FakMatic 35mm to 126 Adapter
The FakMatic 35mm to 126 Adapter
New, fresh 126 film is currently not being manufactured by any company. How can you shoot with your 126 Instamatic cameras? The FakMatic!
Important! The FakMatic adapters comes as-is, without warranty and is not returnable.
Will it work with my camera?- The FakMatic works best with Kodak X-15 and similar Instamatic cameras. It will not work with most vintage 126 cameras meaning you may have to purchase a vintage Kodak X-15 camera. The good news - Kodak X-15 cameras are very inexpensive. (You can purchase a fully tested X-15 right here at The FPP!). Please do not email us to ask if the FakMatic will work with your camera - we don't know. Please read ALL the info on this page and remember, you may have to purchase a vintage Kodak X-15 camera to use the Fak!
If you’re still reading this, then you are an excellent candidate to experiment with the FakMatic! Read on!
What is it? This ingenious re-usable adapter (imported from CameraHack, Italy) allows you to spool 35mm film into the adapter so you can shoot with your favorite 126 camera.
What Do I Get?
- One FakMatic Adapter (color may vary)
- Sheet with QR code w/ link to instruction video
DOWNLOAD Instructional Manual HERE (via WeTransfer link)
Consider this adapter a DIY (Do-It-Yourself) project. You will need time, darkness and patience to load the adapter. This adapter is not for everyone but with said patience, you will achieve success. It’s important to know that this adapter may not work with every 126 camera. You may have to try a few different camera models to find the “sweet combination” – the camera that works beautifully with the FakMatic.
Will it work with my 126 camera? What type of film? How many exposures per roll?
- Camera - The FakMatic works best with Kodak X-15 and similar Instamatic cameras. It will not work with some cameras meaning you may have to purchase a vintage Kodak X-15 camera. The good news - Kodak X-15 cameras are very inexpensive. (You can purchase a fully tested X-15 right here at The FPP!)
- What type film - Most Instamatic 126 camera have a fixed aperture and shutter speed (usually f11 / 1/90th sec) so 100 iso or 200 iso film is recommended to use in the FakMatic.
- Exposures - Please use no more than 24 exposure film (36 exposure film will get jammed). To avoid overlapping frames, on every other exposure cover the lens with your hand and shoot. Now, advance to the next frame, Each camera is a little different so experimentation is a must!
above: improper advancing will give you overlapping frames. (Kinda cool if you ask us!)
Important Tips! Please remember to tape the window on the back of your camera with light tight tape. (You may also want to tape around the camera door too.)
Typically, a 24 exposure roll will shoot 16-20 frames, depending on the winding mechanism and needle tightness.
This all seems like a lot of trouble! Is it work the effort!?
We’re all different with different dispositions. For us at The FPP – absolutely. The challenge and joy of shooting with all the available 126 cameras makes it all worth it!
Important! The FakMatic adapters comes as-is, without warranty and is not returnable. Use at your camera’s risk. If your camera has not been used for a long time, check that it’s still in good working conditions: no rust, or dry grease, dust, or dirt… The feed mechanism in cameras that were left unused for a long time could be very tight and cause a strong tension on the spools during the film advancement. Note that the FakMatic spools may be different colors than pictured.
Recommended Bulk 35mm Film to use with your FakMatic!
- Svema Foto 100 BW (100 iso - 100 ft roll)
- Tasma NK-II BW (100 iso - 100 ft)
- Kodak TMax 100 (100 iso - 100 ft roll)
- Kodak Vision 3 50D Color (50 iso - ECN-II process: 100ft)
- Svema Color (125 iso - process:c-41 - 100 ft)
Recommended 126 Cameras to use with your FakMatic!
- Kodak Instamatic X-15
- Kodak Instamatic X-15F
- Kodak Instamatic 133
- Kodak Instamatic X-35F
- Kodak Instamatic 25
- Kodak Instamatic 400 - Customer writes: Loads and winds when shooting perfectly in my Kodak Instamatic 400 without messing with the little groove thing :) will shoot a roll later this week. Thanks Film Photography Project! Edit: Shot a roll. Love it! Just loaded a second roll and the process took 2 minutes at most. My Instamatic has now become my favorite film camera to shoot with!
- AgfaMatic 200 (or model 100)
- Keystone K1010 - Customer writes: " You need to slowly and firmly advance the lever to trigger the shutter priming. Then hold your palm over the lens and advance using that teckique and press the shutter button for 3 frames between each exposure you take. The shutter should fire with no problem.
What else?
Adapters are very sturdy.. We import this product from Italy, so adapters are not refundable and we will not replace adapters that you break.
Our very own Mark Dalzell did some tests using the FakMaric. See that video HERE. FPP pal Shaun Nelson also did a video with some FakMatic tests and tips. You can check it out HERE.
What camera did you achieve success with your FakMatic?! Let us know so we can add the model to our list! Podcast@FilmPhotographyProject.com
