From: bjs@uts.amdahl.com (Barry Sherman)
Newsgroups: rec.photo
Subject: Re: Novice 4x5 field gear questions
Date: 24 Jul 92 20:24:00 GMT
Followup-To: rec.photo
Organization: Amdahl Corporation, Sunnyvale CA

Franz G. Amador writes:

>I'm putting together a 4x5 kit that I can take into the field, and I'm
>hoping that some of you will be willing to help me out a little.

Frank, you've never seen such a group of people who just love to offer
free advice!  I know, cuz I'm one of the worst!  :-)  All opinions
are, of course, strictly IMHO and come from the standpoint of a new-
comer to large format.

>I need some sort of changing bag.  KEH lists one called the "Rokunar
>Portable Darkroom (27"x30" for $26, 36"x45" for $39).  Anybody know
>about these?  Would the small one be adequate?  How 'bout "The
>Changing Room", which Adorama lists for $84.95 (ouch), but looks
>nifty?

I'd go with the "Changing Room".  Calumet also sells it under their
own name and,interestingly enough, Zone VI lists it in their catalog
for ~$65.  I've been quite curious why they have it for $20 cheaper 
than Adorama.

Anyway, I've found one of the worst problems in large format is 
dust specks on the negatives.  These show up as "black wigglies"
in the final print if they happen to be in lighter toned areas of
the print (and they do tend to congregate in such areas.  I'm most impressed
with their ability to predict where the lighter areas will be and land
only there).  I bought one of the cheaper changing bags and found that having
the bag kind of flop around everything that I was doing seemed to increase
the amount of dust that got on my negs.  I've built a frame from PVC pipe
that supports the bag kind of like a tent and things are better, although
still not great.  I think that the "Changing Room" would be much easier
to use and probably would help with the dust problem.

I have far less trouble with dust on films loaded in my darkroom.  I try
to keep the general dust level down as much as possible there.  And
when reloading I turn off all ventilation and/or air-conditioning to
minimize air movement.  I then swab the work table with anti-static
solution.  Holders are dusted with an anti-static brush before inserting
film and the film is blown off with compressed air before inserting
the darkslides.  I've invested in a bunch of Mido film holders (smaller, 
lighter and cheaper than conventional holders) so that I can carry a lot of 
film in an attempt to minimize reloading outside of the darkroom.  And 
let's not forget using the anti-static brush to brush off the holders
before inserting them in the camera!  Some even recommend dusting the
back of the lens and board when changing lenses.

Additionally, when I leave for vacation in a couple of weeks (to the
Olympic Peninsula) I'll be taking along some black plastic sheeting, wide 
black tape and a plastic laminate-covered shelf from my enlarger table.  I'll 
use the sheeting and tape to cover the windows in the bathrooms of our motels 
and use the shelf as a surface on which to re-load.  (The plastic laminate is 
easy to wipe down with an anti-static solution prior to reloading and is larger
than the shelf surfaces in most motel bathrooms.  At least those in our price
range. :-)  Since the Mido holders are relatively cheap (~$7.00 each) I've been 
able to afford to buy enough that I should only have to reload every few days 
or so at most.

>Do you just carry an old empty film box to put your exposed sheets

I carry a *bunch* of old empty film boxes.  N-2 through N+2 for TMAX 100
and another set for TMAX400.  Then there's the E-6 box and, since I'm
thinking I'd like to try RA4 there'll be a C-41 box also.

>
>I'm hoping to make a lightweight focusing cloth by sewing together two
>pieces of coated nylon ripstop fabric, one white (for the outside;
>cooler in the sun) and one black.  Seems like it'd be adequately
>lighttight, and I could drape it over the camera if it started
>raining.  Has anyone tried anything like this?

The idea sounds good.  But be sure to sew weights into the hems.  The
cloth will really want to flap in the wind.  I sewed some velcro into the
hems also and that lets me wrap it tightly around the camera without
having to hold it with one hand.  Although this is the expensive route,
I've been very happy with my aluminized mylar-covered focusing cloth from 
Calumet.  It really does reflect the sun on hot days, although it looks
pretty strange.  And it's fairly waterproof.  I've used it to cover the
camera when photographing in rain (while waiting and waiting for just the 
right clouds to drift across the Cathedral Spires in Yosemite) and it worked 
well.  In fact it worked much better than did the photographs.  Sigh.

>Lens protection: are those "lens wraps" good enough to protect lenses
>put in a stuff sack in a backpack, or is there a better option?

So far so good for me.

>And more generic 4x5 questions:  any recommendations for focusing
>loupes?  There's quite a variety out there, and I'm at a loss at
>how to choose.  I'd certainly prefer light, tough, and cheap, but
>still good enough to do the job.

I started out with one of the Peak 8x loupes which was doing double
duty between the field and the darkroom.  I had trouble with condensation
on the groundglass in cold, moist weather.  I got a Toyo 8x (6x?) loupe
and it helped with the problem because it's much taller, thereby keeping
my steamy breath farther from the glass.

>Lastly, are all film holders pretty much good enough, or would I
>be screwing myself if I bought the cheapest?

Look into the Mido (pronounced "Meedo")system.  It's much less convenient than 
conventional holders but much lighter and less bulk and cheaper.  These things 
are important if you're carrying your gear any distance.  If you'll be working
from your car trunk or in a studio then forget the Midos and use
conventional holders.

Good luck!

Barry



-- 


|----------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Barry Sherman, Amdahl Corp.       | "Any fool can face a crisis - it's     | 
| bjs@ruts.ccc.amdahl.com           |  this day-to-day living that wears you |
|                                   |  out." - Anton Chekhov                 |
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| Amdahl, being a corporation, is a legal fiction.  Therefore it is incapable|
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| said of me as well.                                                        |
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