Michael Fritzen wrote:
From my POV, even if the data backs from film times still work with 2018's data (which they could not according to syber) , a photographer wanting to go back to shoot analog again would need to return also to the old methods of keeping track - perhaps with the aid of some new tools like smartphone for GPS tracking, voice recording for image info, spread sheet or data base to keep the info. I never liked the idea of the imprint in "normal" photography because it got visually too dominant, destroying the visual impression. I'd compare it to today's too large copyright remarks / logos.
Sybercitizen is referring to the data back for the XD7 only having the year up until 1997 , not data backs in general .
That one works by having three rotating dials aligned in one position with an LED to "flash" it onto the film .
Later camera model were electronic with buttons and an LCD screen ( think 1980's Casio watch ) , ones such as the Programme back Super 70 & 90 for the Minolta 7000AF and 9000AF were very sophisticated .
Not just data imprinting , but you could adjust the settings for the Programme mode of the camera , and also included an intervalometer that also woke up the flash gun to get the capacitor charged ready for the shot in advance .
I'm not sure what the date goes up to from these 1985 models , but would have run much later than the ten years earlier XD7 back .
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Regarding on if it's possible to have data imprinting still with film cameras , of course it is !
You just need the right kit .
My Minolta Dynax 7 can imprint the film up to 31st December 2039 !
You don't need a smartphone app to copy stuff down , Minolta already thought of this in 2000 .
The camera was available with the Data Saver DS-100 which attached where the lens goes and transferred the EXIF data to a smart card which could then be transferred to you PC on a spreadsheet .
Skip forward another 15 or so years and modern software is available in the Meta 35 software ; http://www.meta35.com/
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Film still very usable , you just need to do your homework to find the right kit to do the job .