126 film

126 is the number given to two different film formats used in still photography. It is generally taken to mean the cartridge-based format introduced in 1963.

126 (roll-film format) (1906–1949)

The original film designated 126 was a roll film format introduced by Kodak in 1906, for images 4 1/4 x 6 1/2 inches. It was discontinued in March 1949.

126 (cartridge-based format) (1963 to present day)

A strip of 126 negatives, showing the square format and single perforation. The film is pre-exposed with frame lines and numbers, a feature intended to make printing and viewing easier.

A photo of the Holburn Museum, Bath, taken with 126 film and illustrating the square format.

In 1963, Kodak introduced a new film, encased in a plastic cartridge, for which they re-introduced the "126" designation. The term "126" was intended to show that images were 26mm square, using Kodak's common 1xx film numbering system. However the image size is actually 28 x 28 mm, but usually reduced to 26.5 x 26.5 mm by masking.

The positioning of the image is fixed by the cartridge. The width of the film is the same as 35 mm, but the perforation consists of just one registration hole per image.

The 126 film cartridge.

126 is basically a rollfilm like the 120 with backing paper printed with frame number markings which can be viewed through a small red window at the rear of the camera housed in a dual spool plastic cartridge that acts as the backing plate for the film. The film was originally available in 12 and 20 image lengths, but as of today it is only available in 24 exposures cartridges.

The format was introduced by Kodak under the brand name Kodapak, together with the Instamatic camera. (Although the Instamatic name is sometimes treated as synonymous with the 126 format, Kodak also used it on their later 110-format cameras, which they called Pocket Instamatic).

Around ten million cameras by Kodak or other cameramakers were made, and with a few exceptions, the format was mainly used for fairly simple amateur cameras altought some high-end reflex camera were built by Kodak or Zeiss-Ikon. Kodak officially discontinued the format on 31 December 1999.

As of 2006, Ferrania in Italy is still producing 24 exposures 126 cartridges of ISO 200 colour print film under the Solaris brand. It has been reported that they announced in March 2007 that the format would be discontinued and the manufacturing equipment dismantled by the end of same year. However the firm's website still lists the product and no press release can be found online to correlate this rumour.

See also

• International standard: ISO 3029