A disk film camera which is of simple, compact and inexpensive construction and yet which provides one-button operation to locate the film, expose the film, disengage the film and advance the next frame. The camera requires no separate operation to initialize a cartridge when it is loaded into the camera. A photographer is free to change his mind about taking a picture at any time after moving the shutter button until the shutter is actually released, without adversely affecting the operation of the camera, such as by jamming it or by placing any component of the camera (such as a spring) in a stressed condition for an indeterminate period of time.