How to Develop 110 Film
The 110 film size was a popular amateur film format used generally in low-end consumer cameras. Camera manufacturers, such as Pentax, Canon, Rollei, Minolta and others, also produced higher-end 110 cameras with better lenses. Kodak even had a Kodachrome slide film until it stopped producing it in 1982. Eastman Kodak introduced the format in 1972 and, in general, the film was developed at photo labs. It is possible to do it yourself.
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Things You'll Need
- Plastic film tank
- Plastic film reel for 110 film
- Developing chemicals
- Safelight
- Timer
Instructions
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Set up your film cartridge, film tank and reel and chemicals where you can easily get at them. You will need to load the film onto the reel and into the tank in total darkness. While the film itself is standard photographic film, such as Kodacolor, since it is so small, it needs a special film reel. Most plastic film development reels work for 35mm and 120 film. The Yankee Clipper II Plastic Daylight Film Developing Tank is one of the few available for 110 film.
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Crack the 110 film cartridge open in total darkness. You cannot have even a little light or a safelight on when the film is out of its cartridge. Tear the film loose from its cartridge being careful not to damage the film. There will be a paper backing that you also must remove.
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3
Feed the end of the 110 film strip into the opening in the film developing reel after having set the reel for that size. Once the end is in, move the top and bottom of the reel back and forth to "walk" the film into the reel. If you feel it jam, gentle pull it back out and start again or development may not be even. When the film is all the way onto the reel, insert the reel into the tank and close it securely.
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Turn on subdued lighting or a safelight once the lid is secured upon the tank. You can do the rest of the process with this light. Even though the tank is called a "daylight" tank, to be safe keep the lighting down.
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Follow the instructions that came with the development chemicals for your type of film. Plastic film tanks cannot be inverted to mix the chemicals during processing because they have holes in the top to pour the chemicals in and out. The Yankee Clipper II film tank comes with a thermometer that also stirs the chemicals by moving the reel. Since you will be developing color film, the correct temperature for each chemical is essential. You can help keep the temperature steady by placing the tank in the correct temperature water while developing. When finished with the final water rinse, hang the film to try.
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