Topic: Get those Instamatics out!

[Francois]

Here's good news for the Instamatic aficionados out there.
We all tried at least once to open and close those darned 126 cartridges to refill them with varying levels of success. Well life just got a whole lot easier.
This guy designed a new cartridge that is actually built just for that. Easy to open, easy to close, easy to refill.

Check it out
http://www.diyphotography.net/time-bust-instamatics-now-can-load-35mm-film-using-adapter-kit/
! No longer available

[John Robison]

I slit and load Minox 8X11, but this is too much hassle even for a Instamatic 500. Me thinks whoever makes the Lomo 110 film needs to look into 126 size. At least with my IIIs I have a high quality camera (such as it is) to reward my extra work to slit and load my own film.

[jharr]

It won't work with the Instamatic 500 from Kodak. That requires the 126 perforations. Regular 135 perforations catch and tear and it turns into a big mess. So what I need is an accompanying 126 perforator. But I'm working on that.

[John Robison]

It won't work with the Instamatic 500 from Kodak. That requires the 126 perforations. Regular 135 perforations catch and tear and it turns into a big mess. So what I need is an accompanying 126 perforator. But I'm working on that.

Conventional loading of unprefed 35mm with backing paper would seem to me like less work. A pin registration punch for the perfs could be built I think. But so few of the cameras sold for 126 film were of better than snapshot quality. True, there was the Kodak reflex and I think Rollie made a SLR too. But of course somewhat limited and complex leaf shutter designs.

[Francois]

Using a board where you stretch the film, sandwich it with another board that has holes in it and use something like a nail with the end cut flat to punch out the holes.

The board sandwich could be made light tight with some molding around the main plank.
A steel strip with holes under the film could ensure that the holes are clean.

[jharr]

Using a board where you stretch the film, sandwich it with another board that has holes in it and use something like a nail with the end cut flat to punch out the holes.

The board sandwich could be made light tight with some molding around the main plank.
A steel strip with holes under the film could ensure that the holes are clean.

I did something very similar to this with a cardboard jig and a 1/8" hole punch. It would be easier with something sharp like a leather punch and making the jig out of something 'unpunchable' would bring more consistency.

http://jamesharrphoto.blogspot.com/2014/10/perforating-126-film.html

[Francois]

I remember you did something like that a while back...

[Faintandfuzzy]

I wish someone could make 110 film cartidges and film easier to reload. 

[jojonas~]

I wish someone could make 110 film cartidges and film easier to reload. 

you could get into 16mm cameras instead?