Re-usable DX coded (400ISO) cartridges?

[PatrickCheung]

Hey!

I've begun toying with the idea of rolling my own film lately. I'd rather shoot rolls of 12 exposures and develop every day or two (I don't get to shoot much during school) than finish a roll of 36 in the span o a week or two and forget why I shot what I did in the beginning of the roll.

However, I find that I've been using my point and shoots more and more lately, point and shoots that don't have control over ISO settings (Contax T2, Yashica T4, Nikon AF600, Olympus Mju).

I know you can splice together some DX coded re-usable cartridges using the codes from pre-rolled cartridges, but I'm afraid of messing up the placement and wasting a few rolls. I've also heard of people re-using pre-rolled cartridges, but I find that I always mangle the ends when I'm extracting my film (I'm shooting HP5+ which has crimped on tops on the cartridges)

Are there any DX-coded cartridges that are coded for ISO 400 that I can buy?

I guess while I'm at it, how much money do I end up saving if I roll my own film?

Thanks for your time 🙂

 

[btgc]

Are there any DX-coded cartridges that are coded for ISO 400 that I can buy?

I guess while I'm at it, how much money do I end up saving if I roll my own film?

There were available, to my knowledge, ISO100 labeled catridges....10 years ago or so. This days I'm fetching catridges at local minilab, then and now.

If you have extra cash then buying factory loaded cartridges is better and easier, but if you want to shoot short rolls, I'm afraid loading yourself is your only choice. Savings aren't 2x but as said, you get freedom to customize length. Note, savings are made up also by size of package, 1 can of bulk film vs 17-20 cartridges.

 

[Vics]

Freestylephoto.biz has only 100 ISO...

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

Stop by the mini-lab periodically and ask for the film cassettes. Keep the ones coded for 400 ISO.

I try to avoid opening them. Instead, tape your new film to the old tail that's usually still sticking out.

Also, Google to find articles about how to change the DX by scraping off paint or adding insulating tape. I haven't done this, but others report success.

 

[ColSebastianMoran]

B&H lists ASA 400 DX coded cassettes as "discontinued." Bummer.

 

[PatrickCheung]

Ah... that's sad 🙁

Col. the labs around here tend to completely destroy cartridges when extracting film... it's a shame really 🙁.

I suppose I'll stick to shooting full rolls of 36... :\ I just hate waiting for photos...