Pocket film
Pocket cassette film (type 110 ), pocket film for short , is a photographic film introduced by Kodak in 1972 and used in pocket cameras . The film was made until approximately 2009 when it was not available for a few years. It has been offered again since 2012.
prehistory
In 1963, Kodak introduced the Instamatic system, a film cassette that was easy to insert and thus also appealed to technically inept prospects. The same concept was adopted nine years later for 16mm film, and there was an even greater need here, as this film had previously only been available on open reels.
Even before the Second World War, Minox had developed a tiny cassette format for the 8x11 cameras .
cassette
The concept of the pocket cassette corresponds exactly to the large Instamatic cassette, Kodak also used the term “Instamatic” in connection with the pocket cameras. The film is transported by a cogwheel engaged by the camera, there is a counter window and the type of film inserted can be seen through a plexiglass in the camera wall. There is also only one perforation of one hole per image, which serves as a simple transport control. There is no camera-side film pressure plate, but the flatness in such a small format hardly poses any problems, especially since the associated lenses have a small focal length and thus a large depth of field .
Image format
The negative format is about 13 mm × 17 mm (but was not used by all camera manufacturers), which gives an area of 220 mm², about a quarter of that of 35 mm film . This allows enlargements of 13 cm × 18 cm to be made without any problems, which is completely sufficient for normal purposes. The Minox - micro picture film is again less with 40 percent of the surface of the film pocket.
Film speed
As with the large Instamatic, the film sensitivity of the pocket film is coded, but only in two stages: The cassette has a strip on the side that is shortened by around 7 mm for high-sensitivity films and only around 2.5 mm for low to medium-sensitivity films . Higher quality pocket cameras , for example the Rollei A 110 , can automatically adjust the exposure to the film sensitivity , none of the other cameras can expose highly sensitive film correctly. Low to medium sensitivity means 64 to 200 ASA, high sensitivity 320 to 400 ASA, whereby the exact value used by the camera depends on its adjustment in the factory.
Another problem was that Kodak used a cassette for its 400 ASA film that was encoded for low to normal sensitivity film (keyword: film speed setting ). With a precise f-number and shutter speed, this led to overexposure of the film. However, by removing some material from the strip, the cassette could be modified relatively easily so that it was recognized as a highly sensitive pocket film.
Ferrania's 200 ASA film was also encoded as low to normal speed film and was therefore a little overexposed on some cameras. However, negative films have a good exposure latitude, so that this was hardly noticeable. It is not possible to remedy this by manipulating the film coding.
distribution
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Pocket film was also available as slide and black- and- white film until the 1990s , but hardly anyone bought these special types. As a color negative film, on the other hand, it was of course kept ready wherever films were available. In autumn 2007 it was difficult to get hold of and only available as color negative film . Manufacturers were Ferrania in Italy (200 ASA film), Fuji in Japan (200 ASA film) and Kodak in the USA (400 ASA film). In the period 2008–2009 these three companies stopped producing 110 films. In the fall of 2011, Adox (Germany) considered making new 110 films. In May 2012 the Lomographic Society International temporarily revived the 110 film as a black and white film (Lomography Orca 110 B&W Film). However, according to Lomography, this has no protective paper, which means that every photo taken must be counted as the wheel in the film cassette does not stop when the film is over. In addition, so-called light leaks can occur in the last four frames . In July 2012, a color film was also presented with the Lomography Color Tiger 110 .
Use in fun cameras
Better cameras with pocket film, as they were small and light, were intended for handbags for a long time, but also as vacation and “always with you” cameras. Together with notepad and pencil and new film, combined in compact packaging, they were also temporarily sold as accident cameras to be carried in the car.
Because of its small size, the pocket film was found quite often on cameras with an unobjective, humorous appearance, such as promotional gifts. The then rather simple cameras were built into a housing in any football, beverage can or toy shape.
The "Smiley Cam" was marketed by the Lomographische AG . Based on the principle of the camera obscura , an adhesive strip with a hole was attached to the pocket film as a fixed lens.
Minimal cameras from other manufacturers consisted of little more than a lens that was clipped onto a commercially available pocket film. The plastic camera, which is smaller than the film cartridge, was complemented by a simple shutter, a way to transport the film and a rear sight-front sight frame.
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Pocketfilme ( Memento of the original from September 22, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. . Adox website. Accessed November 28, 2011.
- ↑ website of lomography . Accessed November 26, 2012.
- ↑ Article on the introduction of the Color Tiger . Accessed November 26, 2012.
