DX Coding - DIY solution for bulk-rolled cannisters.

holmburgers · Dec 16, 2010

Hey,

I've gotten my GF an Olympus Stylus Epic and the problem is that I often roll film for her in Kalt cannisters and like a lot of P&S cameras, the film speed can be set only by the DX coding.

Here is an explanation of their meaning...
Dead Link Removed

I'm wondering if there are any DIY solutions that people can think of, or have tried.
My first thought is to use the foil tape used in HVAC.

hpulley · Dec 16, 2010

Not quite DIY but can you buy reloadable canisters with the DX code on them already.

I bet you could also print off the DX bar codes onto adhesive paper and slap them on if you position them just right.

AgX · Dec 16, 2010

hpulley said:
I bet you could also print off the DX bar codes onto adhesive paper and slap them on if you position them just right.

That would not work as you need electrical conductivity.

Thus:

-) selfmade adhesive metal foil
-) readymade adhesive metal foil
-) partially grinding of metal cartridge
-) grinding and partially laquering of cartridge
-) grinding and sticking adhesive plastic foil

There were/are DX stickers on market.

bblhed · Dec 16, 2010

Metal tape then either cut it to make the code, or apply scotch tape over the areas you want to not conduct.

Another solution would be to apply metal tape to the film canister and then apply tape to the correct pins in the camera body so they don't make contact, that solution is probably better because it will be easier to block the pins you don't want to make contact more precisely.

holmburgers · Dec 16, 2010

Yeah, I've seen the stickers, but DIY is always the first thing to explore IMO.

I'd reload other cannisters, but I always destroy them while opening them; they're much more difficult to open compared to bulk cannisters. Though certainly an option.

lxdude · Dec 16, 2010

Porter's sells the DX labels. For DIY, scrape/tape.

hpulley · Dec 16, 2010

holmburgers said:
I'd reload other cannisters, but I always destroy them while opening them; they're much more difficult to open compared to bulk cannisters. Though certainly an option.

Not regular film canisters, you can buy ones meant for bulk loading that have a DX code for 100 or 400 ISO.

I destroy regular canisters when I open them too, I'm sure they are designed to self destruct so you have to buy them again.

Jesper · Dec 16, 2010

I once had a Canon Top Shot and since I only used 400Asa I just took some copper wire and shorted the right contacts.
If you don't switch Asa with every roll it might be an alternative to consider, It is easy to remove and does not damage the camera.

MattKing · Dec 16, 2010

If there is no DX coding on the camera, the Stylus Epic defaults to ISO 100.

So you can always restrict her film choice - Plus-X works well .

I have some 400 ISO encoded bulk load cannisters that I bought for this reason.

holmburgers · Dec 16, 2010

Y'know, the part I usually destroy on factory cannisters is the caps. So maybe I can just put some bulk cannister caps on the fuji/kodak cannisters. That might just do the trick

BetterSense · Dec 16, 2010

My wife has a stylus epic. Although I shoot commercial 400 speed film in it I wish to trick the camera to a higher speed. I find she gets more in-focus shots when I fake the camera to 1600 and tonality is still ok. I hack the cartridges with foil tape and scotch tape. When I reload the next film I just copy the code over, but originally I looked it up on Wikipedia.

wblynch · Dec 17, 2010

How about cutting the DX section off an old canister and laying it over the new one? Like a little slipcover...

Then you can pop it off and on to the next film.

holmburgers · Dec 17, 2010

That might work, but isn't the DX code part of the metal cannister? It might be hard to cut and also too thick. But not a bad idea

AgX · Dec 17, 2010

You would have to saw it.
But I assume size to be a problem. At least the radius would have to be adjusted.

wblynch · Dec 17, 2010

Just pop the end caps off the old canister and trim with a strong pair of scissors or shears. The canister material is barely thicker than a Coke can.

I'm going to do one when I get home just to see...

DX Coding - DIY solution for bulk-rolled cannisters.

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