Fooling the DX code.

Mike Kennedy · Jul 6, 2005

Is there a photo shop that sells labels to change the DX rating of film?
I want to do some night street photography in places where a flash would be,how can I put it, detrimental to my existence. Not really that serious but I could get my kit stolen.
Thanks Much,
Mike

clogz · Jul 6, 2005

I found this on the internet: http://www.firstcall-photographic.c...l_ISO_200_DX_Recorder_labels,_strip_of_9.html

The firm is located in Britain but I do not think that with labels shipping costs would be an obstacle.

Good luck

Hans

Soeren · Jul 6, 2005

I found this
http://www.sapiensman.com/photo/Photographic tems_2.htm

Regards Søren

Woolliscroft · Jul 6, 2005

You could just use the exposure compensation dial, assuming you have one. If you are using a compact without this control there is usually some way to tell it not to fire the flash.

David.

David A. Goldfarb · Jul 6, 2005

I think you can find DX labels at www.porters.com. B&H sells DX coded bulk cassettes as well.

jim appleyard · Jul 6, 2005

Most cameras with DX have a default setting, usually ISO 100, for use with film cassettes w/o DX. You could put electrical tape over the DX bar on the cassette and this would make the camera kick in the default setting. You'll save having to buy labels and you might just have electrical tape hanging around the house. ISO 100 might be slow enough for your night shots. As with anything else, you'll have to experiment.

Andy K · Jul 6, 2005

If you cannot switch off the flash stick electrical tape over it.

Mike Kennedy · Jul 6, 2005

Thanks Dave. I checked out the Porters site. Just what the doctor ordered.

Mike

clogz · Jul 6, 2005

eh...and of course the others are thanked as well for their good efforts.

Mike Kennedy · Jul 6, 2005

Excuse my manners.

OOPS!
I was so busy trying to place an order I plum forgot to thank the other APUG members who posted a response.
Mike

clogz · Jul 6, 2005

That's OK, Mike

John Cook · Jul 6, 2005

Perhaps I'm getting old. (Correction: I am getting old.)

But does it seem odd to anyone besides me that one of the best features of the most expensive Canon EOS is the switch panel which allows me to shut off all that foolish automation I just paid for?

On the cheap models, you are stuck with it.

Kind of like paying the Mafia for protection?

Andy K · Jul 6, 2005

John Cook said:
Perhaps I'm getting old. (Correction: I am getting old.)

But does it seem odd to anyone besides me that one of the best features of the most expensive Canon EOS is the switch panel which allows me to shut off all that foolish automation I just paid for?

On the cheap models, you are stuck with it.

Kind of like paying the Mafia for protection?

I'll stick to my fully manual, no bells and whistles, Olympus OM-1. Manual ISO setting, manual focus, manual speed setting, manual aperture and mirror lock up. What more does a camera need?

gnashings · Jul 6, 2005

Andy K said:
I'll stick to my fully manual, no bells and whistles, Olympus OM-1. Manual ISO setting, manual focus, manual speed setting, manual aperture and mirror lock up. What more does a camera need?

Needs to be MINE!!!! All MINE!!!

Donald Qualls · Jul 7, 2005

I've fooled the DX sensor in another way. I have a cheap zoom P&S (well, not that cheap, it was close to $150 new about 5-6 years ago) that has no overrides, and nothing in the booklet says what it assumes if there's no DX code (nor does it display any exposure information). I wanted to shoot some Tri-X, bulk loaded in plastic cassettes.

Simple solution: I used a piece of aluminum foil to cover all four DX sensor pins and the common contact (at the edge of the cassette), to fool the camera into setting EI 1600 -- the film will be processed in Diafine, and all will be well. And meantime, I can lock out the flash and still get hand-holdable exposures with the zoom extended (which makes it about f/14 wide open).

RichSBV · Jul 7, 2005

This has all been very interesting as I also use a not-so-cheap P&S on occassion...

Does anyone know of or have a diagram or description of which pins get connected to achieve what speed for the DX pins?

Seems it would be fairly easy to cut aluminum foil, glued to the canister to get any speed we'd want... Might be fun to play with?

Helen B · Jul 7, 2005

Rich asked "Does anyone know of or have a diagram or description of which pins get connected to achieve what speed for the DX pins?"

Here's a table:
http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/2131/dx-code.html
That table suggests that all four contacts made means EI 3200.

Four contacts give resolution of film speed to one stop (usually biased towards overexposure by the camera), six are needed for resolution to a third of a stop.

RichSBV · Jul 7, 2005

Gees, that was quick! You must have all your pins shorted ;-)

Thanks!! I might have to do some playing now...

srs5694 · Jul 7, 2005

I've thought of creating a program that would print out the patterns for ISO speeds you specify, the idea being to print them to peel-off stickers, cut out the white areas with an x-acto knife, and sandwich some aluminum foil between the sticker and the film canister. I've not gotten around to trying this, though, probably because most of my cameras don't read DX codes and I'd only need it for Ilford Pan F+. If anybody else wants to experiment with my idea, though, please feel free.

Donald Qualls · Jul 16, 2005

Helen B said:
Here's a table:
http://www.geocities.com/Yosemite/2131/dx-code.html
That table suggests that all four contacts made means EI 3200.

That's probably correct, Helen -- but according to the manual, the camera in which I did this only goes to 1600, so telling it the film is 3200 should result in the same effect as leaving off the one pin that should be open. I'll know for sure when I develop...

Helen B · Jul 17, 2005

... and just because a table is on the web doesn't mean that it's right either!

Best,
Helen

Fooling the DX code.

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