Snapshot! | Introduction to 110
The first entry of a new blog series by Cullen Lowe
My name is Cullen Lowe and I have been taking pictures for roughly 5 years.
I’ve shot thousands of photos in that time (they’re not all great but it’s not for lack of trying) and I’ve been able to rack up a few dozen rolls of film.
My process has changed a lot over the years, but the fundamentals have stayed the same. I go to a location, line up the shot, shoot it, process the images (either digital transfer or develop and scan the film), edit those images, and finally store them. After all that, they usually get clumped together in a post with a witty little caption or they go up onto my website.
Now I want to do something new — I want to talk about my images.
I have a dozen different cameras that all have their own history. Even beyond the hardware, this medium is rich and complex and I want to explore its depth. I’m going to take you all with me on this journey as I document my progress from here on out. I know that I already have a few years behind me, but better late than never right?
This is the plan: every time I go shoot and get a collection on Lightroom finished or a roll of film processed, I’m going to talk about the results. When I can, I’ll share the history of the camera, location, or the format itself.
So in the spirit of that idea, we’re going to talk about the 110 format.
My experience with 110:
A couple months ago while scrolling through Tiktok, I came across a video that featured the Rollei A110 camera. I was hooked.
I’ve been shooting film for quite awhile, never bothering to really learn the history of it or the different forms it can come in; because of this it’s not uncommon to find something within the film photography world that is completely novel to me. In this instance, I discovered a curious format that is smaller than the standard 35mm that I’m used to.
I knew that 16mm film existed (which is roughly the same size as 110), but I have never seen film that size be used for still photography. The film's size allowed the camera to be significantly smaller compared to the rigs that I normally carry around. Granted, it’s definitely bigger than the cameras we carry in our pockets every day. But for it to carry film and be that compact… it was a complete mystery for me. I had to have one.
This video led me down a rabbit hole of discovering what 110 film was and how to get my hands on it. I began to research cameras and film stocks and, much to my surprise, I found that not only was this film type not dead — it seemed to be making a comeback!
The opportunity to play with this new (old) format came to me in the form of an old Pocket Instamatic 20 I found in a thrift store. By this point, a few months had passed since the seed had been planted in my brain and, I’m happy to say, it lived up to the hype that I gave it.
A lot of times when I go out to shoot I feel weighed down by the thought of having to make everything in my image perfect. To have the perfect exposure, composition, and focus. All of which are great and necessary, but being so hyper aware of these things ends up pulling me away from what I enjoy about photography. I miss out on the moment I’m trying to capture.
Without the complexities of a “normal” camera weighing me down, I was able to have an absolute blast shooting with my new camera in a local park that I go to whenever I want to test out new gear. It really is a simple point and shoot, but it allowed me to have fun and just enjoy the area that I was in. The lack of control in this camera was refreshing, and the novelty of its size really added to the overall experience. This kind experience may not be a selling point to everyone, but honestly, the simplicity lies within the nature of the 110 format itself.
While 110 isn’t the smallest film size out there (disk film is smaller), it is still significantly smaller than the 35mm that most people are accustomed to. The format’s size (or lack thereof) means that detail and resolution take a hit. The images that I got from this camera and film were clear, but the amount of grain was very noticeable and uncharacteristic considering the 200 ISO I was shooting at. Along with that, I also had to significantly hike up my dpi settings while scanning to get an image that could be blown up and not look like a pixelated mess.
Don’t get me wrong, the grain is not a bad thing. I’m very pleased with the final results, but I have to say having only worked with 35 and 120 film before, I found myself at the bottom end of a learning curve. That said, there is definitely a charm and feel to these images that I believe are a direct result of the format.
The possibilities for this film format seem wide and I’m excited to explore them.
Luckily, this isn’t a rare or expensive format. Many labs have developing and scanning options to boot. Lomography carries 5 different options to choose from (including an exciting slide film option). Each cartridge has 22 exposures and a pack of three will only run about 22 USD. The cameras themselves are also cheap and easy to find. Lomography has their Diana Baby and you can easily find a Pocket Instamatic like mine on Ebay for around 15 USD.
Also, if the idea of having a simple point and shoot doesn’t sound as whimsical as I tried to make it seem, then there are plenty of other options too. If you’re looking for something you can focus and has auto exposure, then check out the Pocket Instamatic 60 which has a rangefinder in it; or if you are really tied to the idea of an SLR type camera, look into getting a Pentax Auto 110. The Pentax even has tiny interchangeable lenses!
The 110 format has a lot to offer and it’s definitely worth your time whether you’re experienced or just starting out. It’s a fun format that has plenty of resources to support its use and it’s cheap enough that it can be an easy entry into film photography if you are curious about starting. I have been shooting long enough to know that every camera, film format, and film stock come with their own character and charm. They all have brought something different to my photography and 110 is no different, so go try it out and have fun! It’ll be sure to challenge you in different ways.
If you are looking for more of the history of the format or more detailed technical aspects about it, there are some very well written articles out there by more knowledgeable people. I’ll make sure to list them below.
Happy shooting!
Cullen Lowe
Additional Info:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/110_film
https://shop.lomography.com/en/films/110-film
Image Links:
https://www.depop.com/products/jensfilmcameras-kodak-pocket-instamatic-20-pocket/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pentax_Auto_110
https://shop.lomography.com/en/diana-baby-110-camera-and-lens-package
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