Cutting 110 Format Correctly and Loading Cartridges: How to Do It (Even Without Perforation)

Choose a camera that works with film without perforations. Many cameras advance the film by friction or fixed distances and also trigger without the "hole-sensing mechanism."

If your camera is on this list, it works with unperforated film.

Our Favorites: 110 Cameras That Work with Unperforated Film

• Pentax Auto 110 & Auto 110 Super (The classic, works very reliably)
• Rollei A110 & E110
• Canon 110ED & 110FD
• Voigtländer Vitoret 110 EL
• Minox 110S (There are mixed experiences here, it usually works, but testing is recommended).
• Lomography Lomomatic 110 (new, zone focus) – Warning: untested and with push-pull transport (see note below)

Your camera isn’t on the list? Do this quick self-test:

Remove the cassette, leave the back open (or press the small switch that simulates "back closed"), cock the lever, and press the shutter.

Does the shutter fire? The camera probably works with unperforated film.
Does the shutter block? The camera needs one perforation per frame.

Note on the Lomomatic 110

Push-pull transport – be careful when self-loading: The Lomomatic 110 advances the film with every push and pull, just like the Agfamatic and the Rollei A110. Bob Janes explicitly counts these models among cameras critical for self-loaded cassettes. There’s also a known weak point: several users in the community (r/lomography) report broken winding mechanisms—even with original Lomography film. We have not tested the Lomomatic 110 with our cassettes—so we simply don’t know if it works. If you try it: use at your own risk.

Why do 110 films have perforations at all?

Classic 110 film normally has one perforation hole per frame. This serves two important mechanical functions in many cameras:

• Frame spacing: The camera "feels" where the hole is and automatically stops the film advance at the right spot.
• Cocking the shutter: A small pin engages the hole. Without this resistance, some cameras won’t cock the shutter. The film advances, but the shutter release is not enabled.

Are there perforators? (The Thingiverse solution)

Many of you ask us about ways to punch the film yourself. There is a well-known project on Thingiverse (the "110 Film Perforator") that uses injection needles.

We tested it and our honest conclusion is: it’s doable but very "hacky." Handling sharp needles in a changing bag is fiddly, and the results aren’t always clean. Definitely interesting for tinkerers, but difficult for a reliable workflow.

Are you working on a solution? Yes. We (Lars and Vladi) are actually tinkering in our workshop on a mechanical perforator that works cleanly and safely. Mechanically, it’s quite a tough nut to crack. Until we have it figured out and can offer you a finished device, we recommend the simpler way: the right camera.

Important: Beware of light leaks

Another point when self-loading is light tightness. The 110 cassette often uses the backing paper as additional light protection. If you cut film yourself and load it without paper ("naked"), light can enter through the cassette’s rear window.

The expert Bob Janes wrote a helpful article about this on the 35mmc blog ("Perfecting the 110 re-load"). Our recommendation:

• Securely tape over the window on the back of the cassette with black tape (electrical tape) just to be safe.
• Alternatively, you can reuse old backing paper if you have it.

Our system for DIYers

Scene from our Minox 8x11 workflow video — video at 2:40. In the video, we show cutting on the 9.2mm Minox example — with the 110 cutter, it works step by step the same way.

We try to make the process as easy as possible so the 110 format stays alive. We’re not a big company, just two enthusiasts building solutions you can’t buy anywhere else. This is our current workflow:

• Cutting film: With our 110 Film Cutter, you make suitable material from any 16mm film.
• Loading: The film goes into our refillable empty cassettes.
• Developing: To keep handling easy, we use our special developing reels (for Jobo or Paterson tanks).
• Scanning: Our film holders ensure the small film lies flat on the scanner.

If you have questions or are unsure if your camera fits, feel free to write us.

Keep 110 alive!
Your Vladi

Related Guides

• 110 Pocketfilm: The Complete Guide — Cutting, Loading, Developing, Scanning — the full end-to-end workflow for the 110 format.
• Minox 8x11 Submin Guide: Cutting Film, Loading Cassettes, Developing, and Scanning — the sister tutorial for the 9.2mm subminiature format — almost the same workflow, the same family of tools.