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k o d a k 1 2 6 i n s t a m a t i c c a m e r a s
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Kodak 126 Film Instamatic Cameras
Until the introduction of the "Kodapak" cartridge in 1963, with it's associated "Instamatic" brand-name, cameras aimed at the consumer market were almost universally roll-film models, with all the inherent problems of loading that that type of film incurs. Now members of the public could load their own cameras with no risk of fogging the film. When the Instamatics were introduced Kodak also released Kodacolor-X for colour prints, and Kodachrome-X and Ektachrome-X for slides. With the improved performance of the new colour emulsions, all three films could be used at the same setting as the then-popular Verichrome Pan black & white film, all of which were available in 126 cartridge. The first Instamatic to be marketed was the Instamatic 50, on sale in the UK some weeks before the Instamatic 100 was launched in the USA. The Kodapak cartridge featured automatic film-speed sensing, a feature possibly first seen on the Agfa Rapid system, and now common-place, with the introduction of DX-coding of 35mm cassettes.
The concept was an immediate success, with more than 50 million Instamatic Cameras produced by 1970. Kodak produced these cameras until 1985 in Europe with the 277X, until 1988 in the USA, the last model there being the X-15F, according to Kodak's on-line Customer Service Pamphlet AA-13, though it would appear that Instamatic 126 cameras were still being produced by Kodak in Brazil in the mid-1990's. The term Instamatic went into general usage to describe any easy-to-use basic camera, which rather detracts from a range that included an interchangeable-lens SLR, several range-finder cameras, and many with top-quality lenses from the likes of Rodenstock and Schneider-Kreuznach, as well as Kodak's own renowned Ektar. Whilst the bulk of production was no doubt from Rochester in the USA, and Germany and England in Europe, cameras were also manufactured or assembled in Spain, Brazil, Argentina, Australia and Canada, mostly for domestic sales.
In Brazil, the Kodak Instamatic was apparently considered to be something of a luxury item, consequently a local manufacturer came up with the Tekinha Camaras, a minimalist option.
Many 126-cartridge cameras have a four-character "camerosity" date-code, usually inside the film compartment under the film gate.
Film availability
Film for this format was finally withdrawn from production by Kodak in 1999, it would appear Agfa ceased production of this format at about the same time. I was notified in August 2001 that Ferrania in Italy still had 126 film in production under their Solaris brand. This is distributed in Canada by Continent-Wide Enterprises Limited, I believe in minimum quantities of 30. Smaller quantities are available from Film for Classics and The Frugal Photographer. Swains International plc are distributing this film in the UK through the Camera Shop and Photo Chemist retail outlets, product code 1912. I have no other details. Please bear in mind that many processors may no longer be able to print the full square frame of the 126 negative, so you may wish to research your options before ordering. At the bottom of this page is a link to the Hints'n'Tips section of this website pointing you to possible resources of Instamatic 126 film.
I have written some thoughts on the concept of re-loading the 126 cartridge on this website, someone may find some use for them.
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126 Film Speed Sensing
On the 126 film cartridge the film speed can be sensed, by a camera suitably equipped, from a notch in the upper front edge of the cartridge. This notch varies in position for different film speeds. The sensor is in the groove above the film gate on most cameras (where the film runs from left to right). I believe some (non-Kodak) cameras operate "in reverse", in which case any film sensor would be under the film gate. More sophisticated cameras, such as the Kodak Instamatic 500, 700 range, 800 range and X-90, are able to sense a range of speeds, as the sensor runs from right to left as the back of the camera closes, (25-800ASA is mentioned in the Instamatic 804 handbook), less complex cameras simply have a "low speed -- high speed" sensor, nominally 160 ASA when depressed, 64 ASA when out, as indeed the Instamatic Reflex has, not to be confused with the frame indexing pin, as shown in the lower picture.
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