Film DX code

[michel_vandeput]

Dear Leica friends,

Some interresting informations:

(1) Be careful with the FUJY VELVIA DX code. Until now I have taken about 30 VELVIA films with my new M7 and had problems with two films. The camera seemed not to read correctly, or did not read at all, the DX code, the film was considered as a 100 ASA. Manual setting is, IMHO, the safest solution. I think there must be a real problem with the FUJY DX codings. I never had the problem with another film.

(2) Be sure the speed button of your M7 is correctly screwed and locked (pasted), mine didn't, and I lost it.

Best regards

Michel

[frank_bunnik]

Well, it is easy to see if there is something wrong with the dx-code

on the films, just compare them with a 100 asa film. I use Fuji

almost exclusively and the velvia a lot of times and have never had a

problem with it.

 

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Most camera's let you check if hte camera has read the dx-code

correctly. This is not possible with the M7.

 

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I think the electronics in your camera malfunction and that the

problem lies not with the filmcartridges but with your camera. Sorry.

 

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Frank

[michel_vandeput]

Thanks Frank for your answer,

I forgot to give an information, I am sure it is a problem with the

POSITION of the DX coding in front of the readers, because when you

turn the rewind button, the position of the film cartidge moves in

the camera body and everything becomes OK for a time. Maybe another

reason, this problem happened only two times (on the second and third

film taken with the new camera), and it could be possible that, on a

new camera, the electronic contacts are dirty, so I cleaned them. I

don't have the solution, I just hope it is not a more serious problem.

Thanks for your experience and best regards from Belgium.

Michel

[frank_bunnik]

Dear Michel, you're welcome.

 

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You write that the film cartridge moves a little when turning the

rewindknob and that after that, the problem is over. This looks like

a problem with the pressure "plates/springs" that keep the cartridge

in place. Too much tolerance. I am sure you can have it fixed but

maybe it is easier just to set the filmspeed maually.

 

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Good luck from Holland,

Frank

[frank_bunnik]

I would like to add, just in general, that if I can not check the

filmspeed the camera has chosen by using the dx-code, I will never

use the automatic filmspeed setting.

[markrinella]

The M7 displays the DX value in the viewfinder for two seconds

each time the camera is turned on. This will let you see if there

is any problem with the DX coding. Please check page 77 of the

manual for full details.

[markrinella]

Michael,

 

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My answer was more for Frank than you. Reading your posts

again, it appears that you are checking the DX code in the

display and that it is flashing 100 which means that it is not

reading the cartridge as DX encoded.

 

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How did you clean the contacts? I once had a problem with

Contax flash units not working correctly on a new body until I

cleaned the hot shoe contacts with a bit of 90% isopropyl

alchohol. (Being careful not to allow any excess fluid get in to the

camera). For some reason dry wiping just didn't work. After

cleaning it worked perfectly.

[eliot]

Michael and Frank. Mark is correct. When the meter is switched from

on to off, the DX coded ISO speed flashes for 2 sec so you can check

if the camera has responded properly. If there is no film, the lower

red dot flashes continuously. If there is film but the DX code is

not readable, the camera defaults to ISO 100 and the lower red dot

flashes. Also, I would not automatically assume the camera circuitry

is malfunctioning if the DX cannot be read. This has happened on

other cameras and there could be a problem with the film.

[eliot]

Sorry. Should read when the meter is switched from "off to on".

[frank_bunnik]

Well, I based my opinion on the fact that the m7 does not have an lcd-

screen like most other camera's (who show dx setting there). It

seemed to me that if the camera shwed it, the owner would know.

 

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Anyway, since I have seen 2 posts now in two days about this problem,

it seems that the leica electronics are not that good.