Possibility of 126 being made again?

Kotobukicat · Apr 28, 2024

Hi,

This is my first post on this forum.

What are the chances of 126 being manufactured again? I normally use Canon gear from the mid seventies and Mamiya stuff from the sixties with the old screw mount lenses. However, I also enjoy using 110 with new film from Limography, and now that I have found my old Minolta 126 instamatic I would like to use it again. I had that camera from when I was about 10. What do you all think are the odds that someone will start making 126 carts again?

Thank you very much!

Joe

Rickbb · Apr 28, 2024

Probably never to be honest.

480sparky · Apr 28, 2024

126 Re-Loaded / Re-Usable Cartridge (FPP Color Film)

126 Film Cartridge (Loaded with 35mm FPP Color Film - Cart is Re-Loadable)20 exposures - Loaded with FPP Color Film - Process: C-41 This item is not returnable so please read ALL of the info on this page before purchasing. OVERVIEW: What is it?This item is a vintage 126 cartridge with the...

filmphotographystore.com

126 Film

With no new 126 film being produced, the Film Photography Project has taken upon itself to create options in 2024 (and beyond) so that we all can still enjoy shooting our beloved Kodak Instamatic 126 cameras.

filmphotographystore.com

webestang64 · Apr 29, 2024

I loaded a roll of 35mm into a 126 cartridge.......

Hmmmmm.....126

cgw · Apr 29, 2024

A friend has a Pentax110 Auto outfit--tiny ILC with some nice lenses. Film still apparently available--somewhere...

Kotobukicat · Apr 30, 2024

I cannot use the 35mm film method because my Minolta camera uses a lever to stop film advance by catching the "sprocket" hole in the 126 cartridge. With 35mm film, the sprocket holes would not allow for proper film advancement.

Kotobukicat · May 1, 2024

cgw said:
A friend has a Pentax110 Auto outfit--tiny ILC with some nice lenses. Film still apparently available--somewhere...

Hi,

Can you ask him or her where?

Thank you very much,

Joe

cgw · May 1, 2024

Kotobukicat said:
Hi,

Can you ask him or her where?

Thank you very much,

Joe

110 Film

The 110 cartridge was introduced by Kodak in 1972 with Kodak Pocket Instamatic cameras. Thanks to the awesome folks at Lomography, we now have fresh, new 110 films for your fav 110 film camera!

filmphotographystore.com

Brooklyn Albertan · May 2, 2024

480sparky said:
126 Re-Loaded / Re-Usable Cartridge (FPP Color Film)

126 Film Cartridge (Loaded with 35mm FPP Color Film - Cart is Re-Loadable)20 exposures - Loaded with FPP Color Film - Process: C-41 This item is not returnable so please read ALL of the info on this page before purchasing. OVERVIEW: What is it?This item is a vintage 126 cartridge with the...

filmphotographystore.com

126 Film

With no new 126 film being produced, the Film Photography Project has taken upon itself to create options in 2024 (and beyond) so that we all can still enjoy shooting our beloved Kodak Instamatic 126 cameras.

filmphotographystore.com

The adapter has interested me.

Who knows? Analogue World has 127. 110 is back. Why not 126?

480sparky · May 2, 2024

Brooklyn Albertan said:
The adapter has interested me.

Who knows? Analogue World has 127. 110 is back. Why not 126?

Most likely answer: It's not profitable.

Kotobukicat · May 4, 2024

Most likely Lomography is not making a boat load of money with 110. I have made my first purchase from them last week. I am going to order from them on a weekly basis, to try all of their film stock, put some away in my deep freezer, and shoot some. I am very grateful to Lomography for this.

I just hope that someone, somewhere has rescued the injection molding dies from Kodak or Fuji for the 126 cartridges. If that has occurred, there is a slight possibility that someone might produce 126 again.

My Minolta 126 camera that I have had for 5 decades cannot use 135 mm film because of the sprocket holes. It uses a lever to register on the one hole per frame of 126.

I just bought myself a Yashica model 44 so I could shoot 127. Film is coming back, and I think it has to do a lot with the fact that a emulsion based image is not ephemerial like digital. I love my Canon digital camera, but I know that one really bad sun explosion will destroy every digital device and the data therein in seconds. The photos that I took as an 11 year old little boy will still be in the photo album on my shelf ready to view.

Joe

Brooklyn Albertan · May 8, 2024

Kotobukicat said:
Most likely Lomography is not making a boat load of money with 110. I have made my first purchase from them last week. I am going to order from them on a weekly basis, to try all of their film stock, put some away in my deep freezer, and shoot some. I am very grateful to Lomography for this.

I just hope that someone, somewhere has rescued the injection molding dies from Kodak or Fuji for the 126 cartridges. If that has occurred, there is a slight possibility that someone might produce 126 again.

My Minolta 126 camera that I have had for 5 decades cannot use 135 mm film because of the sprocket holes. It uses a lever to register on the one hole per frame of 126.

I just bought myself a Yashica model 44 so I could shoot 127. Film is coming back, and I think it has to do a lot with the fact that a emulsion based image is not ephemerial like digital. I love my Canon digital camera, but I know that one really bad sun explosion will destroy every digital device and the data therein in seconds. The photos that I took as an 11 year old little boy will still be in the photo album on my shelf ready to view.

Joe

Analogueworld out of the UK has 127. It sells out fast, but they get more fast.

Kotobukicat · May 8, 2024

Thank you very much! There are several sources in the U.S that slit and re-spool bulk 120 film for 127. Same for 620 for the old Argus 65.

Here is the next question... and it is a looooooong shot...

Does anyone know if there are any injection molding dies floating around for the three parts of the 126 cartridges? <IF> say a group of enthusiasts got together and wanted to bring 126 back from the dead, the most expensive thing (and it would be a MAJOR expense) would be to get the dies made for the carts. Everything else would be doable for a determined group to pull off. Bulk film is easy, aa automated punch for the one hole per frame would not be too hard, even backing paper is doable. The dies however, would be horribly expensive. There are companies that can do the injection molding (if you have the dies) for a reasonable amount.

I'm too old and busy to try this. It would take a dedicated group to successfully pull this off, along with a good Kickstarter fundraising effort. It is a good thought exercise though...

Joe

Gitarzan · Aug 1, 2024

Lomography is making 110 cartridges again, and they are apparently selling well enough to the Lomo fans for them to actually new 110 cameras made. I'd guess it would be a hop and a skip to start making 120 carts. Getting film that's properly perforated might be an issue, but it's certainly possible.

And it would be immensely easier to get processed, as it's basically 135 film with fewer sprocket holes.

I would certainly prefer to shoot 120 over 110.

petrochemist · Aug 1, 2024

480sparky said:
Most likely answer: It's not profitable.

Very true, but it may help to give some reasons why it is unlikely to become profitable.

126 does not have a reproducible backing plate so never worked as well as 35mm, 120 or 127 films
110 has the same issue but it's small size gives it's cameras something of significance.
There are good 35mm cameras that are similar in size to the old 126 models. Photographers who are purely after convenience will now shoot digital.

126 suited me well as a child.