Questions about making prints from 110 negatives

sheeracali · Feb 13, 2019

Hi, sorry if this isn't the correct place for this. I am new to all of this and have done a little research, but I want to make sure I know what Im doing before I start anything. I was curious about the types of machines or minilabs that were used back in the day. I heard that they were fully automated and would take in the negatives, enlarge them, expose the paper to the two chemicals, then cut and wash the paper from the roll. All of that in one machine. Is this correct? If so, where could I acquire such a machine and or any brand model recommendations?

I shoot primarily 110 an 135 and my main goal here is to just get quick prints from all my negatives. Also, I need my 110s printed at 3.5 x 4.5 so a machine would have to accept 3.5 rolls.

I can't get anyone to print my 110s at 3.5 x 4.5 without digitally scanning, plus I thought It would be a money saver to own one of these machines in the long run anyway. If anyone knows of a place that can give me 3.5 x 4.5 prints from my negatives that could help me as well. Thanks

wiltw · Feb 13, 2019

It used to be that a self-contained machine did printing (on roll of paper) and it would process the prints in a continuous roller transport and cut the prints at the end...the machines were owned by drug stores, some retailers, and photo printing services owned by photo stores. You use test strips provided by the machine/chemistry provider to ensure proper replenishment and temperatures were used in the process. Hobbyists and amateur photographers typically never owned such machines, but used enlargers and tray chemistry to process color prints at home.

The problem today is that the concept of optical printing and processing by commercial suppliers has largely vanished. Most photographic print services digitize film to send an electronic file into their machines, which might use laser to expose a conventional photo-chemical process, or they send the digital file to an inkjet printer (totally non-photographic)

AgX · Feb 14, 2019

Basically you could do this. But such machines are designed for large throughput, thus being busy each day. Sporadic use likely will result in the chemical baths within the machine to go bad, or the machine needing extra maintanance. Also such machine is bulky. The non-digital machines have years ago been superseedd by the next generation machines. Finding such older type machine in ready-to-start state in your neighbourhood will likely be a fruitless endeavour.

You might consider buying a used amateur colour enlarger and all needed stuff around it for an amateur darkroom, and may it be a sporadic one in your bathroom. For processing you might use an automated roller processor. In any case such setup would give you more freedonm in image making than the most advanced machine.

Ces1um · Feb 14, 2019

sheeracali said:
Hi, sorry if this isn't the correct place for this. I am new to all of this and have done a little research, but I want to make sure I know what Im doing before I start anything. I was curious about the types of machines or minilabs that were used back in the day. I heard that they were fully automated and would take in the negatives, enlarge them, expose the paper to the two chemicals, then cut and wash the paper from the roll. All of that in one machine. Is this correct? If so, where could I acquire such a machine and or any brand model recommendations?
I shoot primarily 110 an 135 and my main goal here is to just get quick prints from all my negatives. Also, I need my 110s printed at 3.5 x 4.5 so a machine would have to accept 3.5 rolls.
I can't get anyone to print my 110s at 3.5 x 4.5 without digitally scanning, plus I thought It would be a money saver to own one of these machines in the long run anyway. If anyone knows of a place that can give me 3.5 x 4.5 prints from my negatives that could help me as well. Thanks

I think it's going to be just about impossible to find the kind of machine you're looking for. Even if you did, you'd require a large volume of chemistry to feed these machines to make them run. I know lomography is making 110 film again but their supply is sporadic at best. There was a time when they went months without any kind of colour or black and white 110 film- to the point where I thought they had discontinued it altogether. Why not just send it to Lomography to develop, scan and print? They don't charge very much for it and I've gotten 3.5 x 4.5 prints from them in the past. You'd have to be printing an awful lot to recoup your investment in equipment, sundries and time.

bsdunek · Feb 14, 2019

I use my Durst 606 enlarger. Adjust the mask to fit, use a 50mm lens with a +3 close up lens behind it. Can make any size I want. Not like a machine, but for a 24 exp. roll it's fine, just like 35mm.

jim10219 · Feb 14, 2019

I've seen them pop up on Craigslist for pretty cheap from time to time. Not often. Maybe one or two a year. You also might check eBay, but they'll cost more there and the shipping will be very high. Plus, any used commercial equipment like this will likely need frequent maintenance, and finding parts, let alone someone to diagnose and repair them, might be near impossible.

And as others have stated, it's not a very economical way to go for a single person. You'd be better off just building a dark room and doing it all with an enlarger and some trays. You could still buy your paper in rolls and set up a system so that you're able to do a bunch efficiently. You might consider a color analyzer and learning how to use one so that you don't have to keep re-exposing the same negative to get a decent print. They can be useful for doing a bunch of prints when some have the exposure a bit off.

Chan Tran · Feb 14, 2019

The problem is that you don't have sufficient usage. Otherwise you can buy one of these machine (which originally sold for near $100,000) for a couple of thousands dollars. You can't have the machine in good control if only use occastionally.

ic-racer · Feb 14, 2019

The Noritsu 3101 will do 110. It has a digital pathway, but prints to analog RA4 paper, like a Durst Lambda printer. That is, there is no optical enlarger in the unit.

darkroommike · Feb 14, 2019

An earlier Noritsu unit (Or gods forbid a Hope printer processor) would do what you need, but depending n the tank volume and specific "chemistry" you would need a throughput of 50-100 rolls of 35mm (or equivalent) per day to get consistent results, these machines were also replenished and require QC monitoring. The 110 equivalent of 50 rolls of 35mm is a lot. You will also need what is sometimes referred to as a "setup" which includes a carrier and appropriate lens for the desired print size (some Noritsu's use zoom lenses which minimize the number of setups). You will also need a source of 3.5 inch rolls of paper. I wish you luck with all of this though it seems like you are bucking a strong headwind.

cmacd123 · Feb 14, 2019

yes, unless you are planning to make prints for 100s of users you could not make prints on one of the Big Printer machines for less tahn a couple of hundred bucks a finished acceptable print. the major maker of the Photofinishing machines was Kodak BTW, with PAKO a close second. Later Noristsu took over the market with some made by Konica and Copal among others. (AGFA in Europe)

Suggest you go back a step and figure out your requirements. a Simple enlarger and a rotary processor will allow you to make "real" prints at home. 5X7 may be a better size to plan. otherwise, send out might be more economic,

sheeracali · Feb 14, 2019

Thanks for all the help. I Do have a Durst M301 that I just got with a 110 negative carrier. Maybe if I get a small processor, I can just run the prints through that. Maybe on 3.5" rolls that I've pre-cut in the dark? Im not really interested in anything bigger than 4 x 6 right now, as I might use it for my 35mm negatives sometimes as well. I would even happily print my 35mms at 3.5 x 5. I don't need anything big.

As far as possibly sending out to a lab, Ive asked quite a few places and they won't print 3.5 x 4.5 unless they do digital scans first and that would cost more and I could just as well do that at home very easily. I contacted Lomography's LomoLab first since that's where I get my 110 film from and it sounds like they digitally scan the negatives. The guy I talked to is going to confirm to me whether they will print that small. I don't think I'll be able to go with this option.

guangong · Feb 14, 2019

I don’t shoot 110 but do shoot Minox and Minolta 16. Film slitters provide a wide variety of film options. I am aware of folks who slit and load their own 110 cassettes.
Fore enlarging I use a Focomat or Minox enlarger. Film holders for scanning are also available.
Problem with 110 cameras is that, with a few exceptions such as those made by Rollei and Minox, most were made with inferior lenses.
For processing, check out Blue Moon Camera.

removed account4 · Feb 14, 2019

sheeracali said:
I Do have a Durst M301 that I just got with a 110 negative carrier.

Hi, I have an M301 and it has the glass carrier with the masks. I have enlarged 110 with it before. If you want it optically printed by a lab, you might contact Blue Moon Photographic and Machine Company in Portland ( https://bluemooncamera.com ) they will even make wetprints from your minox film !

Good luck !
John

darkroommike · Feb 15, 2019

The Durst M301 is likely a better approach, you will not need to change filtration a lot from negative to negative just exposure. If you could find a small roller transport and roll easel you could print as many shots as you like then feed the roll of paper through the RT. Mosrt table top RP's will also handle individual cut sheets, not sure is all RT's will handle a 3.5 x 4.25 but some will, and a lot of roll easels have a cutter. You might also be able to find a Durst or other roll printer (someone gave me a broken one years ago, no lenses or easel, something like an ACS 500 or this https://www.ebay.com/itm/Durst-ACS-...b:g:eJAAAMXQeW5TYbnF:rk:1:pf:1&frcectupt=true

Johnkpap · Feb 15, 2019

Hi
Fuji film made a small machine called a PP540b they are small and can do 110mm 35mm and 120mm(with a kit) they would be getting a bit long in the tooth ,,,,,,but you could get lucky an find on in good condition that someone put into storage, you bigest problem is getting parts and they have a nicad batt on the main board that you would need to replace
make sure you get the manual ect . I would ask around........... small Mall shops and Drug Stores had them in the past even pro labs had them for small jobs

Johnkpap

AgX · Feb 20, 2019

For enlarging Pocket-format (type 110) photos there are special lenses. As the Schneider COMPONON 1:4,0/28 mm.

choiliefan · Feb 20, 2019

I bought a Pentax 110 system camera from a dealer/enthusiast years ago. As we were closing the deal he explained that most commercial mini labs were incapable of supplying precisely focused prints from 110 negatives. Indifference on the part of the operators or sub-par equipment for anything less than 35mm stock.
He was absolutely right as my first cassette back from the drug store were quite blurry and disappointing. I made a film holder and printed a few on the home Beseler 45MCRX and was pleasantly surprised how good the little Pentax lenses really were. Probably used a 50mm 2.8 Nikkor at that time. Nothing at all difficult focusing the grains, making the exposure and developing the paper.

Chan Tran · Feb 20, 2019

darkroommike said:
An earlier Noritsu unit (Or gods forbid a Hope printer processor) would do what you need, but depending n the tank volume and specific "chemistry" you would need a throughput of 50-100 rolls of 35mm (or equivalent) per day to get consistent results, these machines were also replenished and require QC monitoring. The 110 equivalent of 50 rolls of 35mm is a lot. You will also need what is sometimes referred to as a "setup" which includes a carrier and appropriate lens for the desired print size (some Noritsu's use zoom lenses which minimize the number of setups). You will also need a source of 3.5 inch rolls of paper. I wish you luck with all of this though it seems like you are bucking a strong headwind.

Yup and you should run the control strip once a day too. I don't know how much the control strip cost but it would be expensive if you don't process a lot.

darkroommike · Feb 24, 2019

Chan Tran said:
Yup and you should run the control strip once a day too. I don't know how much the control strip cost but it would be expensive if you don't process a lot.

At least once a day, many days we ran as many as 4 C-41 control strips in 12 hours.

Chan Tran · Feb 24, 2019

darkroommike said:
At least once a day, many days we ran as many as 4 C-41 control strips in 12 hours.

Once a day if the control strip shows we are in good control.

Johnkpap · Feb 24, 2019

The lens I use for 110 is a 30mm F3.5 Minolta it needs to be recessed in order to use it on my durst enlargers, I have a 110 carrier insert for my Durst AC800 the lens prints very well, I have also used the lens to enlarge 1/4 of a 35mm neg. These lenses for 110 film seem to be quite uncommon at the moment on the big auction site.

Johnkpap

darkroommike · Feb 24, 2019

Johnkpap said:
The lens I use for 110 is a 30mm F3.5 Minolta it needs to be recessed in order to use it on my durst enlargers, I have a 110 carrier insert for my Durst AC800 the lens prints very well, I have also used the lens to enlarge 1/4 of a 35mm neg. These lenses for 110 film seem to be quite uncommon at the moment on the big auction site.

Johnkpap

These lenses were also used to print Minolta 16, Minox, etc. I have a Beseler 38mm and a very nice Voss 25mm. I use the glass carrier for these small negatives but would love to have the correct glassless inserts for 110, half-frame, 16mm.

Questions about making prints from 110 negatives

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