A Camera for CHEAPSKATES : Ilford Half-Frame Disposable Film Camera Review

If you shoot film, then at one point or another you’ve undoubtedly mumbled under your breath “Why is film so expensive!”

I get it.

That’s where the potential appeal of the Ilford half-frame disposable camera comes in. Loaded with a roll of Ilford’s ilfocolor 35mm film, it gives you twice the exposure of analog goodness.

In this article, I want to give my opinion on the Ilford half-frame and offer some direction on how to repurpose the camera after you’ve finished shooting it. And of course share some sample images. So let’s jump in!

What is it?

The Ilford half-frame is a disposable film camera loaded with 400-speed Ilford ‘Ilfocolor’ 35mm film. The main party trick of this thing is that you get twice as many exposures because the frame is cut in half creating two vertically oriented images from the standard 36x24mm frame of a single negative.

a diagram showing the size difference of half frame images vs a full frame 35mm negative
Why half frame?

If you’re in the market for a disposable film camera, there are plenty of options. Kodak, Fuji, Lomography, and a few other brands offer disposable film cameras, but I’d assume you might reach for this Ilford because you’re cheap.

*ahem* I mean thrifty. My mistake.

An obvious upside is that your price per shot costs half (pun intended) giving you way more bang for your already inflated buck! But of course, there’s a trade-off- with that smaller negative frame comes an increase in the size of the grain and an overall reduction in image quality and resolution.

Because of the images’ vertical orientation, a fun take that half-frame cameras offer is the ability to create diptychs and triptychs when composing your shot. Linking separate frames in interesting ways to tell a story or convey a cohesive theme.

Do disposable cameras have poor image quality?

Yes.

Does that mean that the Ilford half frame has poor image quality?

Also yes.

BUT WAIT! There’s a caveat. Sure, it’s a known thing that disposable cameras don’t produce high-quality images… but who cares? Dare I say that I enjoy leaning into the aesthetic of a cheap camera? Shooting disposables isn’t about image quality as much as it’s about having fun and capturing life in the moment.

One aspect worth mentioning about the plastic lens on this camera that I loved was how it responded when shooting directly into the sun. There was tons of flaring and color scattering- but in my opinion, this only added to the aesthetic of the images.

How does Ilfocolor 400 look?

The Ilford half-frame disposable comes pre-loaded with Ilford’s ‘Ilfocolor 400’ color film. For now, I’m going to hold off on passing any judgment or offering a full-out review because it was the first roll of Ilfocolor 400 I’ve shot, and it was through a cheap disposable camera.

Let’s check out some sample images:

Can the Ilford half-frame be reloaded?

Nope. After finishing the roll I disassembled the camera to see if it could be reloaded and used again, but unfortunately, I had pieces falling out while opening the case and it became obvious the design was not reload-friendly.

However, it’s worth mentioning that there are several ‘reloadable disposable’ camera options available from Kodak and Lomography. These models take the guesswork out of trying to reassemble cheap plastic that’s meant for the trash if you want the look without the hassle.

It’s not a complete loss, though. It’s possible to reuse some of the parts to build a DIY lens for digital cameras after some modifications to a body cap.

How to make a disposable camera lens for digital cameras

What you’ll need:

  • Plastic lens from the opened disposable camera
  • Body cap from a digital camera
  • Drill and a set of drill bits
  • Electric sander
  • Ruler, Pencil
  • Cyanoacrylate glue (super glue)

This is a pretty quick and easy project that only takes about 15 minutes from start to finish.

Ilford half frame disposable film camera beside a fujifilm xt3 with diy disposable lens hack.
Fujifilm XT3 with DIY disposable lens hack

Safety first! When disassembling any disposable camera make sure to remove the battery and short the flash capacitor by using a screwdriver with a rubber handle to touch across the metal contacts. If you don’t… well, then you’re in for a treat.

The first thing to do is measure the aperture of the Ilford camera to find a drill bit with the closest diameter to the opening.

Then, you’ll want to find the exact center of your body cap and mark it. Double-check it from a few different directions, and once you’re all good, pop a hole in that sucker with the drill.

If your body cap has any raised areas or lettering on the front like the Fuji cap I was converting, take some sandpaper to it until it’s nice and flat. You’ll want a flush surface for the lens to adhere to when it’s glued.

Measure the diameter of the plastic lens, and mark half of that distance from the drilled hole. This is where your lens will be placed.

Two small dabs of super glue on the underside of the lens should hold it secure. Once that dries, you’re done… easy peasy. Now go out and take some digital disposable camera photos!

It’s worth mentioning that you’re most likely altering the original distance of the lens from the film (or sensor). This can affect the field of view as well as the focus of the overall image, but again we’re going for the look of imperfection, so no pixel peeping.

What you end up with is a super-compact pancake lens that’s full of “character”. Enjoy!

*See the video below for a complete walk-through on how to build the lens

Final thoughts

The Ilford half-frame disposable is a mediocre, yet economical option for people who like shooting film but are budget-conscious and like the particular look that disposables offer.

This could be a great entry into half-frame cameras, or give you a cheap way to see if you would like the format before buying a better-built half-frame camera like the Pentax 17.

So, I guess the bottom line is that if you like lots and lots of film photos, and image quality isn’t a priority, then maybe the Ilford half-frame disposable is your jam.


Handmade prints and experimental films:

https://www.etsy.com/shop/AnalogImages

Amazon affiliate links:

Ilford Half Frame Disposable Camera
Pentax 17 Half Frame Camera
Kodak F9 Point and Shoot 35mm Film Camera
Ilford Sprite 35mm Point and Shoot Film Camera

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