Single-use digital cameras

[bsteves]

A friend of mine showed me a new 2 mp digital camera he picked up for about $15 at a drug store in Florida.  Evidently, the idea is that they are single use cameras and you are basically paying for a use rental and development of about 25 prints and a CD.  These cameras have a flash, single focus auto exposure and a small lcd screen on the back to review your last photo.  The trick is that you have to return the camera to the store to get developed as there aren't any USB cables or removable media to speak of (or so it seems).

Here's an image of the camera


I did a search and managed to find some of these cameras for sale online at Ritzcamera.com.
http://www.ritzcamera.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?storeId=10001&catalogId=10001&langId=-1&productId=13164501&bct=t1003%3Bc1012

The idea of having a digital camera that I can afford to get wet is appealing, but what really excited me is evidently there is a group of hackers that have figured out how to download the pictures to their own PCs and reset the camera for more use.   Just think the ease of mind you get while using a cheap disposable camera on your kayak with the ease of posting you get by using your digital camera.

Here's one of many pages on the web on how to bust into these cameras, add a USB connection and download the photos.
http://www.cexx.org/dakota/pv2.htm

I haven't done this myself (yet), but for under $20 I may give it a try.  If anyone out there is savy with a soldering gun they may want to check it out.

Brian