General LF Accessories...Focusing cloth, loupe, etc.

[AutumnJazz]

So, I will (hopefully) be getting my first 4x5" camera in a week or so. I just realized now that I've forgotten about some rather critical things...like a focusing cloth, a focusing loupe, and film holders. I figure I will just get some cheap plastic film holders off of ebay for not too much, but I have no idea what to look for in a focusing cloth or loupe. Am I missing anything else? (Yes I will have a lens and lens boards. :P)

Thanks! :)

Edit: I think that this loupe (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/61094-REG/Toyo_View_180_301_3_6x_Groundglass_Focusing_Aid.html) was recommended to me once.

...I forgot about a cable release, too.

[David Karp]

This will help: http://www.largeformatphotography.info/matos-begin.html

Some people really like that Toyo loupe. I have one that I use with my Crown Graphic, because it works with the groundglass protector (due to its length). In general though, I don't like it much. I prefer a more powerful loupe.

[Nick_3536]

You can make your own darkcloth. Ranging from some light proof cloth to people using sweatshirts.

Loupe? Seems everybody wants something different. For small cameras I think a good one matters more then for 8x10. Is the Toyo 3.6x still sold?

Film?
Cable release?
Something to meter with?

[AutumnJazz]

For a meter I'm probably going to end up with a Sekonic L-508.

[AutumnJazz]

Can I use a Grafmatic sheet film holder in a Gandolfi Variant 4x5?

[kev curry]

I figure I will just get some cheap plastic film holders off of ebay for not too much

You should do as much as you can to insure you buy film holders that are in good order. If your buying on ebay watch out your not buying dusty old light leaking junk, the last thing you need when starting out is holders that have issues:)

[Steve Gledhill]

Try this thread for dark cloths ...
http://www.largeformatphotography.info/forum/showthread.php?t=40212&page=3

[Jay Wolfe]

Get a good lens shade. One of the easiest things to improve your images.

[kev curry]

There's a good piece on the use of a lens shade here, it even tells you how to make one if you were so inclined:)

http://web.mac.com/razeichner/iWeb/RAZP%20large%20pix/Shade%20pg%201.html

[Louie Powell]

I have a fancy darkcloth now, but I started out using a piece of black denim that I bought at a discount fabric store. I borrowed my wife's sewing machine to put a hem on the edge.

My loupe is a 10x magnifier that I bought at a photo flea market. It has a clear plastic 'apron' that I covered with black masking tape. The neck strap is a piece of elasticized cord - my son found a spool of the stuff in the shop at the Boston Children's Museum where they sell surplus stuff from various industries around Boston.

For a lens shade, I use a square of dark gray plastic foam. This came as packing in some computer equipment, and when it's not being used as a lens shade, it serves to cushion the ground glass back of my camera when it is in its backpack home. I attach it to the camera using one of those articulated double bulldog clips that I also found at a photo flea market.

When traveling, I feel more comfortable with additional ground glass protection. I use a sheet of 1/8" plexiglass that I cut to fit over the back of my camera that attaches using velcro.

[SamReeves]

Lens shade - your darkslide can double as a lens shade. :p

The Toyo loupe is money though. The best robust loupe you can get.

[Bruce M. Herman]

A lot of what you need for 35 mm photography is also needed for large format photography: lens cleaner/cloth, cable release, filters, etc. I think that you'll find yourself making exposures longer than one second. I find a digital wristwatch to be better than counting seconds in my head.

[shmoo]

A small can of Dust-Off, small roll of white artist tape, a sharpie pen, ziploc baggies/Eagle Creek pack sacs to carry stuff.

[AutumnJazz]

Dust-Off? Don't use that stuff. The accelerate will screw up anything it touches. I use compressed CO_2.

[cjbroadbent]

Don't forget a bellows-factor gizmo. Mine is a day-glo, one-inch-long piece of alu tubing (to put in the scene) with the the bellows-factor scale (to put in the ground glass) rolled up inside.

[AutumnJazz]

I'd rather just measure and calculate.

[John Kasaian]

So, I will (hopefully) be getting my first 4x5" camera in a week or so. I just realized now that I've forgotten about some rather critical things...like a focusing cloth, a focusing loupe, and film holders. I figure I will just get some cheap plastic film holders off of ebay for not too much, but I have no idea what to look for in a focusing cloth or loupe. Am I missing anything else? (Yes I will have a lens and lens boards. :P)

Thanks! :)

Edit: I think that this loupe (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/61094-REG/Toyo_View_180_301_3_6x_Groundglass_Focusing_Aid.html) was recommended to me once.

...I forgot about a cable release, too.

Dark cloths aren't a problem if you have a sewer in your family. Steve Simmons' book Using The View Camera has instructions. An XXL black sweatshirt can also work well on a 4x5---stretch the neck around the rear standard. For a loupe Toyo is fine but you can certainly get by with a $8 Agfa type, dime store magnifying glasses or even a linen tester---these are perfectly usable.

Gepe makes nice cable releases.

Lens? There are lots of choices, pal. Tell us what you want to shoot and you'll be flooded with suggestions. A good "starter" lens for 4x5 might be a 162mm Wollensak Velostigmat series II, Kodak 203mm Ektar, Schneider Symmar convertable, just about any 210mmm, G-Clarons, Dagors---take your pick! :)

For ebay film holders, get good looking ones. Trashed out looking film holders are likely abused and have a better good chance of being leakers. You shouldn't want those. You don't want "tilt-all" film holders, either. Stick with Lisco, Fidelity, or the old Riteway Graphics. buy a stack of them or you'll get scr*w*d with the shipping charges if you win one or two at a time.

[Ole Tjugen]

A black Levi's T-shirt, size L, has been my favorite darkcloth ever since I bought it in a sale some years ago. It cost me about $1.50...

The Tessar 150/4.5 has a slightly sticky shutter, but should be decent after a little exercise. It's just to get you started looking through the camera, really! And also so that you have a better chance of decifing what focal length might be worth looking for as a next lens - or maybe 150 is right, but you just need more movements?

The camera HAS built-in ground glass protection, so that's one thing less to worry about. But it makes some loupes more difficult to use without removing the plexiglass protector, so it might be an idea looking for one which doesn't have to sit flat on the GG to focus.

[Preston]

"Dark cloths aren't a problem if you have a sewer in your family"

Let's hope the OP has a seamstress in the family rather than a sewer!:D

-P

[redrockcoulee]

"Dark cloths aren't a problem if you have a sewer in your family"

Let's hope the OP has a seamstress in the family rather than a sewer!:D

-P

A seamstress would be useful for the dark cloth, the sewer more so when developing film or making prints. And in my case, paper recycling for after making prints

[John Powers]

If you buy the cheap plastic film holders on eBay, remember that someone may have been getting rid of them because of light leaks. You can test them at least two ways. You can wait for the leaks to show up on that really important picture that has now gone bad or you can try test #2 and discard the junk. I loaded mine, waited for a really bright day, laid them out in the sun for 1/2 an hour, trying both sides up for 15 minutes, numbered the film holders, then shot a white sheet of paper with the same number on it in the really bright sun. The film holders that past that test have worked very well with normal protection.

John

[Sevo]

If you buy the cheap plastic film holders on eBay, remember that someone may have been getting rid of them because of light leaks.

Beware, the same is no less true for expensive wood/metal film holders...

Sevo

[brian robertson]

Dear Forum,

I'm just about to start in LF indoor portraits, and have the material, but no pattern, to make a dark focusing cloth. I've seen advice on buying (but am a student) and using T shirts etc, but my wife is keen to sew one up for me- can you recommend a pattern or directions I can access online? Many thanks,

[Nick_3536]

A pattern would be like a receipe for hard boiled eggs -)

I've got an old red dark cloth that came with a studio camera. It's got a gold fringe around it's edge. That's about it.

Other then size not much else to worry about for indoor use. Outdoors you've got sunlight bouncing from every direction. So something that wraps around the camera is better. Maybe an elastic on the camera end?

[kev curry]

Brain

I just measured my dark cloth @ 4x4' square and that proves to be plenty for a 4x5 camera. Its a shop bought ''Phago'' Focusing Cloth. All it is, is two 4x4' pieces of cotton cloth one black piece and one red piece sewn back to back to give you, yes you've guest it...one red side and one black side, its red to make you more attractive to any oncoming hazards like angry Bulls in fields ect ect... in my case I work with the black side oot, but then I live in a part of the world where its freezing on a good day! If you want to go further, you can sew elastic down one side of the cloth and then sew the two corners together to form a Kilt/skirt like garment...its just like the waistband on an old pair of elasticated knickers at one end of the cloth;-) You can then fit the elasticated end all the way around the back of your camera when focusing...dont make the waistband to tight mind, you must be careful not to let the elastic slip forward and mangle your bellows...ouch:) It also doubles as a warm cape for cold weather or even the odd late evening trip to Pennsylvania;-) I've found the addition of a small strip of Velcro stuck to both the top of the camera back and the inside of the waistband of the dark cloth a great addition, it keeps it securely in place and works like a charm!

[brian robertson]

Dear Kev & Nick,
Thanks for the advice! I too live in perishingly cold Scotland, and the idea of a focusing cloth that doubles as a cape is most interesting. For portrait work I guess I could put some more decorative (perhaps warmer) material on the other side, keep the victim occupied. i've just joined this forum so will probably have lots of questions as I'm a complete beginner- many thanks again, B.

[Simon Liddiard]

I'm sorry to resurrect an old thread, but the opportunity for some light hearted banter with my soon-to-be independent neighbours is too much to bear.

All you Scotsmen and women have the perfect dark cloth; yer kilt! Heavy-weight tartan would be perfect at blocking the light out. You might have to wear something else underneath, for a change, unless you're happy to stand naked and exposed from the waist down whilst you take the shot.

Thankfully we have boxes and boxes of material at home so I'm going to make myself a more conventional darkcloth this weekend. I might adorn it with some bits and pieces from the scraps box, depending on how I feel :cool:

[Brian C. Miller]

All you Scotsmen and women have the perfect dark cloth; yer kilt!

Gandolfi, this is your photo area, isn't it?

Simon, your post bring to mind Utilikilts (http://www.utilikilts.com/), from my neck of the woods. I'm sure they could create something to accommodate LF photographers.

[Simon Liddiard]

Brilliant! Tactical kilts!

Thanks for the link Brian

[Vick Vickery]

Though I didn't see it mentioned (may have just missed it) don't forget that you will need a tripod of adequate strength to hold a large camera. Frankly, I use tripods that are suitable for 8x10 cameras even though I work with only 4x5 and smaller cameras.

[Simon Liddiard]

Same here Vick. I'd rather lug an over-specced tripod and head at the expense of aching muscles than the other way around.