Instamatic 126 Cartridges

swchris · Jul 11, 2010

Unperforated 35mm film

Boggy1 said:
You could try to use unperforated film:

http://www.macodirect.de/films-general-photo-c-1_6_603.html

(it comes with in a reusable cartridge too!)

For the sprocket holes to cock the shutter, how about using a simple hole puncher in the dark?

What is unperforated 35mm film good for? Being a surveillance film it probably needs a special camera. Can someone point me to some cameras which take this film. I'm curious.

What's the benefit compared to perforated film. Is the format larger, e.g. 28x36?

elekm · Jul 11, 2010

I have a few 126 cameras that are a lot of fun to use. I'm hoping that Adox will offer some emulsions in this. I would love to see them offer a reloadable cartridge kit.

elekm · Jul 11, 2010

Ektagraphic said:
If I remeber correctly only a few years back ADOX had a 126 film...they are coming out with a new film and will even offer it in 110 so maybe there is hope if we ask !

You're right. I still have a few rolls. Maybe it was rebadged Ferrania film. I'm not sure.

Brian Legge · Jul 11, 2010

I loaded the camera too hastily and didn't pay enough attention to how the winding worked. First roll was a total failure.

The trick I missed was to wind the camera while the shutter is still held down. Now i just need to figure out how many turns to wind it are required. Opps.

wblynch · Jul 11, 2010

I have some B/W in a 126 cart right now. Think I'll go outside and shoot it.

tac · Jul 12, 2010

wblynch said:
I have some B/W in a 126 cart right now. Think I'll go outside and shoot it.

I am jealous!

Brac · Jul 12, 2010

elekm said:
You're right. I still have a few rolls. Maybe it was rebadged Ferrania film. I'm not sure.

It was Ferrania colour film. From what I have been told by someone in contact with them, Adox have had to do some work on some aspects of the 110 cartridge, before they can release film in that size. I haven't seen any commitment from them to release their own b&w film in 126. Probably they would want to see how the 110 sells. There must be a lot more 110 cameras around than 126, but it would be nice to see 126 available again. Fingers firmly crossed!

wblynch · Jul 12, 2010

wblynch said:
I have some B/W in a 126 cart right now. Think I'll go outside and shoot it.

20 year old Plus-X. I got pictures but they were very grainy and not so good overall. But it was fun.

Next will be to spool some fresh color film in there.

wblynch · Jul 16, 2010

Okay, I rolled up some 35mm unperforated Portra 160nc into an Instamatic 126 cartridge last night.

I used the original backing paper. But my camera will not work without some perforation to trip the advance and unlock the shutter. So, in the dark bag I tried clipping the edges with a scissors to make 'notches' where the holes line up in the backing paper. Of course I haven't seen it yet but I have a feeling it's gonna look like a pinata when I develop it.

It will be a fun exercise and I plan on locating a little craft punch to make more respectable perforations on the next try.

This 100ft roll of color film is going to make way too many instamatic setups. I don't know why I went down this path...

wblynch · Aug 7, 2010

This time I rolled the non-perforated color film onto the backing paper and punched sprocket holes in the dark bag (as suggested by Boggy1 above). It worked ! I did not get all the holes aligned perfectly and ended up getting 14 pictures on a roll of 20.

Developed with a home C-41 kit that has processed too many rolls already but they came out great.

I rigged an electronic flash since I didn't have any flash cubes but they definitely have that vintage Instamatic look !

Next I need to fashion some sort of guide or jig to get the sprockets aligned better. I will shoot the next roll in the old Instamatic 104. That will be interesting.

(crazy waste of time but it beats TV)

maderik · Aug 8, 2010

wblynch said:
This time I rolled the non-perforated color film onto the backing paper and punched sprocket holes in the dark bag (as suggested by Boggy1 above).

What did you use for a punch? Later today I'm going to stop by a craft store's scrap-booking section to look for 1/8" and 1/16" hole punches (else order on-line.) Rather than buy portra, I'm going to start with cut down 120 B&W. I'm also going to try this with unperf 16mm (either cut from the same 120 or some microfilm I have.) I actually have a couple of 126 actual rangefinders (GAF, Minolta, Bell&Howell/Canon, Kodak) with decent 4-element lenses and a friend recently scored a cheap Rollei SL26 I'm itching to borrow. I also have an X15 and 100.

Another idea I worked on for the X15 was to notch a 35mm cart spool to allow the wind drive to engage it, load the camera in the dark by unspooling/rolling the 35mm into the feed side and putting the 35mm cart upside down in the takeup area, taping up the back, and then shoot the roll backwards winding the film into the cart (using the shoot again with the lens covered method.) I've gotten it to work with some dry runs with the back open, but the first actual roll slipped out of the feed. I think I need to put something in to hold the 35mm cart more securely. I'll also probably need to make a pressure plate.

wblynch · Aug 8, 2010

Hi Maderik

I used a paper punch that my wife had laying around. It leaves a small hole, probably no more than 1/8". I fit a piece of cardboard into the jaw to act as a stop to make sure the hole was indented at the correct position. By feeling the backing paper I guessed the longitudinal position and got several wrong but it worked.

I thought for a jig I could use a wooden yard stick with a felt covering upon which I would lay the raw film on its back. Then I can have indentations cut out along the length at measured spots to locate the punch.

I like the 35mm concept and thought of using the center section of a 126 cart for the 'pressure plate', feeding the film through it.

I think most Instamatics retract the wind drive gear when the door is opened and drop it down when the door is closed. That may be the reason yours slipped with the back open.

wblynch · Aug 14, 2010

Here are my first successful 126 Instamatic pics.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/43381534@N07/sets/72157624708040404/

This was 35mm unperforated Portra 160 in the 126 cart with backing paper and punched as described above. I think they have the vintage look I was after.

Artistically they're not much but I'm pretty happy with them.

The flash was an Olympus T-20 on the Instamatic 500 which has a hot shoe.

I have a roll now in an older Instamatic 104 which is a simpler camera. I'm anxious to see what comes out.

xya · Aug 14, 2010

have you seen this?

http://www.frugalphotographer.com/cat126.htm

I don't know nothing about them but it seems to save you from a lot of hassle.

if anyone has tried them, please report back

greetings from the sunny south of france

reinhard

wblynch · Aug 15, 2010

It is definitely worth it if you want to shoot a roll or two on your old Instamatic. The last available 126 is there and if you want some you have to get it soon. After that, you'll be like me, trying to make your own.

xya said:
have you seen this?

http://www.frugalphotographer.com/cat126.htm

I don't know nothing about them but it seems to save you from a lot of hassle.

if anyone has tried them, please report back

greetings from the sunny south of france

reinhard

mhcfires · Aug 16, 2010

Frugal wants $10+ for a roll of film. You can roll your own for a lot less once you have a few cartridges.

wblynch · Aug 21, 2010

In Las Vegas with an old Instamatic 104. Hope I get some good shots.

maderik · Aug 25, 2010

I processed my first roll of hand-punched 126 film today. I used 35mm Kodak Imagelink HQ microfilm from a 100ft roll which is unperforated. I developed this in Caffenol LC+C which seemed to give me about EI 50. Only 1/2 of the perfs were in the right place (quick 'n' dirty punching by me) but the six exposures did come out fine. An example:

A longer writeup and more examples can be found here: http://photo.net/classic-cameras-forum/00X937

wblynch · Aug 25, 2010

Beautiful. Looks too good to come from an Instamatic.

Maybe we can swap a few feet of color for b&w...

maderik said:
I processed my first roll of hand-punched 126 film today. I used 35mm Kodak Imagelink HQ microfilm from a 100ft roll which is unperforated. I developed this in Caffenol LC+C which seemed to give me about EI 50. Only 1/2 of the perfs were in the right place (quick 'n' dirty punching by me) but the six exposures did come out fine. An example:

A longer writeup and more examples can be found here: http://photo.net/classic-cameras-forum/00X937

maderik · Aug 25, 2010

wblynch said:
Maybe we can swap a few feet of color for b&w...

Sure - just contact me by PM or email.

Elmer Fishpaw · Aug 31, 2010

Blue Moon Camera and Machine lists 126 film, along with other good stuff including processing. Very nice folk on the phone and shipping not all outrageous. I think they process it too.
Here in Clevland, not 5 miles from work is Fairview photo...I brought in 127 and 126 and they didn't bat an eye and had it for me scanned etc. in 10 days. Nice people there too. They said they actually get alot, about a dozen rolls a week.

I ordered the 126 in June, so it was in stock then...

maderik · Aug 31, 2010

Elmer Fishpaw said:
Blue Moon Camera and Machine lists 126 film [...] shipping not all outrageous.

$12 + shipping for a roll of 126 film may not be outrageous, but it's still more than I paid for any of my 126 cameras. I know over the life of a camera you will spend far more on film than the body but hitting that threshold on the first roll is disconcerting. 100' of Imagelink was less than twice that and 100' of 35mm non-perf portra is about 3x that for 25x the amount of film, so the convenience premium is a bit steep for "fun" cameras.

elekm · Aug 31, 2010

Given the choice of 126 vs. 110, I'd love to see some Adoxpan 100 or 400 in 126.

Adox is recreating Agfapan APX films under the Adoxpan name.

nickrapak · Sep 1, 2010

Whoever said 126 cameras are crappy have never seen a roll of Kodachrome through an X-90. As good as any rangefinder out there.

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

Lanline · Sep 1, 2010

Finally scored a cartridge

Today I got a 126 film cartridge and carefully reloaded it with 100 ISO B&W film. I shot 4 images today with the Kodak Instamatic 500 and I am looking forward to the results. MUCH MORE FUN for me than a HOLGA.

Instamatic 126 Cartridges

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