data back

CMoore · Sep 8, 2016

How many of you guys use a "Data Back".?
In 35 mm i have Canon, Nikon and Olympus. I only have a data back for the Olympus OM1n.
It seems to be in great shape, but i am not sure if i really want to use it or not.
I suppose it is as simple as.....Do you want/need the date stamped on your negatives.?
What do you guys think.?
Thank You

onre · Sep 8, 2016

We discussed this with a colleague a couple of weeks ago. Our conclusion was that it could work as a sort of aesthetic choice on a certain kind of photographs, but most of the time it just ruins the negatives. Something like a night shot of a DeLorean next to a fountain might actually benefit from having a date-back stamped date from late '80s on it.

Poisson Du Jour · Sep 9, 2016

I think data backs can do a lot more than just time/date-stamping.
The (freely interchangeable) data back (in Canon-speak, Command Back E1) for the Canon EOS 1N and variants masquerades as a do-it-all intervalometer. Sure, I can elect to have the date and an arbirtrary alphanumeric imprint made on images (but I never have — it's a bloody ugly intrusion), the intervalometric function is worth its weight in gold e.g. set to fire the camera to fire and leave the shutter open for 7 hours or so of star trails tracing while I am in my cot far away in the bush! Next morning, trot out and find the exposure done, film wound on, shutter closed, timer off...everything looks after itself. I think Nikon had something similar.

Malinku · Sep 9, 2016

I have a data back for my Minolta 9. It is very useful as it saves exposure data and it can be transferred to a computer. So it gives you a way to come back and find the data for that sweet shot you took rolls ago. The only issue is that it takes a card to save this data.

My Minolta 7 has this feature built in standard and can be easily gotten to with a push of a button. But only saves 20 or so rolls worth if data.

AgX · Sep 9, 2016

I would prefer data backs that expose between the frame, these though were offered for few cameras only.

rubbernglue · Sep 9, 2016

I have a Nikon F90 which with the added back can take a picture with (for example) a manual focus lens aimed at a special point and will shoot once something reaches focus. I think it is a nice feature but nothing I use very often.

MartinCrabtree · Sep 9, 2016

I have the MF-28 back for my F5. It does many things including the between the frames imprint. A gift from an APUG member. I love it but haven't gotten around to using all the functions. Everyone leans over to see the photo after I click the shutter. They're surprised it's an analogue camera when I tell them.

benjiboy · Sep 9, 2016

I have never felt a need for one.

sportster44 · Sep 9, 2016

I just use a notebook to record date, place, exposure info, filters used, etc. I thought the Canon backs burned the info into the negative...... not a great look.

TheToadMen · Sep 9, 2016

I've used a databack on my old Nikon F4s. I liked it for it prints between the negatives. I've just now shot my first roll with a Nikon F6, that also has this feature build in. I have to develop the film yet, but if I set the camera correctly, it should register the shutter speed and aperture between the frames.
(And no: I did not RTFM first )

mweintraub · Sep 9, 2016

As mentioned, some are more useful than just date/time imprinting in frame.

TheToadMen said:
I've used a databack on my old Nikon F4s. I liked it for it prints between the negatives. I've just now shot my first roll with a Nikon F6, that also has this feature build in. I have to develop the film yet, but if I set the camera correctly, it should register the shutter speed and aperture between the frames.
(And no: I did not RTFM first )

Trickly, isn't it? What didn't you set?

Paul Howell · Sep 9, 2016

Malinku said:
I have a data back for my Minolta 9. It is very useful as it saves exposure data and it can be transferred to a computer. So it gives you a way to come back and find the data for that sweet shot you took rolls ago. The only issue is that it takes a card to save this data.

My Minolta 7 has this feature built in standard and can be easily gotten to with a push of a button. But only saves 20 or so rolls worth if data.

Considering the age of Minolta 9, is the data back compatible with a windows 7, 8, or 10? I also have the 9 and a 7 never thought about a data back, have been on the lookout for a 250 exposure back, although don't know who can process.

AgX · Sep 9, 2016

I gpt a variety of data backs. Some only print year/day or houir/min others let me choose to some extend letters, figures and symbols.

And then are those command backs that yield features of programming release.

narsuitus · Sep 9, 2016

CMoore said:
How many of you guys use a "Data Back".?

I have a Nikon MF23 data back (see bottom of image) for my Nikon F4 35mm film camera. This back has features that are useful for:

Astronomy (long star trail exposures)
Astronomy (sequence shots of an eclipse)
Time-lapse photos of growing plants or blooming flower
Periodic shots of bird feeder in hopes of catching photos of birds
Pole Aerial Photography (high-angle shots taken while the camera is attached to a tall pole)
Long exposures required for shooting night landscapes
Long exposures of chemiluminescent objects in the dark
Long exposures of bioluminescent objects in the dark
Long infrared exposures
Delayed exposures that are longer than the delay provided by the camera self-timer

However, it has been so long since I have used it that I would have to read the instructions before using it again.

Battery Pack & Data Back by Narsuitus, on Flickr

CMoore · Sep 9, 2016

Did not realize what some of these Were/Are capable of.
I guess my question was pertaining to the typical...
Date/Time/ASA backs ...and how many of you like to use those.
Seeing as how they stamped the film.....When they first started to appear, were they aimed at anybody in particular, or were they just another sales item for those that wanted to do what the backs did.? Maybe for guys that did News/Industrial/Records/Civic types of photo where the picture was more value as a record of an event than some kind of art or amusement.?
Thanks

Paul Howell · Sep 9, 2016

In my day we had to record, who, what, when, and where, along with instructions for pushing or pulling film, we used reporters notebooks. I don't recall PJ using data backs.

Wallendo · Sep 9, 2016

Date and time stamping on the image can be useful when I roll is shot over a long period of time - probably not a likely situation for most APUG members, but helpful for the casual shooter who only shoots a few frames on special occasions. The only use I have for date stamping is to shoot a single frame with date and time on it in order to "date" the entire roll.

millardmt · Sep 9, 2016

Greetings all:

Being an F2 nutter, I would absolutely kill for an F2 DATA w/MF-10 back. I know it makes no sense but there it is.

Marc

AgX · Sep 9, 2016

I guess most used where data backs by snap shooters using a compact AF-camera.
But data-backs where offered before that. For SLRs.

Does anyone know what the first cameras where that got a data back?

A early form of data back took slides one could inscribe onself and insert into the back.
And even much older is the Kodak Autograph...

Les Sarile · Sep 9, 2016

Sometime back in the late 90's, I was involved with a real estate lawsuit and the court docs specified submitting photos with date imprinted so we did.

I have the Minolta Multi Function back for the X-700 and I believe it was the first such back. I am not aware of any other manual focus camera that has the full intervalometer function as well as typical date/time on film imprinting.

As far as which was first, I would guess it would be the one for the Olympus OM1?

AgX · Sep 10, 2016

The Command Back for the T-70,80,90 has got these features.

Poisson Du Jour · Sep 10, 2016

There are now, and have been for some years, remote control cords that have "data back" and/or intervalometer functions, provided both by the marques (Canon, Nikon) and by third-party manufacturers — though it must be noted they aren't cheap trinkets. This was the route I took before I was able to snare the Command Back E1 for my EOS1N. Cords be damned!

data back

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency