Introduction

If you’ve read any of my other guides and articles, you might know that I love to travel. I usually take my Fuji X-T30, a couple of lenses, and my filters with me. However, on a recent trip to the south of France, I packed only my £45 disposable lens, affectionately known as the PocketDispo lens, and hoped for the best.

At first, it felt strange and nerve-wracking. I had always believed it was essential to carry your best lenses in case you encounter a great photo opportunity that should be captured as sharp and clearly as possible. Despite this, I took the risk, and what I returned with exceeded my expectations. I loved the results!
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Photography Gear used:

Fujifilm X-T30 Mirrorless Camera
PocketDispo 28mm f/11 lens
Fujicolor 400 Preset by PocketDispo

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Why did I ditch my usual gear?

I wanted to try something different from my usual photography approach, and I encourage all photographers to do the same from time to time. Although I’ve used my PocketDispo lens on various occasions, I had never relied on it as my primary lens for an overseas trip.

For context, the PocketDispo lens is a recycled disposable camera lens that has been 3D-printed to be compatible with a mirrorless camera. This setup lets you digitally achieve the disposable camera's authentic look. I appreciate this aesthetic for several reasons, which I discuss further in my PocketDispo guide.

Recently, I've noticed that my typical photography kit leads me to take far too many photos that require extensive editing afterwards. I often find myself being overly critical of the results. Switching to a simple disposable camera lens eases the pressure of capturing the ‘perfect’ shot, reduces the time spent on editing, and allows me to enjoy taking pictures during my holiday. For this trip, that was precisely what I needed!

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Taking the pics

The beauty of the PocketDispo lens, and similar lenses like this, is that they are often extremely limited in functionality and capability.

For example, this lens has infinite focus (meaning it focuses on everything beyond 1.5 metres), which means it’s impossible to control the focus unless you move further or closer to the subject with the camera. It also has a fixed focal length of 28mm, so there’s no zooming in and out to change that.

There’s also no aperture control; the lens has a fixed aperture of f/11, so you can’t control that either. The only controls you have over how the pictures come out are the ISO and shutter speed.

How did I feel about all of that? Really good, actually!

It was nice not to have to worry about getting the perfect shot. Sometimes, I find that all-encompassing, and I’m sure we photographers feel the same way. Particularly when you’re on holiday, you want to actually spend time relaxing and enjoying yourself, not worrying too much about coming away with the best shots you can possibly get.

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Image gallery

Below is a selection of some of my favourite images from the trip. I hope you like them just as much as I enjoyed taking them!

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The editing process

For full disclosure, I did make some edits to my images after taking them, but not much. PocketDispo offers a fantastic range of presets replicating classic film stocks, helping achieve that desired filmic look.

Since I shoot with a Fuji camera and have developed a strong loyalty to the brand (something many photographers experience over time), I decided to use PocketDispo’s Fujicolor 400 preset, and I love the effect it produces.

I also enhanced the look with my usual style of adding Fuji's in-build Classic Chrome film simulation preset - which I use for a significant majority of my images.

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Why might you want to consider doing something different?

As I mentioned, I'm all about creativity in photography, stepping out of your comfort zone behind the lens, and challenging yourself, especially with ideas you may have never considered before. It'll challenge you, help you connect with your photography practice more, and ultimately help you become a better more accomplished photographer. So, give it a try!

Ditch your usual kit for that trip and experiment with something completely new. It doesn’t have to be the same as what I did. For example, you could try shooting only in black and white, using a single fixed lens, or even exploring a different camera altogether. If you have an old point-and-shoot lying around, consider taking that instead.

The key to this exercise is to see what you can create, surprise yourself, and enjoy capturing images in a new place. By choosing not to burden yourself with the pressure of trying too hard to get the best pictures, you might enjoy your photography even more.

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Final thoughts

I hope the points I've shared inspire you to step outside your usual gear or routine and try something completely new.

This experience reminded me that creativity can often arise from limitations. In my case, I used just a single lens with very restricted capabilities. It was liberating and honestly relieved a lot of pressure.

While my favourite kit lens will always be my go-to for the more serious aspects of my photography practice, I truly enjoyed this experiment and highly recommend that you give it a try! You never know what results you might achieve!