126 Camera w/35mm film (File/No File Indexing Pin?)

alienmeatsack · Oct 8, 2014

This does not work on my I500. I believe it won't work on any of them, but I've only got the one to test that hypothesis.

On mine... If you press the shutter and release, the shutter button is locked until you advance the film to the next frame. If you try to hold the shutter button after pressing it, the film advance locks and will not let you go to a new frame. I think it would be easier to just set the shutter at 500 and cover the lens and shoot 2-3 shots to get to the next frame.

This is how it works regardless of whether there is film (loose) or a 126 cartridge in the camera. I believe it was part of the double exposure prevention system.

I've not run across any of the plastic Instamatics that had the build quality or function of the I500. It even has a different film advance "gear" then any of the others so my 35mm->126 cassette adapter won't even work with it.

My goal is to figure out how to get 35mm in there with the least troubles where I can do in the field to make a usable camera, without hacking, cutting or damaging it. I do think I want to get a cheaper one to hack/cut/play with though. (lesser model, not the I500.)

BobClack said:
Thanks and nice point! There is an instructable on the web that shows how to approach the KI 500.

Take shot- depress shutter button again and HOLD IT- advance 2 throws (shutter remains closed)- release shutter button- shutter button is set and will depress again for next shot.

Don't know if it works yet, or with perf/non-perf 35mm film, but will try this soon.

alienmeatsack · Oct 8, 2014

McFortner said:
I'm hoping that Ferrania will bring back some 126 film when they get started back up. They should have everything they need there to produce the cartridges if we are lucky.

If I remember correctly, in one of the many interviews going around, Dave Bias has mentioned that they intend on doing more formats, the lost formats etc. All depending on how the 8mm film and 135/120 films go. They've expressed interest in bringing their films to any format that they can do without major retooling and wasted films. Which is why I think they need way more money and need to buy every machine on the FF campus for their future endeavors.

For now, I see the Instamatic line as a fun camera that can be used with existing films with some thought and work. Sort of like using a 620 camera with 120 film, it takes effort but its worth it just to use the camera again.

Dan Fromm · Oct 8, 2014

BobClack said:
I like the idea of sprocket holes with the square format. Of course, one can do this with many cameras. My primary 35mm camera (Minolta SRT-201) won't give me square format without cropping and it won't give me sprocket holes at all.

By (hopefully) setting up the Kodak X-15 and the Kodak Instamatic 500 so they can use respooled 35mm film, I'll be able to get lo-fi shots and higher quality shots.

And, it's fun to tinker.

Thanks for the reply.

I'm all for tinkering, also for people doing what pleases them. And there's no disputing tastes.

That said, I've never understood why how the print on the wall was made is particularly important. The equipment used and the darkroom work can't be seen in the print on the wall, except perhaps in self portraits with the camera.

BobClack · Oct 8, 2014

alienmeatsack said:
This does not work on my I500. I believe it won't work on any of them, but I've only got the one to test that hypothesis.

On mine... If you press the shutter and release, the shutter button is locked until you advance the film to the next frame. If you try to hold the shutter button after pressing it, the film advance locks and will not let you go to a new frame. I think it would be easier to just set the shutter at 500 and cover the lens and shoot 2-3 shots to get to the next frame.

This is how it works regardless of whether there is film (loose) or a 126 cartridge in the camera. I believe it was part of the double exposure prevention system.

I've not run across any of the plastic Instamatics that had the build quality or function of the I500. It even has a different film advance "gear" then any of the others so my 35mm->126 cassette adapter won't even work with it.

My goal is to figure out how to get 35mm in there with the least troubles where I can do in the field to make a usable camera, without hacking, cutting or damaging it. I do think I want to get a cheaper one to hack/cut/play with though. (lesser model, not the I500.)

Just tried it on mine with an empty cartridge. It is working. Will see soon what happens with perf/unperfed 35mm film.

Perhaps my instructions from memory (above) were off. Here's the instructable. It's down the page a ways:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Instamatic-Retro/?ALLSTEPS

BobClack · Oct 8, 2014

Dan Fromm said:
Thanks for the reply.

I'm all for tinkering, also for people doing what pleases them. And there's no disputing tastes.

That said, I've never understood why how the print on the wall was made is particularly important. The equipment used and the darkroom work can't be seen in the print on the wall, except perhaps in self portraits with the camera.

Dan,

Understood! In this case, the "how" is important in terms of how I would prefer to do the shooting. If I want a subject in square format using my Minolta SRT, I'll have to consider the after-cropping that I'll have to do and compose accordingly. I'd rather just shoot it square, hopefully get it right and turn the page.

And no amount of, well, anything, is gonna give me sprocket holes with the Minolta. I'm sure there are other camera candidates out there to achieve this same goal with. Alas, adapting a 126 camera (or a few) seems okay.

Bob

wblynch · Oct 9, 2014

Walk around town with an Instamatic 104 or at a car show or touristy place and see how many people come over, amazed that you can still use one. They all want to see it and hold it and take a picture with it. Even if they don't get to see the picture.

I've even had them ask me to take a pic Using their phone, of them holding the old camera!

Then for real fun, break out the old flash cubes.

It's the journey and playing with old toys. That's the point.

alienmeatsack · Oct 9, 2014

BobClack, I've tried every method I could thing of, every variation of when I press the shutter etc and I cannot press-hold-wind with my I500. I tried it using an empty 126 cartridge as well as empty itself and had same results. I just assumed that was how the i500 worked. Its possible it does work on mine and I need film in there to tension the feeler pin but I've tried pushing the pin a tad and I get the same no go on advancing without firing the shutter and releasing.

I've got to fix the broken 126 cartridge so I can load it and try shooting it with 135 film and Ill find out then if the press-adv-adv method works. Who knows. I do know I'll probably by another plastic Instamatic to hack for 35mm too.

BobClack · Oct 9, 2014

ams,

Is the lens popped into the open position? I thought it was a no-go until I realized I had the lens depressed into the body. It just wouldn't work.

Other than that, I'm stumped!

BobClack · Oct 9, 2014

wblynch said:
Walk around town with an Instamatic 104 or at a car show or touristy place and see how many people come over, amazed that you can still use one. They all want to see it and hold it and take a picture with it. Even if they don't get to see the picture.

I've even had them ask me to take a pic Using their phone, of them holding the old camera!

Then for real fun, break out the old flash cubes.

It's the journey and playing with old toys. That's the point.

I wonder if a generation or two from now folks will get misty about Androids and Iphones? Hmm.

Dr Croubie · Oct 9, 2014

BobClack said:
I wonder if a generation or two from now folks will get misty about Androids and Iphones? Hmm.

Yeah, remember the old chunky original monochrome gameboys? They were solid and thick as a brick, those fancy new ones with colour screens you can't use as a weapon like the old ones... *sniff*

BobClack · Oct 10, 2014

Dr Croubie said:
Yeah, remember the old chunky original monochrome gameboys? They were solid and thick as a brick, those fancy new ones with colour screens you can't use as a weapon like the old ones... *sniff*

Come to think of it, I do remember "Pong" fondly. Maybe there'll be a market for 50 year old photo apps?

alienmeatsack · Oct 10, 2014

Yep. Lens is "extended" and all that. The mechanism works perfectly fine to fire the shutter and advance the film, but if I hold the shutter button down, no go.

Not a huge deal, but I do wonder why it doesn't work on mine when it does for others. I figure I'll just get a cheaper plastic body one that I can hack as needed to shoot and once I can get the 126 film cartridge reload thing figured out I'll use it once in a while and just hide the lens to fire off a few shots between official shots.

BobClack said:
ams,

Is the lens popped into the open position? I thought it was a no-go until I realized I had the lens depressed into the body. It just wouldn't work.

Other than that, I'm stumped!

BobClack · Oct 12, 2014

alienmeatsack said:
Yep. Lens is "extended" and all that. The mechanism works perfectly fine to fire the shutter and advance the film, but if I hold the shutter button down, no go.

Not a huge deal, but I do wonder why it doesn't work on mine when it does for others. I figure I'll just get a cheaper plastic body one that I can hack as needed to shoot and once I can get the 126 film cartridge reload thing figured out I'll use it once in a while and just hide the lens to fire off a few shots between official shots.

Took the Kodak Instamatic 500 out today with a roll of bulk-rolled 12-shot Arista 100. It seems with perfed 35mm film, things get finnickier with film advancement.

I did get clean advances while holding down the shutter button and advancing the film- but only 1/2 the time. Because the film advance arm does work 100% of the time without film in the camera, I'm thinking that if the indexing pin hits a piece of film (and not the perforation), things choke up.

Interestingly, if the film does not advance while holding down the shutter button and advancing the film, the shutter DOES FIRE once I released the shutter button, advance the film (with hand over lens) then depressed it again.

This may be the system by which to approach the Kodak Instamatic 500 camera with 35mm perfed film. An alternating approach based on whether or not the indexing pin has hit a perforation, or a piece of film.

Should get to this tomorrow and update after.

All this for square 35mm format with decent glass? Sure, why not!

126 Camera w/35mm film (File/No File Indexing Pin?)

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