I want disposable cameras to make a comeback a big way. Nothing compares to film, it just looks like memories. It’s convenient to be able to shoot film without the commitment of buying a camera + film and learning how to use it. imo, every person should go through at least a few disposable cameras in their lives! :)
Film has had a big resurgence since 2020. Just ask your local photo lab - yes, there's probably one still hanging around. Just one, though. And yes, they probably still develop color negative film in house. They'll even digitize it for you, as long as you bring a flash drive!
I'm part of the trend - I have a couple Minolta SLRs, 8(?) lenses, a couple point-and-shoots, and even a medium-format camera. There's a Yashica Electro 35 sitting in my lap as I type this.
If you want to play around with film, do the planet a favor and dig up your (or your parents') old 35mm camera instead of buying disposables. It's better off used than collecting dust in a basement. That's just my two cents, though.
At this point, I think the magic is in black and white and the darkroom (not that I have much of the wherewithal to do it these days). C-41 or E-6 color means you still need someone to develop and then scan them which just seems like digital with extra steps. I worked in a photo lab in the waning days of film and really enjoyed shooting it when I had access to all that equipment, but it just isn't the same since I've moved on.
Whatever people decide to do, I agree with you about skipping disposables and getting something vintage. There are a lot of gems out there - your Electro is certainly one of them, though I'd probably look at a lot of the Olympus point and shoots, though pricing seems to reflect the fact that they were quite good and are becoming a bit scarce; it seems like we're long past the point where the mainstream has unloaded all their 35mm gear for cheap.
I mostly agree with you, I do my own B&W dev and use a mail-in lab for my C41/E6 but I have invested in a dedicated negative scanner and do my own digitisation. For me it was another part of the “creative process” and I wanted to control it.
I mainly shoot black-and-white. I find the development process really interesting, and mastering the creation of a perfect negative has proven to be really challenging. There are so many variables - film stocks, metering, filter compensation, choices of chemicals, temperatures, times, agitation, etc.
I'd love to be able to do my own prints, but I simply don't have a room suitable for darkroom printing. I think that's the situation for a lot of folks. It's rare for apartment dwellers (like me) to have that kind of space at their disposal.
If you are self developing black and white you ought to do your own prints too with an enlarger. Its like another chance to expose the shot and play with all that is involved there.
I perhaps should have elaborated; the magic is seeing the print emerge in the developer bath. Developing panchromatic black and white film is more of a straight up technical exercise since it has to be done in total darkness. Also, doing your own color develop and print is certainly possible, but much more complicated than black and white and has the same issue with requiring total darkness.
> It’s convenient to be able to shoot film without the commitment of buying a camera + film and learning how to use it
Is it such a big commitment? You can find decent used point and shoot type film cameras for 10-20EUR on ebay, at least where I am – sure it's not a Leica or whatever but they work well, at least in my experience.
