Cameras with quartz date/data backs going past 2020

[Halka]

For nostalgia reasons, I've been looking around searching for cameras (and not necessarily just point-and-shoots) sporting data backs that go past the year of our lord 2020. It seems some cameras turned out to be alive and kicking well past the maximum date programmed into them by their manufacturers, either due to cost-saving measures or simple pragmatism.


OM10 back
Hiyotada, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

Unfortunately, aside from a helpful article on JCH's site, finding out the year ranges of quartz date backs has been quite a pain to be honest, as this information is often omitted from camera manuals as well, and there's rather a dearth of centralized information on this topic on the internets.

For now I've got myself a Nikon MF-16 back for my FM2n, since that one apparently has 00-99 range for setting the year, which seems future-proof enough to me

Cameras that go past 2020:
Canon EOS 620 Quartz Date Back E (2029)
Fujifilm Tiara (2025)
Fujifilm Zoom Date 2.8 (2030)
Fujifilm Zoom Date 90 SR/ 115 SR/ 125 SR (2030)
Minolta X-700 w/ Multi Function Back (2099)
Nikon MF-12 date back (FM/FE) (2100)
Nikon MF-16 date back (FM2/FE2/FA/FM3a) (2100)
Nikon MF-25 (F5) (2099?)
Nikon One Touch Zoom 90s QD (2049)
Olympus mju II DLX (+ contemporary zooms) (2030)
Pentax Espio Mini Quartz Date (2030)
Pentax Espio 24EW (2099)
Ricoh R1 date (2024)
Samsung Vega 170 QD (2098)
Yashica Zoomdate 165 SE (2099)

Falling short:
Contax G1 w/ GD-1 (2019)
Contax T2 (2019)
Nikon MF-22 (F4) (2019)
Olympus mju I (2020)
Olympus OM10 Quartz (2009)
Pentax LX Dial Data back (<2020)



Have you used date imprints in the past? All the time, first shot of the roll, or something else? Do you own or know of a camera that can print a date upwards of the year 2021?

And, as much as I'd like to debate the finer points of "WhY WoULd aNyOnE dO tHaT?", I've had no issues finding treatises on that particular topic on the net in spades, so I'm not really interested

 

[RLangham]

So the EOS 620 is from the first wave of EOS cameras. It was unbelievably well-featured at the time, basically a 650 (the first EOS) with faster shutter. It was far from a pro camera but it did a lot of things...

A lot of film EOS (especially the Rebels), were actually significant downgrades from these first models, especially from the 620, which offered just about everything you could want. It wouldn't surprise me if few subsequent models had date backs with extended range like that.

 

[Ixtl]

I have a Nikon MF-22 databack for my F4 which topped out at 2019. Never used it much, but I think you could print the date or shooting info either in the frame or between frames, which was cool.

 

[Buzz-01]

The OM10 Quartz (as in the photo in the OP) does not go beyond 2009. I believe it starts at 70 and counts up to 09, then it rolls over to 70.

 

[cjbecker]

Im pretty sure the back for the f3 goes past 2020, I will have to check when I get home. If it does not, I will be switching cameras. I date imprint on all of my slides.

 

[MattKing]

Just add 50 - should work fine unless you are older than me and can't tell the 1970s from the 2020s .
Fun project, by the way.

 

[AgX]

I am surprised that there are date-backs at all, that go beyond 2020. I even got at least one data-back that already got a dying LCD display as such.
Furthermore I got the impression that the actual date/print part of backs from different camera manufacturers actually are from the same source. And the only case of LCD deterioration I experienced at any of my cameras is at a date back. Thus I expect more to fail.

By the way, I also got transparency-dials date-backs, obsolete on this function since decades...

 

[ic-racer]

I don't use date imprint a lot, but like printing full frame to show the negative carrier, the date imprint function sets film users apart from digital. Digital does not imprint date with light on the sensor., so it is totally different.

 

[MartinCrabtree]

My F5 has an MF-25 back and it's still working fine.

 

[Les Sarile]

I just enjoy fully equipping them . . .

The Pentax LX back has long since expired.
The Nikon MF-16 still good to go.
The Minolta Multifunction back is good to 2099. Even better though is that it is a full intervalometer too!

 

[Halka]

Thanks everyone, I've updated the list.

 

[AgX]

By the way, I also got transparency-dials date-backs, obsolete on this function since decades...

The Pentax LX back has long since expired.

If those year-dials only got 2 digits, we just have to wait long enough and they shall become usable again...

 

[Les Sarile]

If those year-dials only got 2 digits, we just have to wait long enough and they shall become usable again...

I don't think I can wait for the LX back as it only goes from 80 to 91!

At least they give us F stops . . . ?

 

[reddesert]

The Nikon MF-12 (for the FE, FM, may work on FE2 etc, has to be attached to the PC sync port to expose the film) has 00-99 for the years and still works. mir.com.my at https://mir.com.my/rb/photography/hardwares/classics/nikonfeseries/fefmshared/mf12/index.htm says the calendar will work until 2100. Since it only has two digits, I would guess that you could reset the clock if it messes up the (lack of) a leap day in 2100 and keep using it until 2200. I've never actually used it to print on film, but I verified that the clock and date advanced properly last night.

 

[ramsaymader]

I currently have a Canon E back which will max out in 2029, does anyone happen to know what the range of the Nikon F-601QD is? I've looked and looked and still can't find any specifications about it when it maxes out.

 

[ramsaymader]

(Also, great article...this was extremely helpful!)

 

[ronnies]

Minolta Dynax 7 built in data back goes to 2039.

Ronnie

 

[Halka]

Well, I've lost the ability to edit the OP; so I won't be updating the list until I figure something out. But if anyone has a data point on any cameras not mentioned here, keep 'em coming.

 

[Helge]

I very, very rarely use data backs (that print on the actual photo and not in between) for anything but for a CYBERPUNK AESTHETIC effect.
In that case I couldn’t give a rats arse about the exact or current date.
Often I just use gibberish or backdating to a better, more mysterious and alluring time.
IR in particular looks dope with overexposed digital numbers.

 

[Wallendo]

I found this to be a useful feature. When I remembered to do so, I would take a single date-stamped image at the start of a roll, or a new location on the roll. Unfortunately, the date-stamp on my Minolta STsi reset earlier this year. I assume this is the case for most(all?) Minolta AF cameras. I also have a Nikon with date-stamp that rolled over at the same time. On the brighter side, in another 50 years or so, these date stamps will be usable again.

 

[MartinCrabtree]

I generally use the MF-25 mounted to my F5 for exposure data printed in between frames. It has some other features I've yet to experiment with but plan too. Trap focus being one to capture hummingbirds.

 

[Halka]

One more for the "did not make the cut" list: Nikon F601 Quartz only goes up to 2019.

 

[AgX]

And, as much as I'd like to debate the finer points of "WhY WoULd aNyOnE dO tHaT?", I've had no issues finding treatises on that particular topic on the net in spades, so I'm not really interested

I do not understand: you "would like to debate", the same time you are "not really interested". You better decide.

 

[Halka]

While English is not the first language for (presumably) both of us, I'd have thought that the meaning implied was obvious? But anyway: no, I'm not interested in peoples' opinions on date imprints. Just the technical data.

 

[CMoore]

Just add 50 - should work fine unless you are older than me and can't tell the 1970s from the 2020s .
Fun project, by the way.

I have a data back (i think it is Oly) for my OM1n.
But i have never used it and do not know how high it counts.
I am quoting you because i know you use Olympus a lot.
Perhaps you have used it.........