Faking DX encoding

Someone gave me a camera that does not have manual exposure compensation
which sets film speed by reading DX encoding. I have bulk Ilford PAN-F
which I would like to use in the camera, but no resuable DX encoded
cassettes.

The camera defaults to ISO 100 with no DX encoding, so I can use
it in manual mode and try to remember to overexpose by one stop.

However, I'd love to be able to fake the ISO 50 DX encoding.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Note that I am NOT!!! in a country where I can mail order DX
encoded reloadable cassettes.

Thanks, Geoff.

--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM

Geoffrey S. Mendelson wrote:
Someone gave me a camera that does not have manual exposure compensation
which sets film speed by reading DX encoding. I have bulk Ilford PAN-F
which I would like to use in the camera, but no resuable DX encoded
cassettes.

The camera defaults to ISO 100 with no DX encoding, so I can use
it in manual mode and try to remember to overexpose by one stop.

However, I'd love to be able to fake the ISO 50 DX encoding.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Note that I am NOT!!! in a country where I can mail order DX
encoded reloadable cassettes.

Thanks, Geoff.

If you can get metal tape (commonly used as shielding on
small appliances), you can cut to size and put on the
cassettes in the appropriate places. If you can't get hold
of metal tape, you could try metal paint (so long as it is
conductive), or glue small pieces of alfoil to the cartridge.

If you are only ever going to use the camera with the same
ISO, you could try shorting the contacts inside the camera
to the appropriate ISO.

There are plenty of resources on the net for the actual
position of the tabs to set various ISO's.

Out of interest, what camera?

Doug Jewell wrote:
If you can get metal tape (commonly used as shielding on
small appliances), you can cut to size and put on the
cassettes in the appropriate places. If you can't get hold
of metal tape, you could try metal paint (so long as it is
conductive), or glue small pieces of alfoil to the cartridge.

If you are only ever going to use the camera with the same
ISO, you could try shorting the contacts inside the camera
to the appropriate ISO.

There are plenty of resources on the net for the actual
position of the tabs to set various ISO's.

Out of interest, what camera?

Thanks, I found one at the wikkipedia. The metal tape is a great idea,
I can ask a friend in the appliance business for it.

The camera is a Pentax SP10. For a consumer camera (I'm assuming since
you could not overide the ISO, it was aimed at consumers), it has a
big bright viewfinder.

Far better than the Fx5 (55,65,75) Nikons and the Canon EOS 300
(Rebel?).

Geoff.

--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM

"Geoffrey S. Mendelson" wrote in message
...
Doug Jewell wrote:
If you can get metal tape (commonly used as shielding on
small appliances), you can cut to size and put on the
cassettes in the appropriate places. If you can't get hold
of metal tape, you could try metal paint (so long as it is
conductive), or glue small pieces of alfoil to the cartridge.

If you are only ever going to use the camera with the same
ISO, you could try shorting the contacts inside the camera
to the appropriate ISO.

There are plenty of resources on the net for the actual
position of the tabs to set various ISO's.

Out of interest, what camera?

Thanks, I found one at the wikkipedia. The metal tape is a great idea,
I can ask a friend in the appliance business for it.

The camera is a Pentax SP10. For a consumer camera (I'm assuming since
you could not overide the ISO, it was aimed at consumers), it has a
big bright viewfinder.

Far better than the Fx5 (55,65,75) Nikons and the Canon EOS 300
(Rebel?).

Geoff.

I believe DX coding stickers can be ordered from places like Porters, and
Adorama. These can be placed on the canisters, so the cameras will read them
and go to the correct ISO setting......

Geoffrey S. Mendelson wrote:
Doug Jewell wrote:

Thanks, I found one at the wikkipedia. The metal tape is a great idea,
I can ask a friend in the appliance business for it.
Just a thought though - some (most?) of it has a thin clear
plastic insulation layer. Pretty elementary though to scrape
it off.

The camera is a Pentax SP10. For a consumer camera (I'm assuming since
you could not overide the ISO, it was aimed at consumers), it has a
big bright viewfinder.
Suspected it was a Pentax - I assume the SP10 is a foreign
designator of the SF10, which as you say has no ISO
adjustment or exposure adjustment. In theory the SF10 has
"Automatic Contrast Control" method of exposure
compensation, which _in theory_ does away with the need for
exposure compensation. Usually does work ok, although
doesn't allow you to deliberately override ISO for push/pull
of films or non-DX films.


Far better than the Fx5 (55,65,75) Nikons and the Canon EOS 300
(Rebel?).
Agreed. One of Pentax's strengths has always been their
exposure system. I've got an MZ-60 which I normally keep
loaded with either Sensia or Velvia. The MZ-60 has the same
system as the SF10, and I've found it to be exceptionally
accurate for exposure. (Fortunately though the MZ-60 has ISO
override, which is handy when I use B&W). Other than the
odd shot in very low light (outside the meter's range), I
can't say it has ever got exposure fundamentally wrong. I
don't know why, but it appears they haven't put the same
smarts into the K10D, which frequently gets the exposure
very wrong (admittedly it is better than the Canon's I have
used).

Geoff.

Doug Jewell wrote:
Geoffrey S. Mendelson wrote:
Doug Jewell wrote:

Thanks, I found one at the wikkipedia. The metal tape is a great idea,
I can ask a friend in the appliance business for it.
Just a thought though - some (most?) of it has a thin clear
plastic insulation layer. Pretty elementary though to scrape
it off.

The silver squares on the DX code have to all be electrically
conntected together. It would be better to scrape off the whole
area to bare metal and use insulating tape for the black squares.

Peter.
--

"William Graham" wrote:

I believe DX coding stickers can be ordered from places like Porters, and
Adorama. These can be placed on the canisters, so the cameras will read them
and go to the correct ISO setting......


Go to ...

http://porters.com/

.... and search on "DX labels".

They cost $5.49 for a pack of 10, plus shipping.

"Geoffrey S. Mendelson" wrote in message
...

Someone gave me a camera that does not have manual exposure compensation
which sets film speed by reading DX encoding. I have bulk Ilford PAN-F
which I would like to use in the camera, but no resuable DX encoded
cassettes.

The camera defaults to ISO 100 with no DX encoding, so I can use
it in manual mode and try to remember to overexpose by one stop.

However, I'd love to be able to fake the ISO 50 DX encoding.

Anyone have any suggestions?

Note that I am NOT!!! in a country where I can mail order DX
encoded reloadable cassettes.

Thanks, Geoff.

--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM

No problem!

Google for "Porter's Camera Store" and search for their DX stickers. They
come in various ISO ratings, and you just affix them right over the DX
coding on your existing film canisters.

They've been sold for years.

John Holmes wrote:
Google for "Porter's Camera Store" and search for their DX stickers. They
come in various ISO ratings, and you just affix them right over the DX
coding on your existing film canisters.

Thanks, I looked them up. They have ISO 40 but not ISO 50. That comes out
to 1/2 stop over exposure, which I'm not sure will matter that much.

Geoff.

--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM

"Geoffrey S. Mendelson" wrote in message
...
John Holmes wrote:
Google for "Porter's Camera Store" and search for their DX stickers. They
come in various ISO ratings, and you just affix them right over the DX
coding on your existing film canisters.

Thanks, I looked them up. They have ISO 40 but not ISO 50. That comes out
to 1/2 stop over exposure, which I'm not sure will matter that much.

Geoff.

--
Geoffrey S. Mendelson, Jerusalem, Israel N3OWJ/4X1GM


You can buy them for ISO 200 film and cover the #3 postion or you can buy
them for ISO 800 film and cover the #4 position. Either option will give you
ISO 50.

There is a chart here that explains the coding:

http://www.bythom.com/dxcodes.htm