Film changing bag or changing tent?

[avazphoto]

Hi everyone

I run a search and could not find the answer to to this and also I'm not sure if I'm posting this question on the right forum, but here I go.

What are you using to load film holders outside? Bag or tent?

I searched for different options online an I'm leaning more towards a tent, but I find the ones I found on ebay overpriced...

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance

a

[Mark Sampson]

The flat changing bag will put dust on your film (through contact), resulting in black spots on your prints. Frustrating!
Use a changing tent if you're using sheet film. I've been using one (a Photoflex), when needed, for 25 years.

[otto.f]

I use a changing bag since I do LF and never noticed dust in the photo. My dust problems if I have them, are always from drying the developed film. My bag is made from some nylon/propylene fabric, which feels hardly static to me.
Another thing is where you live. In hot and humid climates a changing bag can be quite annoying because of sweaty hands.

[agregov]

Changing bags lay flat on top of your film holders and hands which make it harder to load/unload film in my experience. I like the Photoflex Changing Room the best for 4x5. The Harrison Pup tent could work as an alternative for 4x5. I use a medium Harrison Changing Tent for 8x10 holders. It's fine but somewhat bulky, harder to travel with than the Photoflex IMO.

[Fred L]

bags are smaller and fold up small. tents are larger but have much needed interior room/volume. a must imo for loading holders.

[diversey]

I use a change bag for travel and a change tent at home. For loading film to film holders, the change tent is definately better.

[Kiwi7475]

Tent is the way to go.

In a pinch if the bag is large enough you can Velcro the top center point and lift it (attaching yo something nearby) so as to create a mini tent. It will tend to shrink the base as you pull up so you do need an slightly oversized bag.

[ggbushaw]

I also have used both, but I switched years ago to using a changing tent exclusively for loading and unloading my 4x5 Grafmatic holders. For me, at least, dust is much less of a problem, and the tent does not get in the way of my hands, the holders and the box of film nearly as much.

[MIke Sherck]

I prefer a tent but my budget was a bag. Then I found a reflector on top of a fiberglass pole; intended to mark the edge of your driveway or your mailbox so you don't go astray while driving at night. I cut the sticks to the right length (4 to 6 inches longer than the flat dimensions of the bag) and wrapped a ball of duct tape around the ends. Put them in the bag and the ends into the bag's seams so they bow upward and presto! Instant tent! Works great for me (4x5 and 5x7)

[ericantonio]

Outdoors, I try to have all my holders loaded. I load them up in the bathroom. I have a piece of plywood on the floor. I have 2 blackout curtains.

I have a regular Photoflex tent. But it kinda just fits 8x10. I use it if I have to outdoors to unload film but usually, I have everything loaded enough for a day of outdoor shooting. When I get back home, I just remove the unshot film and back into the box.

[jp]

Perhaps just get more filmholders if the budget is comparable to a changing tent. Then you won't have to reload them when away from the darkroom/darkbathroom/etc..

[Maris Rusis]

In a pinch I've used a big changing bag but to stop it flopping down on the film loading area I first put in the largest cardboard carton that will fit. This creates a "cave" for the hands to work in.

[neil poulsen]

I used a change bag for a long time, when a darkroom wasn't available. But during a workshop with Norman McGrath on architectural photography, I saw him use a large Harrison tent. Very nice, and I purchased one on EBay. I would not want to go back to a change bag.

Be careful about Harrison tents, though. Especially used ones. The material they used on the surface can degenerate and become "moist" or "sticky" to the touch. Mine ended up with an advanced case. It can be caused by leaving the tent in its case for long periods of time. (Especially in a hot climate.) To check it, I put my head inside, and I could see a low level light inside. I got rid of it.

Instead, I purchased a new one that was made in China. It works well, and being designed for 11x14, it's plenty large for 8x10. To keep it from having the same problem as the Harrison, I don't store it in it's tight, confining case. I store it loose in a box.

[Willie]

Tinker toys in a changing bag make it into a space where the cloth does not lay on your film or holders. Best of all it keeps the top off your hands as the moisture builds up inside as you unlod/load the film. In warm and hot areas I have found the moisture build up more of a problem than dust.

[LabRat]

I use a large changing bag with a re-purposed file cabinet hanging file rack inside...

Comes apart flat, just had to polish the ends so they wouldn't snag the inside of the bag...

Can hold stacks of holders and boxes of film inside easily with plenty of room...

Steve K

[Oslolens]

Noritsu changing bag can be made a tent as described further up. Big enough for 11x14"

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[Alan Klein]

I used a change bag for a long time, when a darkroom wasn't available. But during a workshop with Norman McGrath on architectural photography, I saw him use a large Harrison tent. Very nice, and I purchased one on EBay. I would not want to go back to a change bag.

Be careful about Harrison tents, though. Especially used ones. The material they used on the surface can degenerate and become "moist" or "sticky" to the touch. Mine ended up with an advanced case. It can be caused by leaving the tent in its case for long periods of time. (Especially in a hot climate.) To check it, I put my head inside, and I could see a low level light inside. I got rid of it.

Instead, I purchased a new one that was made in China. It works well, and being designed for 11x14, it's plenty large for 8x10. To keep it from having the same problem as the Harrison, I don't store it in it's tight, confining case. I store it loose in a box.

I have a Harrison tent for my 4x5 that I just started with a few months ago. The recommendation Harrison gives that I follow is to keep the tent generally loose when you put it away. I fold it about four time loosely and lay it loose into the original cardboard box that I don't close completely. I put it up on a shelf at the top of the hall closet. I suppose that prevents cracking of the material and moisture buildup. I also leave it unzipped before I fold it so moisture if any can escape.

[Andy_Arizona_01]

I use a homemade film-changing box. Doesn't fold away like a tent, but you can store things in it while you're not using it. I've had one for close to 2 years and never had a light leak. http://www.thepencilneckgeek.com/2019/06/10-diy-film-changing-box-plans-battle.html

[avazphoto]

Thanks for the insightful answers so far. I'm about to star my 4x5 adventure and I may get 4 holders to start with. It should be enough for a day but I plan on going in small camping trips and I think I may need to reload the holders on the go.

[Alan Klein]

Thanks for the insightful answers so far. I'm about to star my 4x5 adventure and I may get 4 holders to start with. It should be enough for a day but I plan on going in small camping trips and I think I may need to reload the holders on the go.

Just a thought. If you buy film in twenty sheet boxes, five holders might be easier to handle. That way, when you finish the first ten sheets (five holders), you can insert the second ten film sheets in one session rather than leaving 2 sheets for a second tent use. If you buy a ten sheet box, you can do all ten sheets in one session and not have two sheets left over.

[Kiwi7475]

Just a thought. If you buy film in twenty sheet boxes, five holders might be easier to handle. That way, when you finish the first ten sheets (five holders), you can insert the second ten film sheets in one session rather than leaving 2 sheets for a second tent use. If you buy a ten sheet box, you can do all ten sheets in one session and not have two sheets left over.

As long as you get the next box before you need to reload again, it doesn’t really matter whether you have 4 or 5 or any number holders, really. You basically always have enough sheets to load all your holders (just need to get 2 boxes in the tent sometimes :-)

[David Schaller]

While you may have gone ahead in another direction, I will just say that it is easy enough to black out a bathroom at night, and sit on the floor and load holders. For the price of a tent, you can buy more holders, and a couple of trays to put on the floor of the tub or shower stall to hold the film box in one tray, and the holders in the other.

[BrianShaw]

... and if you opt for a changing bag, buy the biggest you can get. I’ve only once loaded Film holders in anyplace other a changing bag... since 1982. Never found it an inconvenience or difficult or dust-prone. It takes some shuffling, though. I also load Patterson and Stearman tanks in changing bag. THOSE were a problem due to shear bulk but a bigger bag got that issue under control. My favorite changing bag is now the large Paterson. Enough room but rather tight arm holes. To ensure that dust is not much of a problem I only load and unload at home and never in the field. I’d rather load a bunch of holders in a clean environment than limit to a few and risk dust.

[otto.f]

I prefer a tent but my budget was a bag. Then I found a reflector on top of a fiberglass pole; intended to mark the edge of your driveway or your mailbox so you don't go astray while driving at night. I cut the sticks to the right length (4 to 6 inches longer than the flat dimensions of the bag) and wrapped a ball of duct tape around the ends. Put them in the bag and the ends into the bag's seams so they bow upward and presto! Instant tent! Works great for me (4x5 and 5x7)

Thanks fot the idea. I combined it with the following: in Holland it is very hard to find nice coffee tables, so my wife and I already thought it would be better to make one ourselves. The other day I made one with a piece of ceder wood from the barn. It’s about 40x30cm with legs of 12,5cm high. It fits perfectly in my changing bag and I have more ease now with changing films. I hardly ever change at location, but blinding my darkroom costs me more time than using this bag. I can watch a netflix episode with my wife in the meantime

[archphotofisher]

As a user of both, I do prefer the tent, especially for 5x7 & 8x10.