Say What? Disposable Digital Cameras?

Joe Wilcox | August 20, 2004, 09:38 AM

Around the corner from my house is a 24-hour CVS that sells just about everything. Few months back I blogged about finding blank name-brand CD-R discs there for considerably less than my computer superstore.

Now CVS is getting into the disposable digital camera business (news story here and CVS press release here). Instead of buying that $10 disposable film camera, consumers can go digital; a $20 model features a LCD display.

CVS doesn't say anything about megapixels or other information that would indicate picture quality. I have my doubts that a $10 disposable digital camera will equal film. But, assuming the local CVS hires college kids with Photoshop experience, consumers could walk away with acceptable 4x6 prints (they get a photo CD, too).

I do like the approach. As colleague Michael Gartenberg explains in his recent report, "Digital Cameras: Unleashing the Power of the Film-Free Medium," consumers carry over some interesting film biases to digital cameras--and there is enormous impact on how they use them.

CVS' disposable approach, assuming its cameras and production facilities deliver good prints, would be a good way of bridging the film and digital worlds. Of course, CVS also benefits by continuing picture development but in the new medium. Certainly, CVS already offers digital production services, but its one thing for consumers to bring in unfamiliar flash storage disks and another the familiar disposable camera.