Dark Cloth 4x5

[Bernice Loui]

IMO, five x five feet is HUGE, do a trial sizing with folded cloth (small flat bed sheet or similar) to figure out sizing, make the dark cloth as small as reasonable to work and the dark cloth does not need to be rectangular in shape. Half roundish or remove the dark cloth material where it is not needed (usually on the sides).

Keep in mind, larger the dark cloth more bulky it will be, more difficult to deal with and the bulk makes transport less easy.

IMO, smaller is far better in many ways.


Bernice

You can go smaller, but Five by five feet is what many LF photographers seem to like, and you can always fold it up to fit the bottom of your box/bag, as additional padding for travel.

[Alan Klein]

I just tried a black t shirt but the wind made it impossible almost to use. Anything better than that? Anyone using the HArrison or the BTZS?

[Roger Thoms]

I really like my BTZS for my 4x5 and 8x10. Just bought a Harrison for my 7x17 because the bellows has pinholes. Haven't had a chance to use the Harrison yet, but it's nicely made and I'm sure it will work fine. I like the BTZS because they are really dark and make it much easier for me to see the ground glass.

Black Jacket is another one to consider. That's whats actually on my 8x10 in my avatar photo, but I ended getting a BTZS hood because they are a little simpler. The Black Jacket has arm holes vs. the BTZS which has a velcro closure along the bottom.

Roger

[mpirie]

Sorry i'm late to the party......but i use (and have used for nearly 12 years) one of these.

It's compact, showerproof and very adaptable. It was designed by a couple of the UK's foremost landscape photographers.

Mike

[CreationBear]

It's compact, showerproof and very adaptable

Excellent, I was hoping someone would give a little feedback on this one--have you tried it on an 8x10 by chance? At any rate, I'm usually through Paddington while in London--their showroom seems to be a short walk.

[Tin Can]

Secondary topic

Anybody use camera Dark Cloth attachment clips as some cameras used to have them built in? Some attach velcro to the camera, which I don't like, very hard to remove

In studio I use a SS bent wire support as sold by Calumet for the 8X10 C1 to hold up the cloth

Some years ago I sold copies here on forum, not going to do that again

However I just made myself 2 that work on my Linhof Kardan Color front and rear, front is for lens shade

Doesn't work outside...

[mpirie]

Excellent, I was hoping someone would give a little feedback on this one--have you tried it on an 8x10 by chance? At any rate, I'm usually through Paddington while in London--their showroom seems to be a short walk.

Sadly i i don't have a 10x8 camera, but as the collar is elasticated with cords, i'd be confident it'll fit a 10x8 easily.

Mike

[Peter De Smidt]

Dark cloths and windy conditions are not a good combination. In those cases a fold out hood or monocular viewer might be better, depending a bit on the lens. They generally work will with normal and longer lenses.

[Alan Klein]

Dark cloths and windy conditions are not a good combination. In those cases a fold out hood or monocular viewer might be better, depending a bit on the lens. They generally work will with normal and longer lenses.

Peter, I'm using a Chamonix 4x5. They have three types of viewfinders. The reflex with a 3x viewer which reverses the view. But they also have two types like you mentioned. One with a narrow view but will not accept a loupe but provides a darker environment. The third opens up widely so you can get a loupe in there but of course there's less darkness. What's your thoughts on these to be used in windy weather?
http://www.chamonixviewcamera.com/ac...es/viewfinders

[Kiwi7475]

Starting out in LF with a Chamonix 4x5. 45H-1 http://www.chamonixviewcamera.com/cameras/45h1

I don't plan to shoot in the rain or really windy days. What do you recommend?

I wouldn’t overthink it. I own varios commercial options and they usually stay inside the bag except during summer. Reason is, I usually wear a light cloth jacket when I’m out hiking. It’s enough to wrap it around the camera with your hands and it’s good enough to see even at f9. Simple to put on and remove! I also use it to cover the bellows and filters (if using) right before shooting. The commercial options typically have some form of tension system to wrap around the back; I find that then removing it to insert the film holder may shift/move the camera, so I make the tensioning very loose so in the end it doesn’t “close” it fully and becomes like a jacket. So I may just as well use one. It also saves some space.