FAKMATIC PRO – Shoot 35mm Film in Your Instamatic 126 Camera
The FAKMATIC Pro reusable 126 cassette lets you load standard 35mm (135) film into almost any Kodak Instamatic 126 camera. Original 126 film cartridges are rare, expensive, and often undevelopable. With FAKMATIC Pro, you can keep your Instamatic camera fully functional using widely available film.
Fakmatic Pro VS Fakmatic: what’s The difference?
The Fakmatic Pro’s shell is not 3D printed with an “FDM standard printer” but are produced with a more professional machine. The result is a more durble and reliable product, without the typical aesthetic flaws of a 3D filament printer. The matte finish is less reflective and gives a better results on you photos because you have less light bouncing back from the cartridge’s plastic wall onto the film’s back surface.
Key Features
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Ultra-Durable Black Nylon Construction
Crafted from coated industrial-grade nylon, this version is tougher and more resilient than the standard FAKMATIC—built to withstand years of real-world shooting. -
Professional, Industrial-Grade Finish
Engineered with high-precision manufacturing: no visible layer lines, no filament streaks, and flawless detail throughout. -
Silky-Smooth Surface Feel
The soft, matte texture gives the cassette a premium, professional look and feel—clearly a step above typical 3D-printed parts.
Scroll to the bottom of the page to see some side-by-side comparison photos for Fakmatic Pro VS Fakmatic.
Square Photos Using 35mm Film
When loaded into an Instamatic camera, 35mm film produces square-format images. A 24-exposure roll typically yields 16–20 frames, depending on your camera’s winding mechanism. Longer rolls are not recommended because they may jam inside the cassette.
Video Tutorial Available
Prefer to see the process instead of reading instructions? This video was made for the regular Fakmatic cartridge, but the instructions are the same for the Pro version. A full video tutorial shows all three steps:
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Loading
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Shooting
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Respooling
How to Load the FAKMATIC Pro Cassette
The kit includes three parts:
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The reusable cassette
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The take-up spool (with padder)
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The film stopper
- BONUS: one nice Camerhack sticker with every cassette!
Lay out all parts before starting and remember where they are. You will assemble the cassette in complete darkness.
Quick Loading Steps
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Cut the tip of your 35mm film straight and tape it to the take-up spool.
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Attach the film stopper to the opposite end.
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Turn off the lights—all remaining steps must be done in total darkness.
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Pull the entire film from the canister, cut it free, and keep 2–3 inches attached for respooling later.
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Roll the film into a tight, compact reel.
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Insert the reel into the smaller chamber and the spool into the larger chamber, guiding the film through the narrow center slot.
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Close the cassette securely, load it into your camera, and then turn the lights back on.
Important Camera Tips
Cover the Back Window
Instamatic cameras have a clear window for viewing 126 film info. When using FAKMATIC, cover this window with black tape or opaque paper to prevent light leaks.
Fast Winding Trick for Older Cameras
Some older Instamatic models (such as the Instamatic 50) allow faster film advance if you hold the shutter button slightly down. This disengages the perforation needle, letting the film wind freely until you release the button. The shutter will re-arm with an extra ¼–½ crank.
ISO / Film Speed Information
Original 126 film cartridges used a notch system to set ISO automatically. Since the FAKMATIC cassette has no speed notch, cameras default to around 400 ISO.
Tested and recommended films:
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400 ISO (default camera reading)
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200 ISO – excellent results
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100 ISO – also works very well
Choose film based on your lighting conditions and preferred look.
What to Expect from Your First Roll
Your first FAKMATIC roll acts as a test roll. Expect slight variations in frame spacing—some frames may be close together, others farther apart.
Also note: 35mm perforations sit inside the Instamatic frame, so your photos will show sprocket holes along the top. Many photographers enjoy this unique look.
Shooting, Winding, and Frame Numbering
Here’s where the fun begins. Instamatic cameras were designed to be simple and easy to use, but they rely on a specific 126-style perforation system. Original 126 film has one registration hole per frame, which allows a small needle inside the camera to stop the film at exactly the right position and arm the shutter.
Because 35mm (135) film uses a completely different perforation pattern, the needle will catch too early and stop the film before it reaches the correct frame spacing. To avoid overlapping exposures, you’ll need to take 2–3 blank shots—simply cover the lens with your hand—after each real photo to advance the film far enough.
Check the Spool Spacing
In some cameras, the FAKMATIC spool may sit slightly loose in the cartridge chamber. If this happens, use the small plastic washer included in the kit. Place the washer under the FAKMATIC cartridge, directly beneath the spool (never inside the cassette).
This extra padding ensures the camera’s advance crank engages the spool firmly for smooth, reliable winding.
More About Frame Counting
Since Instamatic cameras do not show how many frames are left when using 35mm film, it can be difficult to know when the roll is finished. This is why the film stopper is important: once the film reaches the cartridge’s slot, the stopper prevents further winding. When you feel that the advance lever can no longer turn, the roll is at its end and it’s time to remove and replace the film.
Respooling the Film
When your roll is finished, you have three options:
A) Wind the film directly into a developing reel—ideal if you develop at home.
B) Respool it back into the original 35mm canister—best for sending to a lab.
C) Store it in a light-tight box or an easy-load cartridge like an AGFA RAPID.
How to Respool into the 35mm Canister (Option B)
This entire process must be done in complete darkness.
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Prepare a small piece of adhesive tape.
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Open the FAKMATIC cassette and remove the film (now wrapped on the take-up spool).
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Tape the end of the exposed film to the short leader still attached to the 35mm canister—keep it straight and secure.
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Slowly wind the film back into the canister, making sure the taped joint feeds in smoothly.
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When all the film is inside, turn on the light—you’re done.
If taking the film to a lab, let them know it wasn’t shot in a standard 35mm camera. Because the images extend into the sprocket area, tell the lab if you want these included in scans or prints.
Fakmatic Pro VS Fakmatic
Take a look at the images to see the difference. The FAKMATIC Pro is made from stronger, water- and heat-resistant materials, offering superior durability and reliability.
The standard FAKMATIC, while fully functional, shows the typical limitations of 3D printing: fine layer lines are visible, and small details around the cassette closure may have tiny filament strings or blobs. These are purely cosmetic, but as we like to say: even the eye wants its part.
Interested in the regular Fakmatic? Go to the product’s page: it’s also bit cheaper
OPERATING CONDITIONS.
The Camerhack adapters come as-is and without warranty. Before use, check that your camera is still in good working conditions. The feed mechanism in cameras that were left unused for a long time can be very tight and cause a strong tension on the spools during the film advancement. Beacuse of the interaction between the 35mm film perforations and the shutter’s pin, the film may break along the sprocket holes. Use at your camera’s or film’s risk.
SHIPMENT methods and times
You can select the preferred shipping method at the checkout page: Registered Mail with tracking, or Regular Mail without tracking. Orders are shipped within a q0 days: all kits are produced in small batches, assembled and tested one by one. Check the FAQ page for details.
