Milk expires, bread expires, but did you know that disposable cameras also expire? Most people never notice but on most disposable cameras is printed an expiration date, based on the manufacture date of the film inside. But expired doesn’t meant it’s bad and needs to be thrown away. Here’s what happens when a disposable camera goes bad.

How long do disposable cameras last?

The industry standard seems to be 2 years from the film manufacture date. The expiration date is usually printed on the bottom of the camera and gives you the month and year the cameras expire. While cameras are created with a 2 year expiration, the time it takes to distribute and sell the cameras eats into that time. It is not uncommon to get a disposable cameras with only a year left until expiration.

But expiration doesn’t actually mean the camera is not good any more. The expiration date represents the window of time that the manufacturer guarantees that the film will meet their original standards. After a disposable camera expires, it will still function and take pictures. As they get older, the quality of the images will begin to decay.

Can you still take Pictures on a disposable camera after it expires?

Yes! You can still take pictures on a disposable camera after it expires. However, as the film ages the images that will be produced will become flatter and less saturated. In our photo lab, we have seen images taken after the cameras have been expired for 10 to 15 years and they still develop well enough to make a usable image. You just need to be prepared for the images to not look great.

Can you still develop a disposable camera after it expires?

Yes! We develop old disposable cameras every day. You can still get some good pictures, depending on the brand of camera and how it was stored,. We have another article on developing disposable cameras and film in general after it expires. You can read all about developing old disposable cameras and film here!

Develop your Disposable Cameras soon to get the best results

As a general rule, you have until the expiration date to take the photos on your disposable camera and around 6 months afterward to get them develop before noticeable decay happens. Our lab has a special process that we use for older film. So if your disposable camera has gotten old, don’t panic! We can help you get the most out of those old disposable cameras! Just click the button below to find out more about getting your disposable developed!