"Shade the holder to prevent direct light from shinning on the light trap as you withdraw the dark slide..." (Phil Davis; Photo Techniques Magazine; march/april 1998 - The View Camera). Has anybody already had an unhappy experience of light invasion through the "lig ht trap" of film holder while shooting? Do you think is really necessary to shade the film holder, as Phil Davis advises ? (Sergio Caetano)
YES!
Alec
Sergio: It can't hurt to do that, but... I have a variety of film holders in 4X5 and 5X7. Three quarters of them were purchased used, most of those were very dusty and took a lot of cleaning. With the exception of some "Kodak" 5X7's which were ancient (1930's) I've never had a light leak. I don't let them sit there uncovered in the sun sitting up in the camera bag. I'm careful with them, but I've never taken the precaution you're asking about and I've never had a problem. Again, it can't hurt.
Keep that film holder covered, especially if you are making a vertical shot!!! - or if the sun is striking the side of the camera...
When I first started with 4x5 I left the film holder uncovered with the dark slide removed while standing in sun light. The film was streaked with light leaks. Since then I've always kept the holder covered with the dark cloth as the dark slide is being removed and for the entire time the holder is in the camera after that. Haven't had a light leak since.
Brian Ellis
Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way when you do criticize them you'll be
a mile away and you'll have their shoes.
I never entirely remove the dark slide - ever. Slide it out- leave it in place - snap shutter - slide it in. Why would you want to entirely remove it? Seems like a gamble to me.
Thanks for shedding some LIGHT on this subject guys! I'll follow your advise. m.
Sergio... if you want to try an experiment, put your film holders in the camera for 5 minutes with dark slide removed and sun pointing at the slot. Of course keep lens shutter closed. Then snap a pix of a number of that respective film holder. Be sure to underexpose and use dark colors so you can see the light leaks. I know it will cost a few bucks per film holder, but you will weed out the real bad ones and prevent your self from ruining a future shot.
A good rule to follow, is never take the dark slide out, until you are ready to fire the shutter.....because all film holders will probably leak some light, but its a cummaltive effect, so if the dark slide is not out for long, even the slow leakers will never ruin an image.
Sergio: I never had light leaks with my 4x5 holders (Fidelity & Toyo), but once had several pictures ruined that way with Horseman roll film holder (in vertical orientation). Since that day I always shade the light trap of the RFH with the dark slide when shooting verticals.
I never have problems with my Fidelity holders. I have frequently left these holders exposed to sunlight.
I remove the darkslide to reverse it so that I know that sheet of film is exposed.
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