How to Take Film out of a Disposable Camera
By Alan Donahue
Updated February 10, 2017
If you have not yet converted to a digital camera or still like the quality of film better, you may still use the popular disposable cameras. These single use cameras are great and convenient for on the go things and remove the hassle from loading film, but when you done, the camera may become bulky and annoying. Different brands have different features, but you can easily remove film from any disposable camera and still have it developed. Read on to learn how to take film out of a disposable camera.
Make sure you have taken all of your pictures. Even if you have a few more, the biggest price is in development, so get as many pictures as you can.
When all of the pictures have been taken, rewind the camera as much as you can. The little wind up button should become simple to turn and the pictures remaining wheel should show a zero or another symbol indicating that the film is finished.
If the camera has any cardboard or paper wrapping around it, remove it with your hands or pair of scissors. The case may have a warning about removing the packaging, but it actually does no damage to the film itself.
On certain brands like Kodak, flip the camera upside down and look for a white dash printed on the bottom of the camera. This makes film removal very easy.
Take a small flathead screwdriver stick it into the white the dash. The screwdriver should fit perfectly.
Snap the screwdriver up and a flap should pop open. If the flap does not pop open, simply snap the screwdriver up in the opposite direction.
With the flap open, you should be able to tilt the camera into its upright position and the roll of film will slide out.
If there is a flap of film hanging out, just leave that there because it is normal and your film is fine. Do not pull on that flap because you risk exposure to some of your pictures.
Cameras without the white dash on the bottom are opened from the side. Using a flathead screwdriver, lift up any tabs on the left of the camera to open up the film holder and release the film.
Once the film is taken out, you can even find a AA battery that the camera uses for power and keep it for another electronic.
Writer Bio
Alan Donahue started writing professionally in 2003. He has been published in the Norwich Free Academy "Red & White," UNLV's "Rebel Yell" and on various websites. He is an expert on wrestling, movies and television. He placed second in the NFO Screenwriting Contest and received filmmaking awards from Manchester Community College and Norwich Free Academy. He currently attends Academy of Art University.