Refill Film Cartridge for Pentax Auto 110 & Rollei A110

• Independent of the film market: Instead of expensive or sold-out pre-loaded film, you reload your cartridges yourself with 16mm film and bring the cost down to under 3 euros per roll.
• Load any emulsion yourself: Cut 35mm or 120 roll film (e.g. Kodak Portra, Ilford HP5+) down to 16mm or use 16mm motion picture film directly.
• Kink-free loading thanks to the take-up spool: The included spool guides the film taut into the feed chamber without you losing the end of the film.
• ISO notch for exposure: As delivered, the camera detects normal-speed film; once you break off the predetermined breaking point, it switches to fast film ISO 400.

Compatibility

The cartridge fits mechanically into any 110 pocket camera. What matters is whether you use perforated or unperforated film: with unperforated film (e.g. bulk film from the film cutter), the camera systems react differently to the missing perforation holes.

• Systems with a pure shutter release: The camera fires without any problems (e.g. Minox 110S, Canon 110ED). Suitable for unperforated film.
• Limited systems (Pentax Auto 110): The shutter fires without perforation. However, the stop mechanism of the film advance needs a perforation hole to stop precisely. Without perforation, the frames partially overlap on the negative.
• Problem systems (Rollei A110 / E110): These cameras advance the film with every push-pull movement. Without perforation, no mechanism engages, and you lose a lot of film area when closing the body.

Cameras with a film advance sprocket (such as the Agfamatic) and the Pentax Auto 110 Super: see the section “Film advance break-off edge” further below.

Scope of delivery per variant

Set: Both cartridges, spools + case
Contains all components.

• 1x film cartridge with viewing window (visible frame number, protection against friction from the camera body, for film with backing paper from 120)
• 1x film cartridge without viewing window (faster to load in the dark, for film without backing paper from 35mm)
• 2x cartridge lid
• 2x take-up spool
• 2x receiving spool
• 2x light seal
• 1x protective case for transport

Basic: film with backing paper (from 120)

• 1x film cartridge with viewing window (for film with backing paper)
• 1x cartridge lid
• 1x take-up spool
• 1x supply spool
• 1x light seal

Twin pack: 2x film with backing paper (120)

• 2x film cartridge with viewing window (for film with backing paper)
• 2x cartridge lid
• 2x take-up spool
• 2x supply spool
• 2x light seal

Basic: film without backing paper (from 35mm)

• 1x film cartridge without viewing window (for film without backing paper)
• 1x cartridge lid
• 1x take-up spool
• 1x supply spool
• 1x light seal

Twin pack: 2x film without backing paper (35mm)

• 2x film cartridge without viewing window (for film without backing paper)
• 2x cartridge lid
• 2x take-up spool
• 2x supply spool
• 2x light seal

Case for empty cartridge

1x protective case for transporting a loaded or empty 110 cartridge

Technical details

• Material: engineering plastic
• Format: 110 pocket film (for native 16mm film, cut-down 35mm or 120 roll film)
• ISO control: notch present (ISO 64–100): notch removable (ISO 400)
• Compatibility control: lower break-off tab removable for Sprocket cameras and the Pentax Auto 110 Super

Description

If you are still looking for film for your Pentax Auto 110 or Rollei A110, you face the same problem as everyone else: 110 film is hard to come by and expensive. With this refillable film cartridge, you load any emulsion yourself instead. You cut 35mm or 120 roll film down to 16mm or use 16mm motion picture film directly, and you are no longer dependent on the scarce ready-made stock on the market.

Using the ISO notch and the lower break-off tab, you adapt the cartridge to your camera and your film speed. The version with a viewing window shows you the frame number and protects against friction with the camera body, while the version without a viewing window loads faster in the dark.

How to load it correctly

Wind your trimmed film tightly onto the small take-up spool and slide it compactly into the left feed chamber of the cartridge. The spool forces the film into the correct position and prevents it from unrolling again when you close the cartridge.

Setting ISO and exposure

110 cameras control exposure via the standardized ISO notch on the cartridge. As delivered, the camera detects normal-speed film (typically ISO 64–100, depending on the camera manufacturer). If you break off the flat edge at the break-off point, the camera switches to high-speed film (ISO 400). This lets you calibrate the light meter to the actual speed of the loaded emulsion.

Film transport break-off edge

Some 110 cameras (such as the Agfamatic) have a film transport gear (sprocket) on the bottom that engages in a gap in the original cartridge. If this plastic edge is present, the gear can jam. If you break off this lower break-off tab, the gear has enough room. The cartridge then works flawlessly.

Pentax Auto 110 Super: Here too, the lower break-off tab has to go. If it stays in place, the shutter release remains locked as soon as a cartridge is inserted. You can advance the entire film without ever firing the shutter, while the camera fires normally without a cartridge inserted (a switch to the lower right of the light chamber is responsible). Break off the edge, and the cartridge runs perfectly in the Super.

Practical tip: detecting the end of the film without a viewing window

Missing the viewing window for the frame counter on the closed cartridge? Fold the very end of the film over on itself and insert a tiny piece of a cocktail stick into the fold. The thickened end can no longer leave the feed chamber, so when the transport blocks, you know the roll is full.

Part of the 110 pocket film system

This product is part of our complete 110 ecosystem: cutting film, loading cartridges, developing and scanning, all from a single source. You can find an overview of all products in the system overview, and our guide to getting started with 110 shows you how the whole process works.