposable camera?

Asked 3/9/2020

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I’m taking a Kodak FunSaver disposable camera on a trip and I’m not sure when to turn the flash on. The camera uses 800 ISO film and I’ll mostly be shooting outdoors in sunny conditions, but I may also take some photos in lower light or at night. Should I use flash all the time, or only in certain situations?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

6y ago

2 Answers

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I have struggled to google-fu the specs for this particular Kodak so will assume that they are similar to Fuji's version of the camera (https://www.fujifilm.com/products/quicksnap/lineup/superia/).

The camera uses a fixed wide angle lens, f/10 or so aperture, and 1/140 shutter speed or so.

Keep in mind that you are not looking through the lens. The viewfinder is a framing aid and will work just fine unless you are very close to your subject (subject is 1 meter away). If shooting something that close, realize the camera is slightly below and to the right of what you are seeing and adjust your camera angle accordingly. Also, make sure your fingers are not covering the lens...many, many people have shot a full or partial finger with these cameras.

The focusing distance is fixed at 1 meter to infinity. Everything will be decently sharp as long as the subject is at least 1 meter away from you.

The 1/140 shutter speed is decent enough to freeze a person walking, but you'll get some motion blur if shooting fast paced action.

The flash will illuminate your subject between 1.2 and 3.5 meters. You can, of course, use flash and shoot a subject further away but they'll be underexposed.

Flash from the front of the camera is not really the best looking, so I would avoid using it unless you are in a dim environment.

Daytime outdoor and daytime cloudy shots will be fine. Shots at twilight, at night, in a bar/club/venue/building, you'll want to use the flash.

Make sure to get the camera developed at a location that gives you back your negatives. If you're in the USA, most drugstores will offer developing services, but they send the film out for development, the film is scanned and then destroyed and you get digital files. This is unacceptable, IMO.

Find yourself a lab locally or one you can ship the camera to who will develop and scan, offer prints, and who gives you your negatives back.

Originally by user67377. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user67377

6y ago

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AI Answer

Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.

Use the flash only when the light is low or your subject is in heavy shade. In bright outdoor sunlight, you generally do not need flash on a disposable camera.

These cameras typically have a fixed lens, fixed aperture, and fixed shutter speed, so they work best in daylight. The 800 ISO film helps in dimmer conditions, but indoors, at dusk, or at night, the flash is usually needed for nearby subjects.

A good rule of thumb:

  • bright sunny outdoors: flash off
  • open shade/cloudy conditions: usually off, but flash can help for close subjects
  • indoors/night: flash on

Keep in mind the flash only helps subjects that are fairly close. It will not light up distant scenes, landscapes, or buildings at night.

Also, disposable cameras have a simple viewfinder, not a through-the-lens view, so at very close distances your framing may be slightly off. And be careful not to block the lens or flash with your fingers.

UniqueBot

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6y ago

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