Instamatic 126 Cartridges

[hpulley]

I had a camera that took FlashCubes too but I can't find it anymore, dagnabbit! My Instamatic just takes Flips. Misfires, the heat of the sun near your head, flying shrapnel on occasion, what could be more fun?

[wblynch]

A coworker just returned from visiting his small hometown in Italy and he brought me a roll of 1970 3M 126 black and white.

I guess he stopped into the local photo shop and mentioned 126 to the lady and she went in the back and brought out a dusty box with this 126 cartridge in there, still in the box.

It says ASA 80, 12 exposures so I think it will still take pictures. I'll take a picture of the box and wrapping, and try to use the 12 shots for cool stuff. I'll use in in my Kodak 500 since it has manual control and a better lens than the 104.

I am anxious to use it but gotta save those 12 for just the right shots.

[hpulley]

At 80 ASA it might still be good. Faster film might be fogged. I'd kill for some B&W 126 film! I bought four Solaris 200 cartidges from 'Frugal' photographer for $12.99 each (last film available so beggars can't be choosers) but so far out of 3 only 1 has been opened in such a way that I can reload it, the other two broke. I have one more to finish, hopefully I can open it carefully enough to have two reloaders.

The Kodak Instamatic 500 is a great camera, I've been using one lately. Schneider Kreuznach Xenar 38mm f/2.8 lens and 1/30-1/500 Compur shutter, very nice! Mine still has a working Gossen selenium meter too.

[wblynch]

I can get old Kodak cartridges open pretty easily with a snap twist and a razor blade. But you gotta be careful or you'll tweak them all out of shape.

[Stephen Frizza]

i process 126 film monthly eventually they will all open up easily.its just practice.

[hpulley]

I can get old Kodak cartridges open pretty easily with a snap twist and a razor blade. But you gotta be careful or you'll tweak them all out of shape.

I think the old Kodaks were easier than the Solaris ones but I could be wrong. I haven't so much as seen Kodak 126 in years though I guess I could still buy some long expired Kodacolor on eBay.

[wblynch]

I guess I could still buy some long expired Kodacolor on eBay.

About the only way to get them anymore...

[hpulley]

About the only way to get them anymore...

Have you bought any Solaris 200 from "Frugal" photographer? They're expired March 2010 (color balance has already shifted a bit toward cyan it seems) and they cost $12.99, more than I ever paid for a 126 camera but they work!

[wblynch]

Have you bought any Solaris 200 from "Frugal" photographer? They're expired March 2010 (color balance has already shifted a bit toward cyan it seems) and they cost $12.99, more than I ever paid for a 126 camera but they work!

No, I haven't. I would like to try it but I'm too cheap to pay that price. So I roll my own.

I only expect to shoot 5 or 6 a year and I have enough bulk color for about 20 more rolls. When that's gone I'll do something else I guess.

For me it's only about the fun of using cameras the corporations think we should not use anymore.

[hpulley]

No, I haven't. I would like to try it but I'm too cheap to pay that price. So I roll my own.

I only expect to shoot 5 or 6 a year and I have enough bulk color for about 20 more rolls. When that's gone I'll do something else I guess.

For me it's only about the fun of using cameras the corporations think we should not use anymore.

I just hope that if we buy the rest of their stock, perhaps they'll make another fresh run? That said this was made in late 2007 so if it takes the world over 3 years to go through a run of it then perhaps ferrania won't make any more; I'm still holding out hope that their manufacturing could still make another run of it. It is like everything else in film, if we don't buy it they won't make it.