How-to hack DX coding on film cartridges

[maelswarm]

I picked up a Yashica T4 recently. It's about as basic as P&S go. Since I don't want to shoot Tri-X at native 400 because I develop in Diafine, I wanted a way to hack the camera into thinking it was ISO 1250 film.

After a quick google search, I found an article on DX coding and a website that will produce a sample DX code for you based on certain parameters.

It's actually really easy to hack the DX code from 400 to 800, 1250, or even 1600. All I did was use the side of a nail file (but you could use anything really) to scrape off some black paint. Tested out a roll of hacked Tri-X in a Nikon film body and it said ISO 1250 on DX mode 🙂

Let me know if this is old news, or if it's unclear.

 

[Chriscrawfordphoto]

Porters used to sell DX stickers for different speeds that you could stick over the cartridges original DX code for situations like yours.

 

[maelswarm]

I saw that as well. But why pay $2.99 when you can do it for free?

 

[charjohncarter]

I scratch off the black (pocket knife) and use scotch tape for the new black areas. I works for me.

 

[onur77]

Thanks for the tip Maelswarm. Now I can use my Leica C1 @ 1600 iso. I really love this forum 🙂

 

[btgc]

Long live old thread!

Thanks for link to DX simulator, I previously used site listing DX code patterns for ISO settings, but couldn't find it anymore and hey, it's time to move on, just select ISO and watch pattern appearing...if I'm accepting cameras with AE why I can't use automated ISO GUI? 🙂