Breaking DX

[BetterSense]

I got an XA4 that has DX film speed encoding. Since I almost never actually shoot film at the box speed, none of my other cameras have DX coding, and I constantly use film speed to adjust exposure in these little programmed cameras, I want to defeat the DX coding. Recently I've been taping over the cartridges, however I don't always have tape, and I always am second-guessing whether I remembered to apply the tape after the film is already loaded. Anyone ever do anything clever to defeat DX sensing before?

 

[TimVermont]

Clear nail lacquer over the electrical contacts will insulate them & solve the problem.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

Porter's Camera sells DX labels to reset the DX code. B&H has some as well, I think. I usually give my wife bulk loaded TX with an EI 800 DX sticker to shoot in her Yashica T4s and process in Acufine for EI 800.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Then it meter will go to the default rating, probably something like ISO 100. I am sure that will really help you when you are shooting film rated by the manufacturer at ISO 25.

 

[BetterSense]

Porter's Camera sells DX labels to reset the DX code.

I don't really want to reset it to a fixed value; I need the ASA dial for exposure control. Today I was shooting ISO 200 film with the ASA dial set to 25, PLUS I was using the +1.5 backlight setting. Snow scenes really fool these cameras' meters.

On some cameras defeating the DX will cause the camera to default...my wife's N75 defaults to 100 which works out great for bulk-loaded slide film. But the XA4 has a ASA selection dial. On this camera, defeated DX appears to default to the ASA dial. A good thing, since I use the ASA adjustment on a constant basis.

I'll have to give the clear nail polish a try. Tape over the actual camera contacts might work too, if there is room.

 

[darinwc]

Why dont you try taping over the contacts in the camera?
That way, you will not have to tape every roll of film you use.
But it will be reversible if you ever want to sell it.

Another alternative, start bulk loading film.

 

[BetterSense]

I'll go back to bulk loading when I can't get Arista Premium any more. The Arista Premium bulk price isn't significantly cheaper than the pre-rolled price. It's a different story with many other films of course.

 

[Steve Smith]

So is the ISO setting dial only active if the film is not DX coded? (or the contacts are isolated?).


Steve

 

[BetterSense]

Well, the camera has DX contacts in it, and it also has an ASA dial that goes from 25 to 1600. When i tape over the silver pads on the cartridges, the film speed dial seems to have its effect. So I think it if the DX contacts detect DX coded film, the ASA dial is worthless, but if it does not, then it uses the ASA dial.

 

[benjiboy]

Try putting a DX coded cassette in it at say 100 ISO take a meter reading, then set 200 I.S.O on the film speed dial and take another reading, and see if there is one stop difference in the exposure, in some cameras the DX can be overridden in this way.

 

[tim_walls]

Well, the camera has DX contacts in it, and it also has an ASA dial that goes from 25 to 1600. When i tape over the silver pads on the cartridges, the film speed dial seems to have its effect. So I think it if the DX contacts detect DX coded film, the ASA dial is worthless, but if it does not, then it uses the ASA dial.

Sounds to me like the suggestion of taping over the contacts in the camera is the best bet.


What I'd do is put a bit of paper in the film compartment over the contacts, and tape it down at one edge so you can either fold the paper over the contacts or fold it back the other way so it just sits in the compartment. That way you can decide whenever you put a roll of film in whether you want DX (fold paper out of the way) or not (fold over contacts.)