Keith S. Walklet
22-Jan-2010, 22:03
Just a quick note to announce a change in design for all HYBRID BLACKJACKET™ focusing cloths.
Two Cords are Better Than One!
Early models of the BLACKJACKET™ featured a single, 1/8” shock cord threaded through the front edge of the neck to attach the focusing cloth to the camera.
The adjustable cord could be secured and released with the spring-loaded toggle, permitting attachment and removal without disturbing the position of the camera.
A single adjustment point in the upper left corner provides even tension along all edges of the neck to ensure a better seal between the fabric and camera. With care, the neck could be made to grasp very narrow surfaces.
But… since the width of view camera cabinets varies considerably, from wooden cameras 2-1/2” to 3” thick, to metal studio cameras with rear standards barely half an inch wide, I have long considered ways to improve the interface. In the past, I have modified the neck design slightly, going from a single tension point on the bottom, to two (top and bottom) and then back to a single tension point in the upper left corner for the best seal.
After much consideration, I concluded that I could eek a bit more performance out of the neck with a redesign.
In short, the new style neck attaches to the camera by using both smaller diameter shock cord, and by using a pair of cords instead of one.
I’ve also reduced the number of layers of fabric in the neck from four to two, which dramatically improves the fabric’s ability to gather when the neck size shrinks. The difference in performance was so great that I now only stock a HYBRID 46” neck for all 4x5 and 5x7 cameras. The 56” neck of the new 8x10 Mark II also improved dramatically, working just as easily with 4x5, 5x7 and 8x10 cameras, (even without the clips I formerly used to restrict the neck when used with the smaller formats).
Some customers have already received the new design and I've updated the website with some links and additional information. There are links to a detailed explanation on the specifications page (buy link).
Feedback so far has been very positive. I am very pleased with the new design, and hope you will be as well.
Two Cords are Better Than One!
Early models of the BLACKJACKET™ featured a single, 1/8” shock cord threaded through the front edge of the neck to attach the focusing cloth to the camera.
The adjustable cord could be secured and released with the spring-loaded toggle, permitting attachment and removal without disturbing the position of the camera.
A single adjustment point in the upper left corner provides even tension along all edges of the neck to ensure a better seal between the fabric and camera. With care, the neck could be made to grasp very narrow surfaces.
But… since the width of view camera cabinets varies considerably, from wooden cameras 2-1/2” to 3” thick, to metal studio cameras with rear standards barely half an inch wide, I have long considered ways to improve the interface. In the past, I have modified the neck design slightly, going from a single tension point on the bottom, to two (top and bottom) and then back to a single tension point in the upper left corner for the best seal.
After much consideration, I concluded that I could eek a bit more performance out of the neck with a redesign.
In short, the new style neck attaches to the camera by using both smaller diameter shock cord, and by using a pair of cords instead of one.
I’ve also reduced the number of layers of fabric in the neck from four to two, which dramatically improves the fabric’s ability to gather when the neck size shrinks. The difference in performance was so great that I now only stock a HYBRID 46” neck for all 4x5 and 5x7 cameras. The 56” neck of the new 8x10 Mark II also improved dramatically, working just as easily with 4x5, 5x7 and 8x10 cameras, (even without the clips I formerly used to restrict the neck when used with the smaller formats).
Some customers have already received the new design and I've updated the website with some links and additional information. There are links to a detailed explanation on the specifications page (buy link).
Feedback so far has been very positive. I am very pleased with the new design, and hope you will be as well.