The PocketDispo Lens: An Introduction

PocketDispo is a lens brand that creates digital-compatible disposable camera lenses. It does this by recycling original disposable camera lenses and moulding them into a 3D-printed mount for DSLR and mirrorless cameras, built using a high-temperature, glass-fibre-reinforced composite for a tougher, lighter and longer-lasting design.

You can learn more about the brand and its approach on the PocketDispo website, where it is clear that these lenses are designed to be accessible, affordable and easy to experiment with.

‍

The Key Difference Between the PocketDispo Lens and the PocketDispo Pro Lens

PocketDispo released its original disposable camera lens last year to much fanfare. It has now released a new version, the PocketDispo Pro.
‍

The Pro lens builds on the original design but introduces a crucial upgrade, a manual focus ring. Where the original PocketDispo lens featured a fixed, infinite focus, anything over approximately 1.5 metres, the Pro lens allows photographers to adjust focus from infinity down to close focus.

This single change dramatically expands the lens’s creative potential. Instead of treating every scene as point-and-shoot, the Pro lens behaves more like a traditional manual lens, letting you isolate subjects, explore close-up details and bring intentional focus into your compositions, while retaining that unmistakable disposable-camera character. Importantly, it does all of this while remaining firmly in the realm of affordable, experimental photography gear.

You can read my full review of the original PocketDispo lens here.

In this guide, I’ll be taking a closer look at the PocketDispo Pro lens, which I tested both on a trip to Massachusetts and while shooting around my home city of Glasgow.

The PocketDispo Pro Lens: Why I Couldn’t Wait to Try It Out

Last year, I tried the original PocketDispo lens for the first time and was genuinely blown away by the results, as detailed in my full review of the original PocketDispo lens. So when I heard that a Pro version was on the way, I jumped at the chance to try it.

Since then, the original PocketDispo lens has become a regular part of my kit bag and a surprisingly integral part of my wider photography practice. I’ve even found myself using it for everyday and travel photography, situations where I would normally reach for something far more conventional and expensive.
‍

At its core, that is because I love the disposable camera aesthetic. There is something so freeing about letting go of technical perfection and embracing unpredictability. When that aesthetic is available in a lens that is also very reasonably priced, it becomes much easier to justify experimenting with it regularly.

‍

What’s in the Box?

‍

The PocketDispo Pro lens arrived beautifully packaged, complete with a small pouch that is ideal for storing it alongside the rest of your camera kit. Visually, the lens closely resembles the original PocketDispo, with the addition of a manual focus ring, which is the defining feature that sets the Pro version apart.

Like the original, it fits easily onto my Fujifilm X-T30. Because this is a plastic lens with no electronic connection to the camera body, you will likely need to adjust your camera settings before shooting. Most mirrorless systems require you to enable a “shoot without lens” option. Instructions for this can be found in your camera manual, or you can contact PocketDispo for help.

You can view full specifications, compatibility details and current pricing on the PocketDispo Pro lens product page, where it is clear that this is an affordable way to try a completely different photographic look.

The PocketDispo Pro is available for a wide range of mirrorless mounts, so you can pick the version that fits your camera body. At the time of writing, it is offered in versions for Sony E, Fujifilm X, Canon RF, Nikon Z, Micro 4/3, L-Mount and Canon EOS-M, making it compatible with most major mirrorless systems.

As I use a Fujifilm X camera, I'm using the PocketDispo lens for the X Mount.

Using the PocketDispo Pro Lens Out in the Field

I tested the PocketDispo Pro lens both while walking the streets of my home city, Glasgow, and on a recent winter trip to snowy Massachusetts over the Christmas period. In both settings, its lightweight build and low-pressure shooting style made it an easy lens to keep on my camera, and above all, a pleasure to use.

These images were taken around Glasgow on a short street photography walk. After a brief adjustment period with the focus ring, the lens was ideal for quick snaps and delivered results that perfectly suit the disposable camera aesthetic.
‍

In the image below, the focal point sits on the shrubbery just a few feet away. This was only possible thanks to the PocketDispo Pro’s focus ring. Without it, the foreground would have been blurred, with the background buildings in focus instead.

‍

These images were all taken in the Sudbury and Wayland area of Massachusetts, in beautiful winter conditions - ideal for shooting and arguably, it brings out more of that beautiful disposable camera look made possible by this lens.
‍

Using the Focus Ring (Only on the Pro Lens)

With the images below, the focus ring was essentual for being able to focus on the signsf and get a shaper representation of the scene, for both I was only afew feet away, and I could focus on the signs, and preserve the detail. With the original PocketDispo lens, this is not impossible.

‍

Why the PocketDispo Pro Lens Is Perfect for Location and Travel Photography

What I love about using the PocketDispo, both the original and now the Pro, for travel and street photography is how it fundamentally changes the way you see a location.

Normally, I would find myself worrying about sharpness, precision and technical perfection. In the past, that mindset has often meant missing moments while overthinking a shot. If you are a photographer, you will know exactly what I mean.

With the PocketDispo Pro, that pressure disappears. Instead of chasing perfection, I found myself responding instinctively to scenes, embracing light, colour and atmosphere without worrying about edge sharpness or optical flaws.
‍
Crucially, the Pro lens also allows you to focus much closer than before, making it far better suited to details, portraits and small moments within a scene. These are exactly the kinds of images that bring travel photography to life.

On a practical level, it is lightweight, discreet and incredibly quick to use. In busy cities or unfamiliar places, that matters. Big lenses draw attention. This one does not. Combined with its accessible price point, it feels like a lens that encourages you to shoot more freely and more often.
‍

What I Like About the Pro Lens and What Could Be Improved...

What works well:
‍
- Solid, well-finished construction
‍
- Strong aesthetic design that looks great on camera
‍
- Snug, secure fit on my mirrorless body
‍
- Very affordable for a lens that delivers such a distinctive look

What could be improved:

- Manual focusing can take some getting used to, and it is not always immediately obvious what is in focus

- The focus ring is slower than autofocus, which is manageable but worth factoring into your shooting style

‍

Rounding Off the Look With the PocketDispo Preset Package

Alongside its lenses, PocketDispo also offers a Film Simulation Preset Pack, which is available as an optional add-on or as a standalone purchase. These presets are designed to complement the disposable-camera aesthetic and are inspired by classic film stocks commonly used in original disposable cameras.

You can explore the presets and see before-and-after examples on the PocketDispo presets page. Like the lens itself, they are priced accessibly and are designed to be an easy extension of the PocketDispo look rather than an expensive extra.

As a dedicated Fujifilm X photographer, I used the Fujicolor 400 preset, though other options such as Kodak Gold 200, Kodak Ektachrome and Ilford FP4 are also included.

Below, the images on the left show the original shot (with a few small contrast and light enhancements) and on the right the same image with the PocketDispo Fujicolor 400 preset applied. You can see the preset adds more of the filmic elements to the image, including a stronger grain and richer colour palette:

‍

Personal Recommendation: RAW vs JPEG:

While it may be tempting to shoot and edit in RAW, I would actually recommend sticking to JPEG with this lens. Given the disposable-camera aesthetic, much of the flexibility that RAW files offer is unnecessary.

Shooting JPEG keeps file sizes small, speeds up your workflow and reinforces the idea that this lens is about simplicity, experimentation and ease of use rather than technical optimisation.

‍

Why You Should Try the Disposable Camera Look

If you are looking to experiment with a new visual style without overhauling your entire workflow, the PocketDispo Pro lens is an easy and rewarding place to start. It is especially appealing if you are drawn to nostalgia, imperfection or cinematic storytelling.

It is also ideal if you are curious about analogue photography but not ready to commit to film costs, scanning or slower workflows. The PocketDispo lens gives you the feel of a disposable camera using the digital kit you already own, with none of the ongoing expense. Combined with its very reasonable price, it lowers the barrier to trying something new.

The PocketDispo lenses are also particularly well-suited to cinematic photography. If you are interested in working within this aesthetic, both the original PocketDispo and the Pro version offer a compelling and affordable way to explore it.

“Any photographer looking to try a different look without changing their practice entirely will love using the PocketDispo Pro lens.”

Top Tips for Shooting With the PocketDispo Pro Lens:

- Enable “shoot without lens” in your camera settings
‍
- Keep ISO between 200 and 800 to mirror classic disposable film stocks
‍
- Embrace lens flare rather than fighting it
‍
- Avoid overcorrecting in post-production
‍
- Use the PocketDispo presets lightly to complement the look of your images

‍

Final Thoughts

The PocketDispo Pro is not about technical perfection, and that is exactly its appeal. By adding manual focus to an already characterful lens, PocketDispo has expanded its creative potential without losing what made the original so compelling.

It also sits in a rare sweet spot for photography gear. It is affordable enough to experiment with, yet distinctive enough to genuinely influence how you shoot. Compared to investing in new glass or committing to film, it is a refreshingly accessible and very reasonably priced way to explore a completely different aesthetic.

If you value atmosphere over accuracy and storytelling over sharpness, the PocketDispo Pro is an easy recommendation. It is a small addition to your kit bag that can have a surprisingly big impact on how you see and photograph the world.

If you’re curious to experiment with a new look without a big investment, the PocketDispo Pro lens is well worth a closer look.