Tiny negatives. Big vibes.
You’ve probably seen those tiny film cartridges that look like something from a spy movie. That’s 110 film. And lately, we’ve been seeing a lot more of it come through Brooktree Film Lab.
So here’s the quick + dirty breakdown on what 110 film actually is, why people are shooting it again, and how we make it look damn good, despite its tiny size.
What is 110 Film?
110 film is a compact film format introduced by Kodak in 1972. It comes in a sealed cartridge, which makes it dead simple to load. No threading. No rewinding. Just drop it in and go.
Each frame is 13x17mm; less than a quarter the size of a 35mm negative. You’re not shooting this for sharpness. You’re shooting it for the look.
Why People Are Shooting 110 Again
- It’s tiny, portable, and fun
Perfect for pockets and chaos. Most 110 cameras are lightweight, plastic, and ready for whatever. - It’s lo-fi on purpose
The image quality is gritty, soft, and full of character. Great for dreamy street shots, weird portraits, or that “childhood memory” vibe. - You don’t have to try so hard
These cameras are mostly fixed focus and fixed exposure. You just shoot and see what happens. - Brooktree scans the hell out of it
We use a custom-built, 3D-printed film mask to scan 110 on our Fuji Frontier. That’s because 110 doesn’t run through our Noritsu scanner. The result? High-res, clean scans with rich color and a surprising amount of detail—if you know how to coax it out. (We do.)
Tips for Shooting 110 Film Like a Pro (Or At Least Like You Mean It)
- Give it light
Seriously. Most 110 cameras don’t handle low light well. Midday sun is your best friend here. - Check your fingers
These cameras are tiny. Accidental finger photobombs are very real. - Stick with fresh stock
Lomography currently makes color and black-and-white 110 film that’s reliable. Expired 110 exists, but results range from funky to full trash fire. - Shoot with low expectations, high confidence
Don’t overthink it. Shoot for the vibe, not the resolution.
How We Process and Scan 110 at Brooktree
Here’s where we come in.
Because 110 film is too small for our Noritsu HS-1800, we scan it using our Fuji Frontier SP-3000 fitted with a custom 3D-printed film holder designed specifically for 110 negatives. This lets us scan each frame at high resolution with full control over color and density.
We don’t just batch it and forget it. We treat every roll like it matters (because it does). Whether you want clean and polished edits or you want to lean into the gritty nostalgia, we’ve got you.
Final Thoughts
110 film isn’t about perfection. It’s about personality. You’re not shooting 110 to win awards. You’re shooting it because it looks cool, it feels weird, and it captures life in a way nothing else really can.
If you’ve got a 110 camera lying around, or you find one at a thrift shop, grab some Lomography film and shoot a roll. Then send it in or drop it off with us. We’ll make your tiny frames look huge.
