Newsflash! Disposable cameras are back as Millennials and Gen Z stock up to use them at weddings and birthday parties

They seemed doomed to disappear with the rising popularity of smartphones.

But disposable cameras are making a comeback as millennials and Gen Z stock up to use them at weddings and birthday parties.

Fujifilm, one of the world’s largest camera makers, has said it is “struggling to keep up” with demand for its disposable products – despite the fact that most people have professional cameras in their smartphones.

The 89-year-old Japanese company also claimed to have seen instant Instax cameras – its version of Polaroids – flying off the shelves.

Fujifilm said the rise is due to young people wanting a more “authentic” photography experience.

A spokesperson said: ‘We’re seeing a real desire for more authentic ways to take and create photos – especially among the Millennial and Gen Z audiences.

‘The demand for photo prints is also increasing, as more and more people seek nostalgia in old photos.

‘Photography and printing are in a healthy state – and in a digital world where we view everything on a screen, the power of a print in your hands cannot be forgotten.’

The company also said that more and more young people are taking disposable cameras on holiday.

It has been argued that this could be due to a counterbalance to the heavily filtered worlds of Instagram and Facebook, where people strive to achieve the ‘perfect’ image.

Although photo printing used to be a mainstay of most high street stores, far fewer shops now offer this service.

The average disposable camera can take around 30 images and the cost of developing the film is between £10 and £20.

While Fujifilm did not reveal how many disposable cameras it sold last year, it said Fujifilm’s overall photo business saw sales increase by almost a quarter.

It reported that 7.5 million disposable cameras were sold between 2016 and 2017, compared to 3.9 million from 2014 to 2015.