What is the current trend on using dark cloth?

[Fatih]

I’m just a beginner on LF with my 4x5 camera and I’d like to learn what is the best way to use dark cloth, ie do you keep it attached to your camera while you slide the film holder (which is pretty difficult to do) or do you take it off and then slide the film holder? How do you guarantee nothing moves when you do these?

[Two23]

I just use either a jacket or a black t-shirt. I use it to frame and focus, and then simply drop it on the snow under my tripod. Nothing fancy.


Kent in SD

[David Schaller]

You lock everything down when you've got the focus you want. Hopefully nothing moves either way. I do not use an attached dark cloth, often just a jacket, so I don't have anything attached to the camera.

When you get your camera, you will decide some of these things based on your own experience. There is no cutting edge science on a lot of these questions.

[GRAYnomad]

I always carry a change bag and so far I've just used that. I may buy a cloth soon, and if I do I won't get one with elastic that hugs the camera as I worry about that moving things. That said many people use the elastic ones and are happy with them.

[Two23]

I always carry a change bag and so far I've just used that. I may buy a cloth soon, and if I do I won't get one with elastic that hugs the camera as I worry about that moving things. That said many people use the elastic ones and are happy with them.

Might depend on how much wind where you live. I live on the Northern Plains and am lucky if the wind doesn't blow my tripod over. Or me! The less attached to the camera for the wind to catch, the better for me.


Kent in SD

[ic-racer]

I have never used a dark cloth with my 4x5. I use a pop-out hood and long-reach loupe.

[ernie57]

I have never used a dark cloth with my 4x5. I use a pop-out hood and long-reach loupe.

What kind of “long reach loupe?” I haven’t seen very many available. Thanks.

[Neal Chaves]

I stopped using a darkcloth early on in my view camera practice. I started using the Linhof monocular focusing bag bellows and now I use a monocular viewer on Toyo 4X5s, and for the 810M, I made a neoprene hood that I can get my face into while wearing reading glasses or get the long loupe in there.

[Kiwi7475]

For 4x5, during the not summer times I just use my jacket. Summertime I pack a dark cloth.

For 8x10 I always pack a dark cloth. Jacket’s a bit too tight sometimes.

[JMO]

I've found that a longer dark cloth is best. So don't get or make one that would just cover the camera back and your head, and just down to say your shoulders; but one that covers all that and also down to at least your waist so it will be nice and dark up at the ground glass where all your important decisions about focus and composition are being made.