Clamp to hold film back shut while moving dark slide?

[Ken Lee]

It's a fairly common problem: while removing or inserting the dark slide, the film holder moves, and briefly breaks the light seal. All it takes is a fraction of a second and the slightest gap, and we get fogging in a corner of the image.

(It's helpful to make sure that the dark slide moves as smoothly as possible. To this end, I have been waxing my dark slides lately, since all my film holders are rather old.)

Some cameras have a bail back, or a levered back. This allows for the spring to be stronger, and therefore press the film holder with greater force. Even with that, one can still experience the problem.

Is there some kind of simple clamp that we could use ? Once the film is in the camera, lock the clamp. Then remove the dark slide, shoot, and replace the dark slide. Then unlock the clamp and remove the film holder.

Such a clamp has to be lightweight but strong. On wooden cameras, it can't damage the wood. And it has to be affordable and readily available.

Any suggestions ?

[Gem Singer]

I've never seen a clamp made specifically,or one that could possibly be utilized, for that purpose.

Being right handed, I've always been taught to pinch the spring back and the body of the camera between the thumb and index finger of my left hand while removing the dark slide with my right hand.

I also tend to keep a dark cloth draped over the back of the camera.

[Curt]

I've never seen a clamp made specifically,or one that could possibly be utilized, for that purpose.

Being right handed, I've always been taught to pinch the spring back and the body of the camera between the thumb and index finger of my left hand while removing the dark slide with my right hand.

I also tend to keep a dark cloth draped over the back of the camera.

Same here.

[Ken Lee]

I should have mentioned that (being right-handed) I always use my left thumb to hold the camera back against the film holder - but even so, it would be nice to solve the problem once and for all. Especially for those lefties out there

[Gem Singer]

Right or left handed operation is not a concern for me. The backs of my Canham MQC and Toyo monorail are able to be set for right handed, left handed, top, or bottom insertion of film holders.

[Jason Greenberg Motamedi]

Not what you asked, but one can lock Graphmatics to a Graflock back using the sliders.

[Ken Lee]

It's revealing nevertheless. I presume those old-time press photographers wanted to be able to concentrate on the task at hand, and not worry about fogging every shot.

Sliders... hmm. Could you provide a photo ? A clamp isn't really necessary, if there is a lock of sorts instead.

[Jason Greenberg Motamedi]

Sliders... hmm. Could you provide a photo ? A clamp isn't really necessary, if there is a lock of sorts instead.

I don't have a camera with a graflock back, perhaps someone else?

[Keith Pitman]

You could have a bail installed. A bit pricey, though. I use the Gem Singer method, also.

[TheDeardorffGuy]

I load film holders from the right. I hold the camera frame and GG frame in my left hand (my personal Clamp) and pull the slide. I also use lemon pledge on my darkslides. That makes a great deal of difference in the pull force.