How to Carry Film Holders

[brian steinberger]

I recently processed some film from a recent shoot and found minute dust spots on the film. Before I load the film I blow out every film holder with canned air and load the film in a clean area. I was wondering how everyone carries their film holders the field. I've been keeping mine in ziploc bags, one for color transparancy and one for black and white. I want to eliminate any chances of dust getting onto the film before exposure. I want everyones personal opinions. Thanks!

[John Kasaian]

brian,

I use zip locks for 4x5, 5x7, and 8x10 holders, and dust proof zippered pillow cases liners from wal-mart for 12x20. So far I haven't had any problems, but plastic zip locks can attract dust via static electricity. If that is your problem there are specialized plastic bags for computer boards you can use(forgot the name of the suppliers, but there are people who post here that can recommend a supplier)

I think my capitol weapon for fighting demon dust is a little shop vac I use to vacuum my holders before loading. IMHO, compressed air just scoots the dust in the dark room around where it can lay in wait to ambush you the next go around. I like to get those unsavory dust devils contained in my shop vac.

Cheers!

[Steve Bell]

I'm new to 4x5, so I might be going too far in anti dust cleanliness, but so far it's worked for me. I pull out the slides, and use a new paint brush (this I later seal in a bag to keep it dust free) and brush away from me, then vacume, then refit slides, then store in individual self seal poly bags, 5 to a "Stewart" lunch box container. They stay like this until I load them. Just before loading I remove them from thier bag and give them a final blast of compressed air from a canister, then take them into the large cuboard I use for film loading/unloading. When loaded they go back into thier bags and get used, or go back into the lunch box and the fridge. Colour and B&W are packed together in my bag, I keep track of them by numbering each slide, so typically 1-10 may contain velvia and 11-20 FP4, this I note in my exposure note book.

[Ralph Barker]

Regular ZipLok bags are a great help in the field, but anti-static ZipLoks, like those used for electronic gear, are even better. Vacuuming and blowing holders helps, too, but don't stop there. Dust hides inside the bellows, too, just waiting for us to pull the dark slide so it can jump on our film. I've also heard that rubbing down the darkslides with a bit of orange cleaner helps to reduce static.

[Graeme Hird]

I use zip-up insulated lunch boxes from kmart for my 5x4 holders. Flick through the images on this link and you'll see them.

http://www.scenebyhird.com/BackPack/index.html

Cheers,

Graeme

[Chuck_1686]

I've never used them but a couple places selling anti-static bags:


http://staticbags.com/
http://www.staticspecialists.com/index.html

[Tom Perkins]

Another thing you can do is carry an inexpensive paint brush in your pack and brush off the holder before putting it in the camera.

[David A. Goldfarb]

I very much like the 4" Kinetronics anti-static brush for all sorts of photographic uses (and my vinyl records).

[Sharon S.]

Also, if you load your film in a changing bag or tent, be sure that the bag/tent is dust free as well. Turn it inside out and give it a good shake or vacuum if you trust your vacuum cleaner.

[Paul Butzi]

I use extra tall 50 cal ammo cans like these at
http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ctd/product.asp?sku=ZAA%2D097&mscssid=NBHN2BQS6RAA8KD4XXP1NVT6RHQEAGS8

I clean'em up, paint the outside white so they don't heat up as much in the car.

Pad the inside of them, too, so the holders don't rattle and get dinged up.

They're water-tight, air-tight, dust-tight. They're heavy, but I don't use holders unless I'm working from the car, so it doesn't matter.