I bought this camera so I could try a 3D printed 126 cassette that accepts 35mm film. So I needed a fairly clean 126mm camera. It took me three attempts to hit that requirement. One camera arrived and it looked like it had lived at the bottom of a garage where people did woodworking for 20 years…nope. Finally, this one arrived and there was a found film inside.
The cassette was showing the number 10 so there was still some shots to be taken. I had no doubt that the film was fogged, damaged or just old beyond salvaging. So I took some random photos just in case and then sent it off for develop only.
When it came back I was surprised to see images on the film, some from me, some from the previous owner. But now I didn’t have scanned images. Never mind I just taped the negs to my scanner. They scanned ok, but were very hairy. I didn’t bother fixing them, you will see why.
Here are the found shots.
Cool, no naked shots, looks kind of Greek to me. Do you know where it is?
Here are my shots.
They are not too bad considering. They are fairly sharp, well exposed. That meant this camera would be perfect for the experiment.
I followed the instructions for the adapter to the letter, please check the first link, and took two shots. Then the camera jammed. So I took the cassette out, fogging the film, unjammed the camera and took two more shots. Then the camera jammed. So I took the cassette out, fogging the film, unjammed the camera…can you see where this is going.
Here are my shots recovered from the cassette…er nope. I gave the cassette to a friend to see if he could get it to work. I know I gave up easily, but I had already bought 4 cameras and didn’t think it was worth more effort and money when I have so many other cameras to try. Sorry Fakmatic, super idea, but not for me. Honestly, I think it is because many 126 cameras are old and cronky, I don’t think it has anything to do with the Fakmatic. If you have a good 126 camera it is well worth a try. As I did give the cassette to a friend I don’t have it to take photos of it. Check the website 🙂
Oh but what about the camera? What about 126mm film?
Well, the film ceased being produced in 2008, so like APS all film is now expired, if you do happen to have some. The camera itself was introduced in 1965, has a selenium meter which you can see on the front. You can find more details here.
I sent this camera to the friend who I also gave the 3D printed cartridge too, maybe he can get it to work.
Interesting. The “found” pics look like the building says “Hotel Miramar” on it. A Google search has about a dozen or more possibilities. You didn’t say where you purchased the camera from but I’d guess Spain as the possible location. The hotel looks like it’s in Mallorca. http://hotel-miramar.net/
I got the camera on eBay from a U.K. seller, so Spain is very possible.
It’s a cool old hotel and their site has some neat pics from long ago. It’s spot on.
I don’t think it is that one though, the road seems to sweep around to the right and there are rocky cliffs, I can’t see those on google maps.
Love the found pictures! I just picked up the same camera with a used film in today 🤯 did your friend manage to get any pictures out of the DIY cassette?
No, but I did. Have a look at the Kodak instamatic 33. The printed cassette ended up working quite well.