Chinese Changing Bags

[Tim Meisburger]

Does anyone have any experience with the cheap Chinese changing bags available on ebay? I need a changing bag, but while the price is attractive, i don't want to get something that will not do the job.

[Brian Stein]

Yes I have one, it is well made, and has worked fine. Having said that I would strongly recommend a change tent for the ease of use

[rwyoung]

I have purchased two, a smaller one and a large one. The large one was for some single-shot pinhole camera I made from paint cans. I could change out in the field.

They seems to work fine. However they were full of lint and thread cut-offs from the manufacturing process so a quick turn inside-out and cleaning before use may be in order. YMMV

[Jim Noel]

Buy a tent. They are quickly set up and easier to keep clean of dust. Besides the top does not ride on your film and your hands do not sweat as much.

[shmoo]

I'd be worried about the melamine content...kidding.

Changing tents are much better for loading/unloading film. With a changing bag, you've got the problem of the bag interfering with the process...and the sweat that accumulates. If you have a large enough bag, you could use a plastic shoe box inside to prop up the bag and give you some room to work...and use it for storage as well.

[Tim Meisburger]

Thank you Brian and RW for the advice. I will buy one and give it a try. I don't think I want to drop the money on a tent just now, so I'll buy a big bag and try the tinker toy idea, i.e. make an internal frame to make the bag a tent.

[cowanw]

Be American, buy American.

How do you know Tim from Bangkok is American?
Regards
Bill

[Gordon Moat]

Be American, buy American.

. . .

Would you happen to know of any German made changing tents?

[manfromh]

I bought one from cowy07 on ebay. It arrived last week. I haven't used it yet, but it looks good. Its 58x62cm. I don't know if that's considered big or small. At $18.99 it was a lot cheaper than anything available in Europe.

[Tim Meisburger]

As it happens, I am French, German, Irish, Scottish, and English (i.e. American). I would be happy to buy American, but the shipping charges are typically more than the item.

I ordered the bag today, as well as a box of 50 sheets of Shanghai 100 ASA 4x5, from the same place. The film was about $25 with shipping, whereas the Arista 100 was about $25 for the film alone, and double that with shipping to Bangkok. I don't expect too much from the film, but am a beginner in 4x5 and in development, and figure it will be good enough learn the basics with. Plus, I kind of like the aesthetic of using the cheapest stuff available. Many years ago I used to shoot expired and cooked Lucky 35mm in Cambodia, and weirdly made some of my favorite images with that stuff. Just luck I guess, and being in an interesting place.