OT: disposable cameras with wide angle lens?

[Rob]

More specifically the discontinued Konica super wide with a 17mm lens. Thought it would be neat to open one of these up and reload it with black and white or some better film. Anyone used one of these? I just happened to find a dozen of them locally for sale.
I know Konica made one of these and it was not a full frame camera but had a good 17mm lens on it, then it became the superwide full frame with 17mm lens on it. Then they discontinued it!

Here are some sample pics I found.
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/photography/photos/disposable.html

Thanks!
Rob

 

[Poptart]

Don't think I ever saw one. Vivitar made an ultra wide cheapo reusable camera that I've seen a few times.

 

[derevaun]

I'm about halfway through the roll it came with--too cheap to just rip it out and load the BW 😀 I wonder about the fact that it comes loaded with 800 speed film and a built-in flash--that may mean that it'll expose on the thin side with 400. In any case, it's pretty much the ugliest camera ever. The self-portrait mirror is a nice touch though. I'll try to finish it off tomorrow and file a report.

 

[derevaun]

I finished its roll and dismantled the camera. Good news all around: it comes apart per the instructions at http://mywebpages.comcast.net/hmpi/Pinhole/Articles/Disposable/Disposable.htm with the exception that items 4 and 6 are really about the back of the camera. Other encouraging points:

The very wide body is composed of 2 very wide but nonessential pieces that snap over the actual body, which is about as wide as an ordinary disposable flash camera. Alas, they also hold the self-portrait mirror in place. They snap off without breaking--in fact, the whole camera comes apart without breaking anything. The counter wheel (27 exp max) is easily reset with a small screwdriver.

It uses standard 35mm film canisters with no need for altering the spindles, and the flash battery is a standard AAA cell. The flash capacitor is distant from the places one's fingers are likely to go when reloading in the dark. Still exposed, though. 😱

Pretty decent all in all. The page linked above says it's f/13.5, 1/100.