Fujifilm’s QuickSnap Black and White, and the QuickSnap Active Bring Back Nostalgia and Simplicity to Analog Photography

If you’re in the US Northeast as I am, you know that the summer is in full swing here. The heat, humidity, and the opportunity to (re)connect with friends and family to make lifelong memories. Nothing brings that nostalgic feeling like film photography and Fujifilm just announced a pair of one-time use (i.e., disposable) film cameras – the QuickSnap Black and White, and the QuickSnap Active – a color film, disposable camera with a waterproof shell. Here’s what we know about the two cameras so far.

Fujifilm’s QuickSnap Cameras

While analog film photography can be a joy for both photographer and their subject, it’s often economically restrictive and can have some inherit risk when buying used film cameras from auction sites and marketplaces. Fujifilm’s QuickSnap Black and White, and QuickSnap Active can help photographers dip their toes into the analog film waters with two easy to use cameras that are extremely pocketable.

The Fujifilm QuickSnap Black and White is the model that’s most familiar to the those of us who’ve ever had to purchase a disposable camera. It’s all plastic shell, with bright green stripe is a great nod to Fujifilm’s analog branding and comes preloaded with ISO400 black and white negative film. The camera itself includes a power on/off switch for the flash which is rated for use up 10-feet away.

If you’re trying to capture the colors of the summer, the QuickSnap Active will be more your speed. With a beautiful pastel color scheme and waterproof housing, the QuickSnap Active seems ready for wherever your adventures might take you. It’s built to take a spill or a dip up to 35 feet, so don’t let its airy charm fool you into thinking that it can’t handle a little rough treatment. It comes preloaded with ISO800 Color Negative film, which you’ll probably need since this camera does not come with a flash.

Both cameras will give you 27 exposures per camera and be developed with C-41 chemistry – so, finding a lab that can handle processing shouldn’t be difficult in the least. Phoblographer always recommends Blue Moon Camera.

A Potentially Fun Camera with One Potential Drawback

For me, making memories involves analog film photography – an intentionally slower process that allows me to stay connected with the people around me instead of worrying about instantly sharing photos. The Fujifiilm QuickSnap cameras can be a great alternative to smartphones and even compact digital cameras that distract you with screens, notifications, and every other modern feature that we’ve resigned our attention to. I’m not saying that these features don’t have their place, but when you’re trying to be present in the moment, having a dedicated distraction-free camera is crucial.

For the more casual photographer, a disposable camera is a great way to become introduced to analog media, but the combined costs of buying a single-use camera plus development once the roll is done can quickly balloon the cost of experimentation. In the future, I’d like to see more companies include the cost of film development, or at minimum offer a good discount. With an MSRP of $22.90 for the Fujifilm QuickSnap Black and White, and $24.75 for the Fujifilm QuickSnap Active, the price of entry may be a bit steep and adding a discount to development costs might sweeten the deal. Additionally, you could always go the tinkerer route and figure out how to add more life to these single-use cameras – just saying.