The disposable camera was first developed by Fujifilm in 1986. Their Utsurun-Desu ("It takes pictures") or QuickSnap line used 35 mm film, while Eastman Kodak's 1987 Fling was based on 110 film. Kodak released a 35 mm version in 1988, and in 1989 renamed the 35 mm version the FunSaver and discontinued the 110 mm Fling.

In Japan, the Utsurun was released in 1986 for 1380 yen and became widely accepted. Traditionally, cameras had been quite expensive in Japan and were only used during special occasions, and typically only by the male of the household.

As a result of the introduction of cheap, lightweight disposable cameras in Japan a cultural shift began, where parents, and children were able to take photos, creating the "snap happy" stereotype that still persists today.

Because of the immediate appeal, companies like Konica, Canon and Nikon soon produced their own models. To stay competitive, Fuji introduced advanced features to its original model such as panoramic photography, waterproofing and the inclusion of a flash.

Some cameras even have a manual zoom feature which works by shifting two lenses in front of the shutter.

By 2005 disposable cameras were a staple of the consumer film camera market and flash-equipped disposables were the norm.