Found film in a Kodak Instamatic 500 developed!

GaryFlorida · Apr 26, 2015

I have been developing C41 this week. It is my first time.I have 16 rolls and a c41 press kit. I can say I am getting good at putting film on reels in total darkness. They are all turning out great. The chemicals have a short shelf llife once mixed so i am going like mad to get them all done. One of the rolls was a Vericolor 126 cartridge that I found in one of the cameras I bought on that auction site. Oh heck Ill say it. Ebay. I like Ebay I got a lot of good deals on there. Anyway, I just got the film out of the cans and they are drying and images actually emerged on the 126 cartridge. Im thinking this must be from the 1970s but I havent looked at the images yet. For those of you interested in found film, I will be posting some of the images here. I also have a Kodachrome found film that I probably wont waste time on but I understand images can be had with B&W chemistry. I think found film is cool. Stay tuned for updates.

Xmas · Apr 27, 2015

I'd suggest you need to open 126 cartridges to allow reuse...
500s are nice cameras.

GaryFlorida · Apr 27, 2015

Xmas said:
I'd suggest you need to open 126 cartridges to allow reuse...
500s are nice cameras.

That is a great suggestion. Unfortunately the thought did not occur to me until the instant after I fractured the cartridge trying to open in in total darkness. I do have the backing paper though so if I find some empty cartridges I will not be at a total loss.

What do you think of the film flatness on those cameras? Is it an issue? Regardless of lens, a camera is only as good as its film flatness. True?

Thanks
Gary

Xmas · Apr 27, 2015

Hi Gary

That was the problem with the cartridge both flatness an registration were plastic.
But most TLRs also suffer from film path problems so just don't use your 500 lens wide open
But you should be able to dismantle a cartridge for reuse and can practice on the one you just broke.

I only do 110 and can now separate them in dark with fingernails - Kodak and new Lomo mouldings.

The only other problem is the frame index hole that 110 film had (has)...

GaryFlorida · Apr 27, 2015

Xmas said:
Hi Gary

That was the problem with the cartridge both flatness an registration were plastic.
But most TLRs also suffer from film path problems so just don't use your 500 lens wide open
But you should be able to dismantle a cartridge for reuse and can practice on the one you just broke.

I only do 110 and can now separate them in dark with fingernails - Kodak and new Lomo mouldings.

The only other problem is the frame index hole that 110 film had (has)...

Im not worried about the frame index mechanism. I already thought that if I ever use it I would make a perforater and use it on unperfed film that can be bought in bulk. If film flatness is an issue I wouldnt bother though. I wish they made an aluminum drop in reusable cartridge that was adjustable with tiny grub screws or something. Why do we torture ourselves? I dont know.

railwayman3 · Apr 27, 2015

GaryFlorida said:
What do you think of the film flatness on those cameras? Is it an issue? Regardless of lens, a camera is only as good as its film flatness. True?

Thanks
Gary

I have several boxes of Kodachrome 126 slides taken by my late Mother on a very basic Instamatic 233. I copied a series of her views of Venice, taken in the early 1980's, onto 35mm (a few years ago, when you could still get Ektachrome Slide Duplicating Film).....the colour and sharpness were so good that a friend at the local Photo Club totally refused to believe that the copies were not originals, until I allowed him to inspect them side-by-side with the 126 versions.

Still have the camera, (and a few unused C41 films in the freezer), keep meaning to give it an airing.

Xmas · Apr 27, 2015

You mum's basic camera will have had a basic slow lens.

The cartridge registration was only a significant problem for the high range cameras with /2.8 lenses that needed good registration wide open when a cartridge was not seated or was off tolerance.

It does not stop you getting good results at /5.6 or smaller.

There is a similar problem with rolli and blad film flatness...

The op did ask.

railwayman3 · Apr 27, 2015

Xmas said:
You mum's basic camera will have had a basic slow lens.

The cartridge registration was only a significant problem for the high range cameras with /2.8 lenses that needed good registration wide open when a cartridge was not seated or was off tolerance.

It does not stop you getting good results at /5.6 or smaller.

There is a similar problem with rolli and blad film flatness...

The op did ask.

Agreed....just been looking at the slides, and almost all were taken in bright sunlight. The Instamatic 233 has a fixed shutter speed, with the exposure set by an aperture ring with "weather" symbols. So "Bright Sunlight" setting could easily have been something as small as f/16.

Xmas · Apr 27, 2015

This is from memory the Kodak 500 was a really nice camera as was the rolli SLR instamatic.

They were not adapted by enthusiasts cause of potential limitations so are pretty rare.

But if you want to play with film and reload cassettes they are better than 110s by some margin.

The cartridge was not difficult to load like 35mm film.

pengnu · Apr 28, 2015

I've reloaded 126 cartridges a few times with 24 frame 35mm and run then through my 500 with nice results. Just remember to tape up the frame counter on the back!

Don't seem to have any examples uploaded anywhere to show you though.

Oh, and to wind the film on you need to wind once then cover the lens, take a blank shot, and wind on again.

dynachrome · Apr 29, 2015

I have an Instamatic 500 somewhere. It came with an elaborate Lester Dine close-up contraption which included a flash. When the 500 came out there were many different types of 126 film available.

GaryFlorida · Apr 29, 2015

Xmas said:
Hi Gary

That was the problem with the cartridge both flatness an registration were plastic.
But most TLRs also suffer from film path problems so just don't use your 500 lens wide open
But you should be able to dismantle a cartridge for reuse and can practice on the one you just broke.

I only do 110 and can now separate them in dark with fingernails - Kodak and new Lomo mouldings.

The only other problem is the frame index hole that 110 film had (has)...

I guess it doesnt matter that much. I mean its a scale focus camera anyway and the lens is pretty wide so there is plenty of depth of field. Its not like anyone is going to do close focus with it.. Its so inane I have trouble justifying spending the time to think about this stuff anymore. I have to at least try this camera before giving it away/liquidating it etc.

pengnu · Apr 30, 2015

Couple of examples if that helps...

David A. Goldfarb · Apr 30, 2015

pengnu said:
Couple of examples if that helps...

Wow, that's the 70's Kodacolor look!

pengnu · May 1, 2015

Think it would have been Kodak Colorplus 200 - nice and warm feel to the images. It's a lovely little camera anyway. Looking forward to seeing your found film shots Gary!

GaryFlorida · May 1, 2015

pengnu said:
Looking forward to seeing your found film shots Gary!

Well in that case my friend, here they are in all their vintage wonder seen publicly for the very first time. I estimate they were taken in the early to mid 70s and have just now been developed. Latent images quietly waiting decades to be seen. Its eerie...ghostly. Can anyone identify the landmarks?

GaryFlorida · May 1, 2015

Heres some more.

pengnu · May 4, 2015

Colourful messages in a bottle/film canister from the past! The yellow dots on that last one make it look like it just magicked out of nowhere... Wouldn't have a clue where they were taken though - I live an ocean and (likely) a continent away. Not necessarily in that order.

Hm, the glasses look 70s but the bum bag/fanny pack make me think 80s/90s...

Thanks for putting those up - love found film. Partly for the detective work after printing

(And apologies for the late response - was enduring the joys of moving house).

GaryFlorida · May 4, 2015

The camera came from a seller in Texas.I have had it on the shelf for over a year probably and before that it was forgotten somewhere for decades just sitting there. Anyway does anyone from Texas recognize that landmark?

eng1er · May 4, 2015

pengnu;1953737526Hm said:
Yeah, the vehicles and clothes suggest early 80s to me.

Lamar · May 6, 2015

I'm guessing it's a '77 or '78 model Ford van. That gives an NET reference. I'd say based on the hair and clothes its between '78 and '82.

GaryFlorida · May 6, 2015

eng1er said:
Yeah, the vehicles and clothes suggest early 80s to me.

Ya I guess they ddint have fanny packs in the early 70s.

GaryFlorida · May 6, 2015

GaryFlorida said:
Heres some more.

Did anyone notice the bird shadow in the van picture? I thought that was cool.

Xmas · May 6, 2015

The 500's bombed so a Kodak collector might want one.
But they are nice cams if you don't mind loading your own cartridges.

ggray79 · Thursday at 5:43 PM

GaryFlorida said:
The camera came from a seller in Texas.I have had it on the shelf for over a year probably and before that it was forgotten somewhere for decades just sitting there. Anyway does anyone from Texas recognize that landmark?

Image 5 is the Corpus Christi bay front. I used to office on the top floor of the tallest building in the group of buildings to the right!

Found film in a Kodak Instamatic 500 developed!

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