film bar code simulator

excalibur2

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Brian
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The site http://www.imageaircraft.com.au/DXsim/ is closing down soon and he says:-

This web site is closing down soon
If you wish to keep using DXsim, please email
davidbt@pacific.net.au for your free local copy
or go to www.imageaircraft.portfairy.town/DXsim


Well I can't get the new site to work Java keeps blocking the simulator part, tried exceptions but no joy. Anyway have emailed the guy for a h'mm free local copy and also asked if he still has the film code database....well I know a member here has one and could you please email a copy in case I don't get a reply from Aussie land.
 
Well got a reply from David as follows:-

Thanks for asking about the simulator. Unfortunately I don't have the original code list but the best resource I can find is at the following link:
https://www.flickr.com/groups/67377471@N00/discuss/72157634429783414/

If you have access to a local photo finisher that processes film, ask them to save some cassettes for you and get the numbers from these. This will most likely be later DX codes that are not in the simulator data base.
The data base is probably pre 2003 so its quite old but will have just about every film code ever used up to that time.

The software is attached. Unzip the folder and open the DXNSimulator folder, double click on the htm file to open it with your browser. java must be enabled.

I notice there are many links on the internet to the old DXn site but I have only been able to update Wikipedia.

Regards,
David.

I haven't tested the file he sent me yet, but if anyone wants a copy after I've checked it out then let me know.
BTW if any one is thinking "what's all this about"...it's only useful for mainly old films (and works for a modern film like Vista) e.g. Lloydspharmacy own film for finding out who made it and the number by the bar code will tell you.....well as long as it's listed in the film database and an update is on flickr.
 
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Brian I have the most recent list that was published (in 2009). The I3A organisation that published it and maintained the DXn standard is now defunct, so I doubt that another list will ever be published.

I've got a copy on my online hard drive, you can download it at https://www.opendrive.com/files?NF8yMTgxODU2MF92NXhKMQ

If you could send me a copy of the simulator as well that would be great. I'll PM you my email later.

Sam.
 
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What do you intend to do with this information? Surely all you need to know is the ISO coding... or am I missing something?


Steve.
 
Brian I have the most recent list that was published (in 2009). The I3A organisation that published it and maintained the DXn standard is now defunct, so I doubt that another list will ever be published.

I've got a copy on my online hard drive, you can download it at https://www.opendrive.com/files?NF8yMTgxODU2MF92NXhKMQ

If you could send me a copy of the simulator as well that would be great. I'll PM you my email later.

Sam.

Thanks Sam will do, I haven't tried the file yet as the simulator in the first link still works but am having a problem with the new link site David has given..so when the old link site is taken down will use the file..
 
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What do you intend to do with this information? Surely all you need to know is the ISO coding... or am I missing something?


Steve.

Yes Steve you could build a data base of all the films in a spreadsheet and just use that.....the simulator is just a short cut. So why use it? Well today is just AAMOI e.g old films in the fridge or bootie like Tudor, Colorama, Jessops and so on, it will show who made them, but it did prove that Vista 200 was Fuji C200 and Vista 400 was Superia 400 (although it didn't say what ver).
 
Yes Steve you could build a data base of all the films in a spreadsheet and just use that.....the simulator is just a short cut. So why use it? Well today is just AAMOI e.g old films in the fridge or bootie like Tudor, Colorama, Jessops and so on, it will show who made them, but it did prove that Vista 200 was Fuji C200 and Vista 400 was Superia 400 (although it didn't say what ver).

Had a look at the list that Samuel had (hope you don't mind, @s162216), and I'm confused as to how the DX codes "proved" that, as there are DX codes for both Agfa Vista 200 and 400 that would identify films as such...
 
Had a look at the list that Samuel had (hope you don't mind, @s162216), and I'm confused as to how the DX codes "proved" that, as there are DX codes for both Agfa Vista 200 and 400 that would identify films as such...

All this was worked out a year or so ago re vista 200 = Fuji c200 and Vista 400= Superia 400 maybe Sam has a better memory. But Vista 200 code is 806254 and using the simulator by entering this number OR https://www.flickr.com/groups/67377471@N00/discuss/72157634429783414/
.......gives made by Fuji.

Edit: I haven't studied Sam's list yet and worked out why full code numbers are not entered maybe he can explain how to use it.
 
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Had a look at the list that Samuel had (hope you don't mind, @s162216), and I'm confused as to how the DX codes "proved" that, as there are DX codes for both Agfa Vista 200 and 400 that would identify films as such...

The DXn number corresponds to 2 code parts (which is why the simulator is useful as it allows you to extract what those number parts are) which identify the film. Different manufacturers were assigned different groups of codes by the I3A (the first part, which tells you the manufacturer), and then the second part identifies the film. I'm at work at the moment, so I'll post a proper explanation when I'm back home.
 
So, if I understand this correctly, despite there being numbers explicitly for Agfa Vista 200 and 400, the DX codes actually identify them as Fuji C200 and Superia 400?
 
So, if I understand this correctly, despite there being numbers explicitly for Agfa Vista 200 and 400, the DX codes actually identify them as Fuji C200 and Superia 400?

You type in 806254 and press enter this gives part one@39 and part 2 @ 1 then go to Sam's pdf and search for say "39" and you'll see 39 and 1 is Fulicolor alias C200

Also a difference is C23 and C24 can't remember which film on IIRC edge markings
 
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So, if I understand this correctly, despite there being numbers explicitly for Agfa Vista 200 and 400, the DX codes actually identify them as Fuji C200 and Superia 400?

Its because of the complex history behind current "Agfa" films. In 2005 Agfa-Gevaert sold off it's consumer photo division into an independent company ("AgfaPhoto") via a management buyout, and made long term agreements to allow this company to use the Agfa trademarks. Within a year though, this new company had filed for bankruptcy and ended up in other hands essentially as a holding company for a "badge"; many products may be branded as Agfa (digital cameras, photo frames etc amongst other things), but they don't make any themselves as they just license the name.

Ever since then the actual films have not been produced by Agfa in practically any form, they've been produced by Ferrenia or Kodak and more recently exclusively by Fuji. The films may be named the same as the previous Agfa produced products (e.g Vista, Precisia etc), but they're actually just other films re-packaged in Agfa Photo branding (If you look carefully, you'll see that they've actually named Vista as "Vista+" to differentiate it from the original Agfa produced Vista). The only very slight almost exception to the rule is with APX B&W films: they're originally manufactured by the "Specialty Products" division of the original Agfa-Gevaert who make still motion, aerial,scientific/technical etc type films. Lupus Imaging (who have been granted a license to use the Agfa name and also are the originators of Vista+ and Precisia) then buy it as bulk stock, which they cut down and re-package (the same as Rollei do for most of their films) for sale.

The bottom line is that although it may look almost identically like the original Agfa films on the outside, on the inside it's an entirely different film and this is why the DXn numbers correspond to other Fuji films: they're originally made by Fuji!

The most useful part about the DXn number is simply that it allows you to identify a film, no matter how it many be branded. The barcode on the film allows automated lab processing machinery to identify the film type exactly, and process it accordingly (especially useful with B&W films as they have no standardised processing time for every film); the number beneath it (the DXn number) corresponds to the barcode in a numerical form and this number subsequently corresponds to two DX Numbers, Part 1 and Part 2 (I'm not sure of quite how, but that's why the simulator is useful as it allows you to extract the parts). Part 1 identifies the film manufacturer (they were assigned groups of numbers each every few years), and Part 2 identifies the individual film type when paired with the other number.

The same system actually corresponds to the edge code on negatives, so you can use the simulator to find what a film is even if it doesn't say anywhere (hold it up to the light and you'll see a little pattern of bars down the edge of the negative, you can then copy the pattern into the simulator).
 
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Thanks Samuel! So there was once a Vista 200, but what we now think of as Vista (plus) 200 is not that at all, and the DX code tells us so!
 
Thanks Samuel! So there was once a Vista 200, but what we now think of as Vista (plus) 200 is not that at all, and the DX code tells us so!
Precisely! Exactly like there used to be Vista 100, 200 and 400 sold by Agfa, but the new Vista+ 400 is nowhere near the same as it's repackaged Fuji Superia as evidenced by the DXn number (having "Made in Japan" on it is also a bit of a giveaway!).

I don't know anything about Java (but I could try to learn), but it would be good if we could somehow update that film simulator to use the most recent list in my possession (which I fortunately chose to save as the I3A's website and information has disappeared entirely now).
 
Using your PDF was surprised that Jessops everyday diamond was Agfacolor 200N...h'mm I had a stack of it and thought it was quite good film...well the last time I bought Agfa (by name) was about 50 years ago and it was slide film :rolleyes:
 
Bought some Colorama smart film exp 2006 at the bootie out of interest for what film it was..wow on the box it says "see the difference:D " h'mm it's only Agfa
 
Agfa film was perfectly competent stuff, up there with Kodak and Fuji with them usually competing for being most popular. Just because they were a little bit different doesn't mean it was bad!
 
Agfa film was perfectly competent stuff, up there with Kodak and Fuji with them usually competing for being most popular. Just because they were a little bit different doesn't mean it was bad!

Indeed Agfa is not crap as I had a stack of Jessops film and that was Agfa, and try to avoid old Ferrania in disguise ......but still IMO superia200 is better and have used about a 100 rolls so far.and would be happy with another hundred.
 
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