110 film is a 16 mm cartridge-based still-photography format Kodak introduced in 1972, known for its drop-in loading and distinctive 13 × 17 mm frame size.
One wrong assumption sends photographers hunting for a spool of 1950s roll film. The 110 format they actually mean is a sealed plastic cartridge that loads in seconds, shoots 13 × 17 mm frames on 16 mm paper-backed stock, and never needs rewinding. It powered the Pocket Instamatic era and still has a dedicated following today, largely because one company kept making it after the big manufacturers walked away.
The Basic Specs: Size, Frame, and Cartridge
110 film delivers 13 × 17 mm images on 16 mm-wide paper-backed film. Each frame has one registration hole, and frame numbers show through a window on the cartridge so you can track exposures at a glance.
- Film width: 16 mm
- Image area: 13 × 17 mm
- Exposures per cartridge: 12, 20, or 24 historically
- Loading: Drop-in cartridge, no threading or rewinding
The cartridge design is the whole point. It keeps the film sealed from light, so you load it in daylight without touching the emulsion. When you finish a roll, you just drop the cartridge out — no rewind crank, no risk of opening the back on exposed frames.
A Brief History: Kodak’s Pocket Instamatic Era
Kodak launched 110 film in 1972 alongside its Pocket Instamatic camera line. The format was engineered for casual snapshooters who wanted something smaller and simpler than 35 mm. Sealed cartridges meant no loading mistakes, and the compact cameras slipped into a shirt pocket.
Its fortunes shifted when Fujifilm discontinued production in 2009. Lomography stepped in and released new 110 film in 2012, and the company’s FAQ states it is now the only manufacturer producing 110 film for its Diana Baby 110 camera. That single-source status makes the format niche but alive, and Lomography keeps a steady run of color and black-and-white stocks on the market.
The Image-Quality Trade-Off You Should Know
The 110 negative is roughly a quarter the area of a 35 mm frame, and that small size shows up in enlargements. Expect grainier, less sharp prints than you’d get from 35 mm — it’s a format for character and portability, not pixel-peeping. That trade-off is the reason 110 never replaced 35 mm for serious work and why it now attracts lo-fi and toy-camera fans.
Shooting and Developing 110 Film Today
Shooting is genuinely easy. You insert the sealed cartridge into a compatible camera — Kodak Pocket Instamatic models, later Pentax and Minolta 110 SLRs, or Lomography’s Diana Baby — wind on and shoot. There is no darkroom-style spool loading or leader threading to fumble with.
Developing is where the friction shows up. Not every lab processes 110 film, so call ahead or check their list before dropping off a roll. Home development is also an option, though the narrow 16 mm stock may require an adjustable reel or a simple modification to fit standard tanks. If you’re scanning your negatives, a dedicated 110 film scanner makes the small frames far easier to digitize than a flatbed does — a roundup of the best 110 film scanners can point you to one that handles the format well.
References & Sources
- Wikipedia. “110 film.” Details the format’s 1972 introduction, specifications, and cartridge design.
- Camera-wiki.org. “110 film.” Confirms film width, frame size, exposure counts, and camera compatibility.
- Wikipedia. “List of photographic film formats.” Provides comparative context on 110 versus other film sizes.
FAQs
Can I still buy new 110 film today?
Yes. Lomography currently produces 110 film in several color and black-and-white emulsions, and its FAQ identifies it as the sole remaining manufacturer of the format. You can order it directly from Lomography’s online store or through select camera shops that stock analog film.
Why does my 110 film look so grainy compared to 35 mm?
The 110 negative measures only 13 × 17 mm, which is about a quarter of a full 35 mm frame. That smaller surface area means the same film grain is magnified more in enlargements, producing softer detail. It’s a signature of the format, not a defect in your camera or processing.
Is 110 film the same as the old Kodak 110 roll film from the 1950s?
No. The 1972 Kodak 110 cartridge format has nothing in common with the earlier 110 roll film from the 1950s. They share a number but use different film, different cameras, and different loading systems. Mixing them up is common but a dead end — they are not interchangeable in any way.