Editor’s note: This article
originally appeared in Japanese on April 20, 2021 here.
With Umechan’s permission (and at her suggestion), I’ve auto-translated the
original (using both DeepL Translator and Google Translate), and edited the
result for clarity. Umechan has checked my version using electronic
back-translation, and collaborated with me to resolve the ambiguities that
inevitably arose.
I’ve made a wonderful discovery! That's right. A 127-format
twin-lens reflex camera (TLR) can (relatively) easily expose, develop, and
print Instax Mini film!
I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not. I guess you
have to find out by trial and error, don't you?
First of all, I’d like to show you the 127-format TLR that
I used.
It's a Baby Rolleiflex 4x4! It’s no exaggeration to say
that this is the best 127-format TLR.
The most prominent feature of this baby TLR is
that the film is (almost) extinct. There are few ready-to-use 127-format films
available. You can also spool bulk 46mm film onto 127-size spools and backing
paper (see this article).
Or you can cut down 120 film yourself (see these articles). I made my own 127 film with a 127-size film cutter that I
happened to have received and I took a few pictures. The pictures look very
good!
Good, very good!
Normally, this Baby Rollei takes great pictures!
However, as mentioned above, it’s very difficult
to procure film. During
a time when I was alternating between taking pictures and not taking pictures because
of the difficulty of obtaining film, I suddenly remembered an article. It was
titled, "Putting Instax film into an Atomflex format camera and taking pictures.” At the time, I didn't
even own a Baby Rollei, so I just thought, "I didn't know there was such a
way to use it.” But then my curiosity was piqued, and I started to wonder,
"Will the Instax film fit in the Baby Rollei?" I was so curious that
I tried to put Instax Mini film into the Baby Rollei’s film chamber to see if
it would work.
What a surprise!
The film chamber of the Baby Rollei and the Instax film
are almost perfectly aligned!
And since the Instax film is slightly smaller, it seems
that it can be fixed in a very good position!
I had no choice but to try it! Here is a photo I
took the next day, even though I had to work.
Whaaaaaaaat! You can take very beautiful pictures!
Of course, the Baby Rollei is 4x4 size, so it will
capture square format. Some people might say that it doesn't use the entire
film surface area, but I think it has a nice black border, and I like that a
lot.
And this is taken with the camera wide open (f3.5). I
focused on Pikachu, and you can see Pikachu very clearly. In other words, the
film is firmly fixed!
I thought, "This, this is the future of 127
format...!"
So I took a lot of pictures in the next few days.
I can do it, I can do it, I can do it!
My curiosity turned into confidence.
Of course, there were some photos where the film was incorrectly
exposed during the process, but I was happy to be able to think, "Well,
it's an Instax, so what the heck.” :-)
Well, now.
I'm sorry for the long introduction, but this
technology(?) is very useful and must not be lost. So, I'm going to write about how to do it.
But first.
The method I’m going to describe here is an example of
how I’ve succeeded in using Instax film with a Baby Rollei. Please understand
that there are individual differences and that it may not work with all 127-format
TLRs. Also, since I’m using the camera in a somewhat unreasonable way, I can’t
guarantee that the camera won’t break. Please try this at your own risk.
First, let's start with what you'll need to prepare.
- 127-format TLR
- Instax Mini film
- Instax Mini camera (used is totally fine, as long as the film ejection mechanism is working properly)
- Dark bag or darkroom (it's possible to use a darkroom, but a dark bag is by far more convenient)
Now, let's look at the actual exposure and development
method.
1. Remove the case of Instax Mini film from the box.
Put it in on the left side.
2. Prepare the Instax camera.
This Instax camera will be used only as a
"developer." Since we will not be using any lenses or flashes with
this camera, shield them so that as little light as possible reaches the film.
By the way, some cameras do not allow you to turn the flash
off. Therefore, you should shield the flash part as well. Unfortunately, the
first-generation Instax I purchased this time did not allow the flash to be
turned off. You can see that I’ve taped over both the lens and the flash. It's
a miserable sight to see, but it's for the sake of your precious film.
3. Put the film case in the Instax camera and release the
shutter once.
The purpose of this is to eject the light shield that
comes with this Instax film. It’s possible to take out the light shield in the
dark bag, but that’s a hassle, so let’s do this by releasing the shutter.
Match the yellow mark on the film case with the yellow
mark on the Instax camera, and
Release the shutter!
The light shield has come out.
4. Place the TLR and the Instax film in the dark bag, and
put one sheet of Instax film into the TLR, as follows.
This must be done inside the dark bag. In the illustrations,
it’s done in the light so that you can see it, but please make sure to do this
in the dark bag.
In addition, the work to be done inside the dark bag from
now on will create a black border for the photo.
First, open the film chambers of the Instax camera and the
TLR.
Take out the Instax film case.
Remove a sheet of film from the film case.
If there are many sheets remaining in the case (up to
about 6 or 7), slide the film out with your finger.
When the number of sheets remaining is less than about 5
or so, it becomes difficult to remove them. In that case, gently press the
opposite side of the "Don't press with your finger!" mark on the
other side, and slide the film out while pressing down lightly. :-)
Place the film in the film chamber of the TLR.
The film should be placed with the note field facing up.
Also, since the front and back sides of the film feel very similar, it is very
easy to make a mistake (I made this mistake twice). Be careful.
Then, put the film case back into the Instax camera and
close each film chamber. This completes the loading process. Now you can take
the TLR out of the dark bag.
5. Take a picture.
Get your best one with your 127-format TLR!
One thing to note is that Instax film (both color and
black and white) has an ISO of 800.
Be careful when photographing on a sunny day or in the
midday sun, as you’ll need to stop down as much as possible and use the fastest
shutter speed to get a correct exposure.
I use an ND8 filter on sunny days. An ND8 filter
for Sawyer's Mark IV can also be used for Rollleiflex 4x4 cameras. This filter
is available in Japan at Kenko Tokina.
(Editor’s note: A
web search suggests that Bayonet 1 (a.k.a. Bay 1) filters should work on a Baby
Rolleiflex, and these are available through major U.S.A. camera dealers.
However, I haven’t tried this myself, so I can’t vouch for its accuracy. If you
try it, please let me know so that I can share the information with other 127-size
TLR users!).
6. Take the exposed film out of the TLR and develop the
film, as follows.
When you have finished making the exposure, put the TLR
and the Instax camera back into the dark bag.
Take out the exposed film from the TLR and put the film
back into the Instax film case "as it was."
Specifically, put the film back so that the note field is
on the entrance side and the film side is on the lens side of the Instax film
case.
The film case comes with a strip of black vinyl attached.
This piece of vinyl gets in the way of putting the film back into the case
so I just remove it. Below you see the film case in its
original form on the left, and one with the vinyl strip removed on the right.
Removing the piece of vinyl makes it easier for the film
to be unintentionally exposed, so be careful if you do this.
Once you have put the film back into the case, put the
film case back into the Instax camera and release the shutter. This won’t make
an exposure, because the Instax camera’s lens is still covered. But it will
develop the film.
The photo you just made should come out developed.
At this time, if you’ve made a mistake about the front and back of the
film, the reverse side will turn brown, as shown on the right
side of the photo. (The black color on the left side indicates a successful
exposure.)
If this happens, it is a failure. No matter how long you
wait, the image will not appear. Give up.
7. Waiting
This is the most exciting time of the Instax process, the
wait. :-)
If you are successful, the image will begin to appear in
a minute or two.
It’s okay if you wait 15 to 30 minutes for the process to
complete.
If there are no mistakes in the whole process, you will
get a picture – like this.
I assume that the small white square on the left side of
the black frame is where some kind of metal fittings of the Baby Rollei hit the
black frame and left a mark there. How you see this is up to each person, but I
see it positively as proof that I took the photo with a Baby Rollei! :-) How do you feel about
it?
The biggest disadvantage is the tediousness of having to
go through the above process each time you take a picture. However, for those
who own a 127-format TLR, the above process is pretty easy! (I thought "It's really easy!" :-) Of course, not
everyone will find it easy, but it is possible to take a "trial
image" with the current 127-size film, which is a difficult process.
I thought to myself, "This is the way to revive the 127-format
TLR!”
Today's picture:
Camera: Baby Rolleiflex 4x4
Comment: Taken at the Shibuya Scramble Crossing. The
resolving power of the Baby Rolleiflex clearly shows on the Instax film, and I
was surprised at the high potential of the Instax film.
My friend uses an alternative method of developing Instax
film that’s been exposed in a baby TLR. She uses the Printoss Smartphone Photo
Instant Printer (editor’s note: a web search indicates that this is available
in Japan and the U.S.A; I have not searched dealers in other countries). She
describes her method this way: “I put the Printoss in a dark bag and develop
films manually.”
- Umechan
(Editor’s postscript: Both
translation programs used the expression “best format” to refer to 127 format, and
I have to admit that I found this absolutely charming. But it turns out that they
meant “vest format,” which is how one refers to this format in Japanese, in
reference to the Kodak Vest Pocket cameras.
