Camera uses DX coding on film cartridge but no manual over-ride

I recently received an older 35mm camera (from the 90's) that uses DX coding on the film cartridge to set the ISO/ASA value in the camera. The camera has no manual over-ride to force the ISO to be what I want. I use bulk 35mm film loaded into a plastic film cartridge.

I'm thinking of cutting out some aluminum foil to make the connect the correct contacts for the ISO of the film, and rubber cementing that to the plastic film cartridge.

Has anyone come up with a better/more elegant solution? Or am I going about this all wrong?

You have a few options:

- hack a DX code from aluminum foil like you mentioned

- use non-bulk cartridges. Basically shoot some non-bulk film with the ISO codes you want. Rather than rewinding all the way, leave the leader out so when you develop you can leave an inch of the film on the roll. Then bulk load it by taping the start of the bulk film to bit left on the roll. Or you can get empty roll from a local film developer if you have one. They can also be found on ebay or similar.

- if you're using 100 or 400 speed film, you can get reloadable cartridges from Ultrafine in packs of 10. Here is the 100 speed 10 pack: http://www.ultrafineonline.com/ulmesndxcopa.html

- there is a company in the UK that sells pre-made stickers in a lot of different ISOs from at least 25 up to 3200. The stickers are cheap, and you could stick them on your reloadable cartridges, but the shipping to the US is way too high. Make a friend in the UK and have them remail the stickers. Here is their ISO 100 stickers: http://www.firstcall-photographic.co.uk/firstcall-dx-recoder-labels-iso-100/p743

EDIT: Firstcall says that shipping outside the EU is 84 UKP for the first 10kg, which for something that fits in an envelope is a little extreme.

Is there exposure compensation? For example on some of my Nikons that give ISO 100 with a blank DX cartridge, I can set the exposure compensation to -2 and it exposes at ISO 400.

If you don't want to make your own you can buy DX code stickers e.g: http://www.firstcall-photographic.co.uk/film/bulk-b-w-film/c39

A home PC and desktop publishing software will allow you to create custom DX ISO labels and have them printed to fancy faux-silver wedding/event invitation stationery.

ic-racer said:

Is there exposure compensation? For example on some of my Nikons that give ISO 100 with a blank DX cartridge, I can set the exposure compensation to -2 and it exposes at ISO 400.

Click to expand...

no compensation that I could find. No manual (searched, but no luck online) It's a Konica Off Road if anyone would know for sure or not.

If you will be shooting several rolls, it might be worth taping foil onto the contacts. Then it won’t matter what the cartridge has on it.

What speed do you want it set for?

Show us a picture of the contacts. Some Konica models only give a subset of the speeds.

The camera probably chooses ISO 100 if there is no DX code. http://camera-wiki.org/wiki/Konica_Genba_Kantoku_DD

REAndy said:

I recently received an older 35mm camera (from the 90's) that uses DX coding on the film cartridge to set the ISO/ASA value in the camera. The camera has no manual over-ride to force the ISO to be what I want. I use bulk 35mm film loaded into a plastic film cartridge.

I'm thinking of cutting out some aluminum foil to make the connect the correct contacts for the ISO of the film, and rubber cementing that to the plastic film cartridge.

Has anyone come up with a better/more elegant solution? Or am I going about this all wrong?

Click to expand...

Save yourself a load of hassle and get a camera that will over-ride DX coding, there are plenty that do that don't cost much. Save the camera you were given for using DX coded rolls.

Adesive backed foil tape works along with cutting out a label. I just followed a commercial cartridge that had had the same speed film. Worked OK.

great ideas all of them. I tried the rubber cement and aluminum foil and the sticky-back foil tape, both worked good. The camera only has one set of 6 contacts (used for ISO number) It does NOT have the 2nd row for exposure size and film latitude.
Thanks for all the ideas.

I have had a chance to get back to this issue..
I was mistaken, the camera only has 4 pins (instead of the full 6 pins) in it to detect DX code.
Research has shown me that if no pins are connected (from DX on film can) the camera sets ISO/ASA 25
1st and 2nd pin connected is ISO/ASA 50
1st and 3rd pin connect is ISO/ASA 100
1st, 2nd and 3rd pin connected is ISO/ASA 200
1st and 4th pin connected is ISO/ASA 400
1st, 2nd and 4th pin connected is ISO/ASA 800
1st, 3rd and 4th pin connected is ISO/ASA 1600
1st, 2,d 3rd and 4th pin connected is ISO/ASA 3200

Because the camera does not use the 5th or 6th pin, it doesn't set ISO/ASA at a 1/3 stop
In other words, if the film is ISO/ASA 125 this would be the 1st, 3rd and 6th pin. because the 6th pin (and 5th also) is not available, the camera reads DX code for 125 ISO/ASA as 100

The camera does not display what ISO/ASA code it is reading (set for), which is a total disappointment, you just have to trust it.

Like I had mentioned before, DX codes made from aluminum foil and stick-back metal tape both worked good. I made some DX codes for ISO/ASA codes of 100 and 400 (BW film that I bulk load), and the film negatives look great.

The sticky-back metal tape (not duck-tape) but the kind they put on HVAC ducting is the way to go!. It was much easier and quicker than using household aluminum foil and contact cement.

Thanks again to everyone for all the ideas.

REAndy