Dx dilemma solved. How to override code on Dx only cameras

[John Bragg]

As a longtime user of compact 35mm cameras, espescially those with film speed automatically set like Mju I and Mju ii, I had been frustrated with only having the option to use the box speed on films. As I invariably shoot ISO 400 film at Ei 200, this was not satisfactory for me. I think of Manufacturers Box Speed as the Serving Suggestion and personal Ei as the Family Recipe. So, how to fool an auto everything camera into re-setting film speed and regain control ? I use a system that I describe as scrape and tape to re-code the film cassette. For over 10 years this has proven very successful. It involves scraping away 2 segments of the Dx code with a sharp blade and adding an additional segment with electrical tape. I have never had a problem with this modification of my cassettes and it takes about 2 minutes to do one cassette. It occurred to me that this system is far more flexible than I had envisaged since in use you can effectively re-set the speed on the fly. Simply by re-positioning the single piece of tape, the cassette can be instantly re-coded as Ei 200 800 or 1600 ! It is amazing how these thoughts come at 1am in the morning when you can't sleep. I thought I would share this simple system and hopefully it will be useful. Here is a photo of a cassette thusly modified and below is a link showing how to read Dx codes


Dx Re-Coding. by E.J. Bragg, on Flickr

Here is a link to how to read Dx Codes https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/DX_encoding

 

[Neal]

Thanks for sharing. I have one compact I like to use and your technique could come in handy.

Neal Wydra

 

[tezzasmall]

You used to be able to buy ready made stickers to change films various iso's but I'm sure making them in a variety of ways should not be too hard as shown.

Terry S

 

[John Bragg]

You used to be able to buy ready made stickers to change films various iso's but I'm sure making them in a variety of ways should not be too hard as shown.

Terry S

Indeed Terry. But the beauty of this system is that if you have coded a cassette for Ei 200 but suddenly decide to push the film, you can simply peel off the single piece of tape and reposition as needed. Move it one step left and it is Ei 800. Move it again one more step left and it becomes Ei 1600. Remove it and it is Ei 3200. Versatile yes ?

 

[John Bragg]

Thanks for sharing. I have one compact I like to use and your technique could come in handy.

Neal Wydra

Glad to be of help. Small things like this can make a big difference. Anything that gives a measure of control back to the photographer is handy.

 

[ic-racer]

For cameras with exposure compensation, I use blank cassettes and compensation. For example Nikon N75 is ISO100 with blank cassette. Then subtract -1.5 exposure compenstion in the camera's menu to get to 240 etc. or your favorite expsure index. No one way is a perfect solution, however. In my example, when you go to meter in MANUAL mode on the N75, the exposure compensation goes away and you are back at 100.

 

[John Bragg]

For cameras with exposure compensation, I use blank cassettes and compensation. For example Nikon N75 is ISO100 with blank cassette. Then subtract -1.5 exposure compenstion in the camera's menu to get to 240 etc. or your favorite expsure index. No one way is a perfect solution, however. In my example, when you go to meter in MANUAL mode on the N75, the exposure compensation goes away and you are back at 100.

That's a great tip for such cameras. Sadly it wont work on my Mju I or Mju ii or Canon Sureshot Supreme or many of the basic point and shoot cameras that are so handy as a go anywhere pocket camera.