Developing Film Online – The Photography Professor – Film Photography How To and Help

Disposable cameras have been around for several decades and many are surprised they have lasted well into the age of digital cameras and smartphones. This is because there is something to be said for the experience of the experiential quality of taking images with them and waiting for the film to processed, their ruggedness, their low cost compared to digital cameras, and that they also come in a waterproof option. You may also have a few disposable cameras laying around that you want to get processed. Walmart is one of the chain stores in the United States that still develops disposable cameras. Walmart charges $10.96 (plus tax) to develop a disposable camera with 27 exposures within 2 - 3 weeks. The price includes a glossy 4x6 inch print of each image and a free CD of digitally scanned negatives. However, Walmart doesn't return film negatives. Now that you know how much it costs to develop a disposable camera at Walmart. Keep reading to see how much it costs for a double set of prints, how long the process takes, how to get the images onto your phone, and the cost of other film formats Walmart can develop. Does Walmart Develop Disposable Cameras? Walmart will develop disposable cameras at a price less than either Walgreens or CVS. Most disposable cameras have 27 exposures but some have as little as 24 exposures and as much as 36 exposures so the cost is around $10.96 for 27 exposures and a set of prints. Keep in mind that Walmart locations cannot guarantee they will return your negatives. See the list below for a full list of prices: Number of Disposable Camera ExposuresSingle Set of Prints (4x6 in.)Double Set of Prints (4x6 in.)12 Exposures$7.96$9.9624 Exposures$9.96$12.9627 Exposures$10.96$14.9636 Exposures$13.96$18.96Prices for Developing a Disposable Film Camera at Walmart Since Walmart won't return your negatives and the scans are not high-quality, see this list of places to get a disposable camera developed about the same price with better quality scans and your negatives returned. Also, see this guide about how to ship your film safely and inexpensively to one of these online labs. How Long Does It Take Walmart to Develop a Disposable Camera? Walmart can take anywhere from 1 - 3 weeks (7-15 business days) to develop a disposable camera. This is because Walmart does not process and scan disposable cameras in-house and mails it out to another lab (usually a Fujifilm facility) to be processed. In my experience, the process for a disposable camera loaded with color film takes about a 7-10 business days and a camera loaded with black & white film can take up to 3 weeks. When I asked an associate at my local walmart why black & white film takes longer to process they said it is because Walmart waits until they have enough to send in. How Do You Develop a Disposable Cameras at Walmart? Back of the Film development Envelope from Walmart Front of the Film development Envelope from Walmart The process to have a disposable camera developed at Walmart is very easy and similar to the process at CVS and Walgreens. All you you need to do is to fill out your contact information on their own paper envelope and place your disposable camera into it (one camera per envelope). Follow these steps: Locate and go to a Walmart physical location with a photo department. Bring along your undeveloped disposable camera and ask for a film development envelope. Fill out the envelope with your information and the list the amount of prints you want. Place your exposed disposable camera inside the envelope and seal it. Note only one camera per envelope so if you are developing multiple cameras, you will need multiple envelopes with your information and number of prints. Drop the completed enveloped with your information and number of prints into the collection box in the photo department of Walmart. Walmart will notify you by phone once your order has been processed and ready to be picked up. With your order you will receive is a CD with your digitally scanned negatives on it for future printing or sharing on social media and 4x6" glossy prints. If you ordered more prints you will also receive those. How Do I Get Images from a Disposable Camera to My Phone? There are two basic approaches to getting images from a disposable camera to your phone when getting your disposable camera developed at Walmart. Once you finish taking all the images on your disposable camera, you will first need to develop your disposable camera by using an online (or local) film development lab, a local drugstore, or retail store like Walmart. Using An Online Lab To Get Images from A Disposable Camera If you choose an online lab to develop your disposable camera they will send you your scans back and you can download them to your phone or you can scan the negatives yourself using a scanner, dedicated camera set up, or a smart app. Using Walmart To Get Images from A Disposable Camera However, if you choose to develop your disposable camera at a local retail chain like Walmart, you will receive a set of glossy 4x6" prints (one for each of your exposures) and scans of your negatives on a CD with your purchase. Since most computers available now don't have a CD-rom drive to access the images on the CD that you get back from Walgreens, I recommend bringing along a USB flash drive to make it easier to transfer the images from the CD to the USB drive at one of the photo kiosks located in Walmart. Then you can transfer the images from the USB to your computer and then to your mobile device. Using An Smartphone App To Get Images from A Disposable Camera Another option is using a smartphone app like PhotoScan by Google to scan the 4x6 prints you receive back from Walmart. The free app is available for iPhone phones and Android phones and takes high resolution images of prints without reflections as well as automatically crops, resizes, rotates, and enhances the image. Does Walmart Have Disposable Cameras? Walmart sells all kinds of disposable cameras in the store and online. If they don't have it for sale in the store, the cameras are eligible for free same day delivery from Walmart or with orders over $10. Note that the price is just for the camera and does not include development. At the time of writing you can find these disposable cameras for sale in-store and online at Walmart cheaper than at CVS or Walgreens (not including tax): Disposable Camera In-Store at Walmart FujiFilm QuickSnap Waterproof Camera with 27 exposures for around $14.88 Fujifilm QuickSnap Flash 400 Camera (2 Pack) with 27 exposures each for around $24.96 Single Fujifilm QuickSnap Flash 400 Camera with 27 exposures for around $14.88 Disposable Camera Online at Walmart If you look at disposable cameras online at Walmart, you will see similar options as to Amazon with bulk options as well. However, I've found that buying in bulk from Walmart doesn't save you as much money as Amazon. Kodak Fun Saver 35Mm Single Use Camera With Flash with 27 exposures for around $21.99 10-Pack of Kodak FunSaver Flash 800 ISO Single Use Flash 35mm Cameras with 27 Exposures for around $214.99 For the best price on bulk prices for disposable cameras, I recommend purchasing these cameras on Amazon.com where you will get a better price (not including tax): 2-Pack of FujiFilm QuickSnap Waterproof Camera with 27 exposures around $41 4-Pack of Fujifilm QuickSnap Flash 400 Camera with 27 exposures each for around $85 8-pack of Kodak Funsaver 35mm single use camera with flash with 27 exposures each for around $198 What Other Film Formats Can Walmart Develop? Kodak Advantix Film Canister. One of the film formats that Walmart can develop. In addition to disposable cameras loaded with color film, Walmart can also develop other film formats like color and black & white 35mm film, slide film, APS (advantix), and 110mm film for the same price as a disposable camera. Just like with developing a disposable camera at Walmart, the price also includes a set of 4x6 inch glossy prints, and a free CD of your digitally scanned negatives. However, keep in mind these formats take longer to process (up to 2 - 3 weeks) than a color disposable camera at Walmart. Here is a list of how many exposures specific film formats come in and how much it costs: Most APS (advantix) film is 24, 25, or 40 exposures on it so the cost is between $10.96 - $13.96 (plus tax). Most slide film (E-6) has between 24 - 36 exposures on it so the cost is between $9.96 - $13.96 (plus tax). 110mm film comes in between 10, 12, or 24 exposures so the cost is around $7.96 - 9.96 (plus tax). Number of Disposable Camera ExposuresSingle Set of Prints (4x6 in.)Double Set of Prints (4x6 in.)12 Exposures$7.96$9.9624 Exposures$9.96$12.9627 Exposures$10.96$14.9636 Exposures$13.96$18.96Prices for Developing a Disposable Film Camera at Walmart Keep in mind Walmart doesn't return your negatives and the scans are not high-quality. Check out this list of places that will develop these formats for a similar price and will also return your negatives. In Summary and Pros & Cons of Getting A Disposable Camera Developed at Walmart Walmart is a good place to develop your disposable camera because of its convenient locations, decent quality photo prints, and has better scans than Walmart. Similar to CVS and Walgreens, Walmart doesn't return your film negatives from your disposable camera. If you want your negatives returned and/or you care about getting more than low quality and low resolution scans, I suggest that you read this guide that lists several places to get film developed that will return negatives and give you much better quality scans. Also, see this guide to learn how to ship your film safely and inexpensively to one of these online labs. Below are a list of pros and cons about getting a disposable film camera developed at Walmart. Pros: Many Walmart locations available so it is likely near you No shipping cost Can develop color and black & white disposable or single-use film cameras Can develop color 35mm and medium format (120 and 220) film Can also develop other film formats like black & white 35mm film, black & white medium format film, Advantix (APS), 110, and slide film (E-6) but locations may vary and it takes longer Extra sets of prints are cheaper than CVS and Walgreens Price is to develop a disposable film camera is cheaper than CVS and Walgreens Free CD of scanned negatives and a set of glossy 4x6 inch prints included with development cost Will call you when your order is ready Can get just a Photo CD without prints for a cheaper price at $10.48 Can get negatives scanned to a Photo CD for just $5.99 (check with the store to see if you get your negatives back) Cons: Scans and prints from Walmart are mediocre at best Long wait time of 3 weeks for film development and maybe even longer for other film formats (Advantix / APS, 110, Slide Film / E6, and 35mm and 120 / 220 black & white film) Prints are worse than CVS and Walgreens Receive back low-resolution scans and prints Don't receive your negatives back Very little, if any, customer service – drop film in a paper envelope in the store No online film development ordering available (must go to the physical location) No bulk pricing available Different cost to develop rolls of film with 24 exposures and 36 exposures (unlike other online development labs)