Amateur Photographer - UK (2020-04-11)

50 11 April 2020I http://www.amateurphotographer.co.ukI subscribe 0330 333 1113

Testbench P O I N T- A N D - S H O O T

KODAKstoppedmanufacturing 126 filmin
1999,andsofarnoothercompanyhastried
tomakeit. Butthere’splentyof outdatedfilm
tobefoundoneBay,andif it hasbeenstored
correctly,it shouldbegoodtogo.Film
processorswhostillhandle 126 canbefound
online.Twotocheckoutaredscolourlabs.co.
uk/about/film processing 110126 and
http://www.ag-photolab.co.uk/126-fi lm-
processing-124-c.asp

Loadityourself
Emptycartridgescanbereloadedwith
35mmfilm.Carefullybreakopenthe
cartridgeandattach35mmfilm,straight
fromthecassettetothetake-upspool(ina
darkroomorchangingbagof course).Use
maskingtapetosecureit. Drawabout30cm
of filmfromthecassette,rollit tightlyand
placeit in thecartridge’semptychamber.
Snapthecartridgetogetheragain,using
gaffertapetosecureit if necessary.The
cartridge’srearwindow,throughwhichfilm
numberswouldnormallyberead,mustbe
coveredtopreventlightleakages.There’san
entertainingYouTubevideoonhowtodoit at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IS8s8bEa61o.
Youcanbuypurpose-made 126 FakMatic
cartridgesforloadingwith35mmfilmfrom
Camerhack.Theselleris in Italy,buthedeals
withtheUK.Moredetailsat http://www.camerhack.
it/product/fakmatic-126-fi lm-cartridge.

Wheretobuy&

process 126 fi lm

WHILEKodakcontinuedto

makeInstamatics,someof

whichwerequite

sophisticatedforwhatwere

essentiallysnapshotcameras,

otherwell-known

manufacturersjumpedon

thebandwagon,with

well-specifiednonreflex 126

sizemodels.Theyincluded

Rollei,Minolta,Konica,Canon,

Yashica,Olympus,Mamiya

(underthenameArgus),

RicohandZeissIkon.Below

are just three examples.

1972 RolleiA26

Closed,theA26is nomorethana boxmeasuring9.5x6x3cm.Butgivingtwotexturedpanelstop

andbottomof thebodya sharptugremovesthelenscover,revealstheviewfinderandshutter

buttonwhilepoppingouttheSonnar45mmf/3.5lens.Focusis adjustedmanuallyonthelens,

withshutterspeedsandapertureshandledautomatically.Closingthebodywindsthefilmand

tensions the shutter ready for the next shot. The C26 dedicated fl ashgun clips on to the side.

1970 RicohAuto 126

Here’sanother 126 filmcamerawitha

built-inclockworkmotordrive,woundbya

knobonthebaseof thebody.Exposureis

fullyautomatic,whilemanualfocusonthe

Rikenon35mmf/2.8lensis adjustedby

botha distancescaleandpictograms.The

flip-upflashgunbuilt into the top plate takes

tiny AG-1 bulbs.

1969 Minolta

Autopak 800

TheAutopak 800 is thetopof a rangeof

similarAutopakcameras.Withjusttwoshutter

speeds– 1/90secfordaylightshootingor

1/45secforflash– aperturesin theRokkor

38mmf/2.8lensarecontrolledautomatically.

A flashcubemountedonthetopplatecanbe

leftin placeandwillonlyfirewhenlightlevels

demandit. Batteriesareusedfortheflash,

meterandautomaticsettings,butthefilmis

woundbya clockworkmotor,tensioned by a

large knob on the end of the body.

NON-REFLE

Guidepricestoday

KeystoneK1020£20 -25
ZeissIkonContaflex 126 £20 -25
KodakInstamaticReflex£20-35
R o l l e i fle x S L 2 6 £40-60
R icoh126 C - F lex£15 -25
MinoltaAutopak 800 £10 -20
RicohAuto 126 £10 -20
RolleiA26£15 -25
Outdated 126 film£5-8
FakMatic 126 to 35mm cartridge€22.50

When35mmis loadedintoa 126cartridgethe
exposed area overlaps a row of sprocket holes

Openandclosed:

the Rollei A26

RicohAuto126,featuring

autoexposureanda top

plate flashgun for AG-1 bulbs

Topofthe

rangeMinolta

Autopak 800

KodakInstamatic 400 withauto

exposure,built-inflashgunand

clockwork motor drive