Unlimited free film?

[pphuang]

I was at my local CVS pharmacy picking up some assorted items when I walked by the film section. It appears that they are now selling CVS branded film. They also sell a small 35mm film camera that comes preloaded with film for $15. Apparently, you bring it in for processing when the roll is done, and they will load it with a new roll of film for free for the life of the camera.

With all the pocket digitals out there among the general population, I'm surprised that they are selling this type of product. There must be some sort of demand for a simple point and shoot film cameras. Or maybe just an indirect way of keeping their machines busy. Interesting...

 

[Chris101]

It probably breaks after 2 or 3 reloads.

 

[axiom]

so the processing fee includes a roll of film?

 

[Al Kaplan]

You can often buy the CVS or Walgreens brand film in a four pack for $4.99. That film probably cost them 75 cents a roll or less.

For most people two trips are involved - one to drop off the film, another to pick up the prints. Both times there's a good chance that you'll buy something else while you're there.

 

[dazedgonebye]

I have to check that out. Sounds like a project waiting to happen.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Walgreens has offered a camera like that since 2001. I think CVS has had theirs for a while too. The quality of the cameras is horrid, basically a reloadable single-use camera. Like Al said, you're better off buying cheap film and using it in a good camera.

 

[Al Kaplan]

That cheap Walgreens house brand film ain't bad either! Supposedly it's made by Fuji. I've been using it mostly on my blog for a couple of years now. http://thepriceofsilver.blogspot.com

 

[Gumby]

I have to check that out. Sounds like a project waiting to happen.

Don't you already have too many projects, an dpotential projects, already? Or am I thinking of another Steve? 😀

 

[dazedgonebye]

Don't you already have too many projects, an dpotential projects, already? Or am I thinking of another Steve? 😀

Being ADD means never having to say, "Ok, finished that one." 😱

There's always room for one more unfinished project.

 

[rbiemer]

I'm pretty sure that the fine print on the camera packaging limits the life of the camera to two years.
And the CVS brand film is, I think, Fuji. Not bad film and the price is ( around here anyway) OK too.
Rob

 

[Disaster_Area]

could you bring it in to get refilled... take the film out... put it in a good camera.. shoot it, put it back in the crapcam and bring it in for processing and your next roll?

 

[jbrubaker]

Unlimited free film?

You can probably just open the cheap camera and pull out the film to use in whatever camera you want, then put it back in the cheap body to take in for processing. Not a bad way to get free film! ---john.

 

[Al Kaplan]

probably could

 

[Al Kaplan]

WARNING! In case you're ever tempted to use the film from a disposeable camera in a "good camera". The unexposed film is not inside a standard cassette. As you use the film it's wound INTO the cassette. The edge numbers go backwards compared to standard film. Since no film is "wasted" by a leader and two blank frames they can call a 24 exposure length 27 exposures.

You can, however, cover the lens and "shoot" the film, winding it into the cassette. Just don't go too far.

 

[mackigator]

I guess the question is do these cameras use the disposable film loading method or a more traditional loading technique? Walgreens film is Superia 400 or at least it has been on 3 occasions over the last 16 months here in Asheville.

 

[Al Kaplan]

Check and see if it has a way to rewind the film. If not it's the disposeable method.

 

[pphuang]

I didn't have a whole lot of time to look at the camera in detail - maybe I'll make another trip there tomorrow to take a closer look. Heck, for $15 bucks, I might just buy one to pull it apart!

I'm sure its not a very high quality camera, but I'm just floored that there's still a market for a FILM camera among the general public. Boggles the mind...

 

[Disaster_Area]

don't be too shocked... I used to work at The Source (Canada's Circuit City) and we'd get a TON of people in the 45-90 and older age group that really didn't know what digital was (they'd heard the word but never investigated). They'd still come in wanting those kodak, canon, nikon, fuji etc etc cheap point and shoot zoom lens plastic specials that where everywhere in the 80's and 90's because theirs had broke and they needed a new one. Some couldn't get the point of digital or were confused as to where the film goes and why they should pay $40 for a new memory card every time they filled it up.

There's also a large portion of older people that still don't have a computer or are barely comfertable checking email and the thought of connecting things and downloading things and uploading other things actually scares them.... so yeah.. there's still a large consumer market for film, but all they really need is drug store 200 and 400, so that film demographic rarely intersects with this forums film demographic. So they can't really be counted on to fight for things like Kodachrome or Rodinal.... and they kinda get forgotten.

 

[pphuang]

OK, I went back to CVS to look at this camera again. Turns out that its only 9 bucks, so I bought it and took it home for a closer look.

Well, the "unlimited free film" is only for 2 years, as mentioned previously by rbiemer. However, the camera itself it guaranteed to work for 2 years. There is a winder at the bottom of the camera, so I'm guessing that the film loads the "normal" way rather than reverse. There is a bar code on the back of the camera, which is probably how they identify the purchase date.

The viewfinder looks like a 28 FOV, and it is loaded with 400 film. There is no way to focus, so I am guessing the it has a small fixed aperture to give a wide DOF. The sticker on the back says to stand no closer than 4 ft. There are also 2 stickers stating "Do not open the camera." One of the stickers actually covers the back door, which obviously makes it tricky to remove the film and use it in your normal camera. Obviously, they do not want you to use this as a source of free film for your regular camera. However, you have to buy the camera to get your 2 years of free film, and you have to bring it back to them to get your next roll of film, so I'm not sure why it should matter to them if you were to shoot the roll in a different camera, as long as they do the processing.

Regardless, the camera surface is pretty smooth, so I think it would not be too difficult to remove the sticker and then put it back on when the roll is done.

Here are some photos of the camera...

I'll post some photos once the roll is done...

 

[JohnTF]

There are lots of uses for disposable cameras, a friend keeps a few on her boat if someone catches a nice fish, has no camera, they sell them a disposable camera. If it goes over board, there is no gnashing of teeth and angst.

Kids, if they drop the thing, well, you may be out a few bucks, but I have personally seen several digital P&Ss come in to the shop that were dropped by a guest at a wedding, almost always with the lens extended and jammed, asking for warranty repair. Open bar = sales of new P&Ss

I have one somewhere in the car in case of a fender bender to document any damage and anything else, like the plate number of the other guy's car.

I once thought the "wedding kits" were a stupid idea, but not so much now, if you have one on each table, you will get snaps of most of the guests, and with the divorce rate, this camera may be good for a couple of weddings?

God's gonna get me for that thought.

Regards, John