----- Original Message ----- From: "Mat Maessen"
Subject: Re: DX coding and canister capacity
It would have to be pretty darned thin film.
Most I ever got into a bulk-loaded roll was 42 shots before it started
binding. And I'm not sure I'd do that again. :-)
If you're developing your own film, even the 36-shot rolls are about
as long as you want to be dealing with in the darkroom. With the dryer
I use I have to hang up both ends of the film on a 36-shot roll to
keep it from hitting the dryer cabinet floor.
Wasn't there a bulk film feeder/back available for the LX? might be a
better option. :-)
Ilford used to make 72 exposure loads of black and white film. The base was REALLY thin, and almost impossible to work with.
Automatic film processors of the kind used in present day mini labs are designed to process a 36 exposure film as a maximum length, and they will generate an abnormal operation alarm if the film is too long, on the theory that if the film has spent to long passing the sensors it is probably stalled.
This may or may not cause the machine to sop, depending on the specific machine.
DX coding does allow for extended film lengths (position 8, 9, 10 conductive), although I can see no reason at all to want to recode a cassette for this purpose, since very few, if any, cameras actually make use of the film length data.
William Robb
