How much is it to develop a disposable camera

Disposable cameras are so much fun to use and the photos turn out so great, but there’s a problem with using disposable cameras - where do you go to get a disposable camera developed? Most people end up just throwing their cameras in a draw for a few moths, or a few years, and some just never get them developed at all. How tragic is that!! In this blog post, we are going to focus on help you getting those images out of that camera and on to your phone, social media, or printed and in your photo album!

The good news is that a disposable camera is really just a plastic camera with a roll of film inside. Any place that can develop film can develop your disposable camera. There are a lot of options to get your disposable camera developed. There are few things to consider however when looking at your options. Here’s a list of things you should check on before entrusting your images to someone.

1. The Price and what it includes

2. The Scans (what resolution and how are they delivered)

3. The Prints (are prints included and can you order prints after you get your images back)

4. The Negatives (do you get your negatives back or does the store dispose of them after scanning)

If you’re looking for some place local to get your film developed, there are plenty of options out there and one of these stores is probably close to you. Know what you’re wanting when you go in and ask questions if they do not have information posted about packages and pricing. You definitely need to ask if you will get your negatives back. Negatives are your originals and you can actually scan and print from them infinitely. As a professional, I always want my negatives back and I avoid certain stores because they do not return your negatives. If the negatives aren’t really important to you, then this won’t be an issue.

Here are a list of stores that have locations nation-wide that you can visit to get your film developed:

2022 Update

Since the beginning of 2021, I have been getting reports of increases in prices and ridiculously long lead times to get your film returned to you by both CVS and Walgreens. I’ve been hearing the prices are as high as $25 per camera and 12 weeks weeks to get your images back. CVS has also started using a 3rd party company to process their film and not every CVS offers film processing. Save yourself lots of time and money and head over to our website and GET YOUR CAMERA DEVELOPED FOR LESS!

Several larger cities have film developing labs locally, a simple Google search will help you to locate any labs that might be nearby.

Where can I get my disposable camera developed online?

There are a lot of great places to get your disposable camera developed online. Typically, these photo labs are referred to as Mail-In, most offer great pricing and a relatively quick turn around, often times not much more than it takes to go through a local big-box retailer. Most online film processing companies offer more options and a better value for your money. Here are a few of my favorites:

The Darkroom

One of my favorite places to send film because they are fast and consistent and the customer service is great! Their pricing starts at $15 and they will return your negatives to you. Here’s what you get as part of the basic package at The Darkroom:

• Small Scans (good for web usage only) are free

• Medium Scans (small prints only) add $3

• Large Scans (large prints and good for archiving) add $8

• Color Prints (4x6) add $8

• Negatives returned

If you are going to use the Darkroom I would advise spending the extra $8 to get the large scans so you can print them on your own. There are also options for your prints such as borders and glossy or matte finish. The Darkroom does recycle your disposable camera as well. Click here to check out their page and get more information.

Richard Photo Lab

Richard Photo Lab is another great lab that caters more to professionals so they may not be the best place for you. You do have to pay for shipping your film in, so I advise removing the film from the camera before you send it in to save yourself some postage. Check out my blog post on how to remove the film from a disposable camera by CLICKING HERE. Or check out the YouTube video below:

The prices are Richard Photo Lab are really reasonable and the quality of their work is amazing. Developing a roll of 35mm c-41 film is $8.99 and the small scans add an additional $12 to the price. Prints are not included but can be purchased at an additional cost. While Richard Photo Lab is a little more pricey, their attention to detail makes it worth it! Check out Richard Photo Lab by CLICKING HERE!

Process One

Process one is another great lab with really great rates! 35mm color film starts at $4.29 per roll and 4x6 prints can be added for $0.39 each. Digital scans are all an additional $4.99. Process One’s options are a little more compartmentalized when it comes to ordering, but if you’re shopping for something very specific or aren’t concerned with scans, they are a good option to consider!

Shutter Junkies Photo Lab - The Disposable Camera Experts

Shutter Junkies specializes in Disposable Camera developing (also known as Single Use Cameras) For $12, we will process and scan your images in high resolution. You can purchase 4x6 prints at the time of your purchase for an additional $10. But if you would rather wait and see how your images turn out before you order prints, you can easily order them from your online gallery and have them delivered right to your door! Negatives are returned to you also!

Shutter Junkies is a small business photo lab that focuses on quality and customer service. While we do develop all types of film, we work mostly with disposable cameras. Old disposable cameras are not a problem for us. Underwater disposable cameras are also something we work with regularly. We can also handle any brand of disposable camera, from Kodak disposables to Fuji disposables. If it’s a disposable or a single-use or simple-use camera, we can develop it!

If you’re looking for great customer service and a personal touch, we’re the lab for you! Click the button below to order processing for your disposable camera!

Don’t let those disposables just sit around!

There are a lot of great options out there for developing your disposable cameras! But letting them sit around can be a bad idea. Kodak and Fuji recommend getting your disposable cameras developed immediately after exposure. If you keep them in the fridge after using them, you could possibly wait up to 6 months, but the images will begin to deteriorate the longer they are not developed. If you’re wondering if you can develop old disposable cameras, then CLICK HERE to check out my article on the topic to get more information.

If you need more information about disposable cameras, like where to buy disposable cameras or which disposable camera is the best, check out our blog post with everything you need to know about disposable cameras by clicking HERE!