My camera will be flashing error messages at me when I load Ultra film.

cmacd123 · Apr 15, 2014

Just got the Update from Freestyle. "DX coded cartridges designed for use by our manufacturing partner for Arista.EDU Ultra films are no longer available. When our stock of DX coded films are gone we will be switching over to a new blank cartridge. "

I have several models of Canon SLR cameras and most of them will flash "ISO" and set a default :crazy: if they can't read the cartridge. A few of them will keep flashing even after the ISO is manually set. I wonder if this is the issue that convinced Harmon to install metal working equipment to make their own?

Regular Rod · Apr 15, 2014

Would it not be possible to take an iPhone scan of the existing DX code for a sample, upload the scan to Publisher on a PC and then use it to create a label master to match some suitable label stationery, print off a sheet of say fifty labels and before loading one of the new blank cartridges, carefully stick the label on so the camera has something to read?

RR

StoneNYC · Apr 15, 2014

Regular Rod said:
Would it not be possible to take an iPhone scan of the existing DX code for a sample, upload the scan to Publisher on a PC and then use it to create a label master to match some suitable label stationery, print off a sheet of say fifty labels and before loading one of the new blank cartridges, carefully stick the label on so the camera has something to read?

RR

I believe the label would have to be partially metal to make the contacts touch.

Just save the cartridges and re-roll from bulk rolls, that's what I would do.

Most decent cameras you can control the ASA manually, so I'm sure the cameras aren't that valuable that you can't use something else. I'm kind if surprised anyone uses cameras you can't set the ASA manually, that would make me crazy, especially when I wanted to expose for a different EI...

Good luck, but consider the re-roll.

cmacd123 · Apr 15, 2014

StoneNYC said:
Most decent cameras you can control the ASA manually, I'm kind if surprised anyone uses cameras you can't set the ASA manually,

Of course you can set the Speed manually, But the designer must have thought that that would be used for exceptional cases, so the Camera likes to warn you that there may be a problem by Flashing the ISO display.

At the time the camera's Software was written, there was no question that any good quality film would always come with DX coding.

And as far as the other comments above, the "reading" is done by a series of electrical contacts, so DIY labels besides being complicated are not likely to be reliable. And I have never been happy with trying to re-use crimped cartridges. That either requires using a Leader puller and pulling teh film through the light trap once again, , or attempting to force the end cap back in place. The Ones intended for reuse with the DX codes are also no longer available.

Bill Burk · Apr 15, 2014

You can get the codes on Wikipedia, they are "same size".

A little plastic tape and scratching with a small knife can solve the problem.

StoneNYC · Apr 15, 2014

cmacd123 said:
Of course you can set the Speed manually, But the designer must have thought that that would be used for exceptional cases, so the Camera likes to warn you that there may be a problem by Flashing the ISO display.

At the time the camera's Software was written, there was no question that any good quality film would always come with DX coding.

And as far as the other comments above, the "reading" is done by a series of electrical contacts, so DIY labels besides being complicated are not likely to be reliable. And I have never been happy with trying to re-use crimped cartridges. That either requires using a Leader puller and pulling teh film through the light trap once again, , or attempting to force the end cap back in place. The Ones intended for reuse with the DX codes are also no longer available.

You can probably use metal duct work tape (not duct tape, but that metal stuff they stick on the central air ducts). And then cut it out for the proper configuration.

Also, you misunderstood me as I didn't get descriptive.

I meant remove the film without breaking the seal, as in don't wind the film all the way into the cartridge, just leave the tip out, then pull it out and cut the end, then tape the bulk roll and wind the new film into the cartridge.

Truzi · Apr 16, 2014

There are a few different things you could do based off the suggestions given.
You could even cut the code off an old cassette and tape it on the inside of the camera, if there is enough clearance to then add a cassette. I like this idea because, if there is room, you would not have to code each cartridge - just change the "insert" when you use a different speed film.

The easiest method of making your own would probably be taping a piece of foil/metal to the cassette, and using tape to create the code (instead of trying to stick squares of metal on the cassette, you'd use tape to cover areas of the metal you attach).

I do remember seeing stickers, so did a quick google search - just ideas, I'm not sure if these are in production, and what I found are not in North America, but you could use it as a basis for a search:

http://www.firstcall-photographic.co.uk/products/750/firstcall-dx-recoder-labels-iso-1600
http://www.fotoimpex.de/shopen/came...stickers-for-coding-films-30-per-package.html

summicron1 · Apr 16, 2014

cut the dx off one can and tape it to another? Sheesh!

Just go buy that leica M3 you've always wanted. Problem solved.

I also, I think, at one time read about someone who made DX stickers for bulk loader types -- eBay? Or follow these directions and make your own:

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-film-DX-code-labels/

But the Leica solution also means you get to use a Leica. Think about it.

Chan Tran · Apr 16, 2014

cmacd123 said:
Just got the Update from Freestyle. "DX coded cartridges designed for use by our manufacturing partner for Arista.EDU Ultra films are no longer available. When our stock of DX coded films are gone we will be switching over to a new blank cartridge. "

I have several models of Canon SLR cameras and most of them will flash "ISO" and set a default :crazy: if they can't read the cartridge. A few of them will keep flashing even after the ISO is manually set. I wonder if this is the issue that convinced Harmon to install metal working equipment to make their own?

I think it's easier for you to get cameras that allow you to set manual ISO without flashing or even has no DX feature.

Xmas · Apr 16, 2014

Some cameras use metal contacts some optical?

Mini labs will keep a sack of used cassettes for you with short end sticking out, for free! reuse beats remanufactured.

Leicas up to early M6 (cept CL and M5) accept velvet less cassettes about 5GBP each

Contax and Contarex ditto (&FSU Clones) cept cheaper

Most Canon LTM more expensive

Niccas never seen any

FSU Fed 2 and later (Zorki similar) cheap

Nikon rfdr, F and F2 expensive

not a complete list...

None of the felt less cassettes will fit other cameras, pig to tell apart, and some cameras have been back fitted! eg late M6 and early FSU.

AgX · Apr 16, 2014

Xmas said:
Some cameras use metal contacts some optical?

I never heard of optical DX-code sensors. Might be unreliable depending on varnish (IR-transmission) anyway.

frank · Apr 16, 2014

My Nikkormats don't flash. Get yourself a Nikkormat!

StoneNYC · Apr 16, 2014

frank said:
My Nikkormats don't flash. Get yourself a Nikkormat!

My Canon only flashes to let me know I need to manually set the ASA, then I set it, and it's fine.

However, it also tells me that it doesn't know how many frames are on the roll (since apparently the DX also tells the camera if it's a 24 frame or 36 frame etc.) and that won't stop blinking as I don't know what the custom frame number setting is for my Canon 1v, so I can relate to your blinking problem... luckily for me, it senses when the film refuses to advance any further and re-winds when it senses it's at the end, however I'm always worried this will put wear on the camera gears over time, wish I could figure out how to set the frame count...

Xmas · Apr 16, 2014

AgX said:
I never heard of optical DX-code sensors. Might be unreliable depending on varnish (IR-transmission) anyway.

Leica M7 started with mechanical then switched to optical part way through production

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/leica-m7-mp-film-m/283392-m7-dx-reader.html

AgX · Apr 16, 2014

Thank you.

ic-racer · Apr 16, 2014

I'd try to tape the DX sticker to the camera, then you don't need to keep re-sticking the stickers on each film cassette. My only pet peeve on this topic is the Nikon N75 and similar cameras. The manual ISO you set is not recognized in MANUAL mode. The frustration is with people (camera designers?) that think in MANUAL you don't want to use the camera's meter or you are trying to do something weirdo.

StoneNYC · Apr 16, 2014

ic-racer said:
I'd try to tape the DX sticker to the camera, then you don't need to keep re-sticking the stickers on each film cassette. My only pet peeve on this topic is the Nikon N75 and similar cameras. The manual ISO you set is not recognized in MANUAL mode. The frustration is with people (camera designers?) that think in MANUAL you don't want to use the camera's meter or you are trying to do something weirdo.

Yea that is odd... Should'a' had a canon

frank · Apr 16, 2014

There are so many GREAT classic cameras available these days (due to digital), why bother with cameras that have a conniption if there is no ASA code on the canister?

StoneNYC · Apr 16, 2014

frank said:
There are so many GREAT classic cameras available these days (due to digital), why bother with cameras that have a conniption if there is no ASA code on the canister?

+1

cmacd123 · Apr 17, 2014

frank said:
There are so many GREAT classic cameras available these days (due to digital), why bother with cameras that have a conniption if there is no ASA code on the canister?

Because my wife uses A Canon Digital and insists we share the more expensive lenses. This spurred to to collect one of each of many of the EOS film cameras.

Bill Burk · Apr 17, 2014

My big challenge is scraping and taping Tri-X DX codes to get me my desired 250 personal speed on an automated camera I have...

The alternative is to remember every time I power it on to hit + twice for the exposure compensation. I prefer scrape and tape.

David Brown · Apr 17, 2014

Or, you could buy film that DOES have DX codes ...

StoneNYC · Apr 17, 2014

Bill Burk said:
My big challenge is scraping and taping Tri-X DX codes to get me my desired 250 personal speed on an automated camera I have...

The alternative is to remember every time I power it on to hit + twice for the exposure compensation. I prefer scrape and tape.

It doesn't save the setting when you turn it off?? That's no good.... Mine only changes when I put a new roll in.

I'm starring to re-roll now, so I just use pre-marked cassettes. But then, often I don't shoot the given box ASA anyway.

My camera will be flashing error messages at me when I load Ultra film.

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency