Topic: What Do You Know About a Kodak Instamatic X-45

[Ron]

Ok, fellow filmwasters, anyone got the goods on this 




I know it takes 126.  Appears as though this film format can still be had.  Can the film cartridges be broken open and the film be developed at home?  Is the lens on this puppy plastic?  Any help is greatly appreciated and any knowledge above and beyond these questions is welcome.  Thanks peeps 

[formica]

i don't know much about the camera itself, but i'm pretty certain the 126 cartridges can be cracked open and the film processed at home. as long as you have the proper reels for them. if you can develop 110 i'd think 126 shouldn't be much of a problem.

                william

[Francois]

You'll have trouble finding pre-loaded film cartridges as they have been out of production (Kodak at least) for quite some time now.
Check out Wikipedia, they have a full page on it (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/126_film).

For processing, you shouldn't have any problem doing it at home as it feeds easily on 35mm reels (they have the same width but 126 has no sprocket holes.)

126 has a backing paper like 110 and comes in a similar cartridge, only bigger.
It might be possible to re-spool 35mm onto the cartridge but you might have difficulties finding used empty cartridges as it was common practice to snap them in half to make working in the dark easier (that's what they say in many books).

Wish you good luck.

[Ron]

Thanks guys!  I am going to go for it and get some of the Ferrania film.  I know of some places online that still develop this stuff and I have a couple of local avenues to check, too.  I like the square format and it's really quite a funky cam.  Supposedly, old black and white can still be found on eBay also.  Expired works just fine for me 

[formica]

it looks like 126 film is still being made. there is some for sale here: http://www.jandcphoto.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWCATS&Category=8.

       william

[moominsean]

oddly enough, i just did this yesterday. i opened a 126 cartridge and replaced it with 35mm. i'll put it on my blog sometime in the next few days. the film size is the same, but depending in the kind of camera, you probably have to trim the top sprockets off the film, as it interferes with the cocking mechanism on some cameras. if you have a really basic camera that just winds, you can leave it as is.

[al]

Looking forward to reading this.  I've thought about doing this with a number of 126's that have come my way.  Some look more suitable that others, some of the mechanisms rely on a single sprocket hole on the film edge to detect the frame and cock the shutter, others arent so fussy.

You might also be able to wedge a normal 35mm canister in there - I'm sure there is an article on this at www.toycamera.com. I'd include a link but unfortunately my employers have deemed toycamera.com too subversive and have blocked access to the site from work     ....filmwasters is for the moment creeping in under the radar.