lf-photo.org.uk

I found this ages ago, thought it might be useful!
http://www.jbhphoto.com/articles/filmno/filmholder1.htm

That's an ingenious method of categorising film holders. I don't see how, though, it will identify individual sheets (he writes that, often, different filters or different exposures are applied to the same scene, and his method allows them to be distinguished). I must be missing something!

My Koni-Omega rollfilm magazines do something similar, in that a little perforated strip slides along at the film edge (in the "rebate") to expose an adjustable number of tiny holes. Once again, only rolls of film rather than individual frames can be distinguished – although at least with rollfilm one has the dubious benefit of frame numbers.

I don't see how, though, it will identify individual sheets (he writes that, often, different filters or different exposures are applied to the same scene, and his method allows them to be distinguished). I must be missing something!

Would it not be a case of referring to his notes? Exposure time, aperture setting, filters, etc.

Nick

Collas wrote:

I don't see how, though, it will identify individual sheets (he writes that, often, different filters or different exposures are applied to the same scene, and his method allows them to be distinguished). I must be missing something!

Would it not be a case of referring to his notes? Exposure time, aperture setting, filters, etc.

Nick

Well, yes, I suppose so.

I looked again at the text. How I think it works is that he numbers each holder uniquely (" ... each film holder had an individual number, but once the film was removed and mixed in with others, exact identification was difficult") and – as you suggest – makes notes which refer to the holder. The notch code links the sheet to the holder and thus to the notes.

Ha! It took a lot of mental effort to work that one out. Blame a surfeit of Christmas fare!

Hello !
This system use a base 10 numbering system.
In my humble opinion (somewhat biased as I'm an IT guy) it would be better to use a base 2 numbering system. This will minimize the number of notches to make on one film holder. (but it will be a little more difficult to decipher for a non specialist)
There is a nice description of the process in the "Way beyond monochrome" book by Chris Woodhouse and Ralph Lambrecht.
It is a neat and useful system to use when you have a lot of holders of different origin/history and want to trace light leaks or dust problems...
Hope this helps