Good techniqueto UNLOAD Film Holders Inside a Changing Bag?

I'm travelling and having to change sheet film inside a bag, where it's not possible to blow on the film edge to seperate it from the back of the holder (to make it easier to remove). Hence this afternoon, had a hell of a time removing just 15 or so sheets, taking 2 hours, and possibly damaging the film from all the extra handling!!

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Any real world secrets to do this trick? Thanks in advance. (And yes, I know I should have sprung for a good changing tent - but that wouldn't help this problem.) Andre

I don't understand the problem, could you elaborate on why it

is difficult ? In my holders (standard

lisco/fidelity), there is a small circular depression at the

end. I use it to just grab the film between two fingers

enough to pull it out, then I hold film by the edges.

I never had any problems to unload 30 sheets in 15 min or less.

If you're worried about leaving finger marks on your film,

remember that they are washed out by processing unless your

hands are extremely dirty.

Don't trim (or bite!) your finger nails so close. There is an indent

on the holder to slip your fingernail under the film.

what kind of film ? are you using different film on this trip ?

different emulsions ( I'm no authority, having used only three ) seem

to act differently in the holders. but all the same, to take that

long on 15 sheets indicates a problem - but before the LF detectives

can solve your problem, you need to be more informative as to the

exact conditions you're encountering. regards,

Yes. I had the same problem. My nails is trimmed and I couldn't slip

my nail under the film if holder is lay down. . Now I keep the holder

verticaly, like this:[===] and film separates from holder bottom a

little. It works!

Andre,

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A couple of points:

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Make up a small knock-together / knock-down frame sized to

snugly fit the dark-bag from electrical conduit and corners (or

similar).

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Place this in the bag before loading/unloading to keep the bag

from falling onto the folder/film. It is light and doesn't take up a

lot of room when disassembled.

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Load/Unload only a couple of holders at a time. The humoidty

inside the bag becomes quite high with lengthy durations of

having your hands functioning inside the relatively light tight bag.

The build up of humidity in turn causes the film to 'stick' to the

septum in the holder.

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If your travels include hotel rooms try to black out the bathroom,

remove any fluoro's from their holders and work comfortably on

the bench or lavatory lid. Be sure to wipe down any surface you

intend using and perform the operation prior to showering,

towelling or spraying.

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In the hope that this is of some help I wish you safe journeys and

successful shooting ... WG

I use the bottle opener blade on a Swiss Army knife to remove film

from 4x5 holders (really!). Slide the flat of the blade just under

the edge of the film. When it pops up, pinch it between the blade

and your thumb. It's easy to pull out.

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I can feel you recoiling in horror....a knife blade to remove film?

For one, the edges of the bottle opener are smooth, not sharp, so

it's actually quite difficult to scratch the film. Second, you only

need insert the blade a small distance under the film. Not as scary

as it sounds.

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I've damaged far more film with my fingers than with the knife.

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Good luck!

Q.-Tuan Luong : I'm using Fidelity Elite's, and the button you speak

about does help - but in my holders, it's only on one side. It's

also easier to unload E100SW, for example than the HP5+, and yes, I

do like to keep my nails very short.

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That's reasurring to hear about the fingerprints washing out during

processing, but fingerprints on the emulsiom side can't be good at

anytime....

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I have a tool similar to the Swiss Army tool above, and will use that

until I let a nail grow out a little. Andre

Andre, Have you thought of getting rid of the changing bag and

investing in a changing tent - no, not one of the horrendously

expensive harrison jobs (as nice as I'm sure thay are!) but a Calumet?

I got one and it really does the job! Like the harrison the arm

holes are on the front panel and it is made of a double skin - silver

outside and a black inner. It is simple to set up, you just untwist

it , a bit like the lastolite reflectors, et voila a changing tent

plenty big enough for changing film. Check out Calumets web site for

dimensions and a pic, also it comes in a zip up pouch and is super

light although it doesnt fold small - but ok for in a car/hotel etc.

I paid about £55 UK pounds for mine and am very pleased. Regards Paul

Try turning the holder upside down so the film is helped away from

the holder by gravity. It can make it a lot easier than trying to pry

it away from the top when it lays flat.

Dan, you are right. I did precisely that, and the other tips above

too, like using the dull edged blade. Things went much easier second

time around.

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Paul, definitely gonna get one of those tents very soon. I am a

masochist. I wanted to suffer through using a bag designed for

pulling 35mm cameras, so I could then savour the relative ease of

using a proper tent. Andre

the cheaper tents (photoflex,calumet) are not guaranteed to be light

tight. if you get one test it. don't use in bright light or leave your

film out in them until you're sure. some people i know who use them

always drape a heavy black cloth over it. harrison and shadow box tents

are much better but much more expensive.

What kind of numnuts idiot would market a changing tent that is NOT

light tight? Talk about a lawsuit waiting to happen for designing a

product that is not fit for the purpose for which it is sold!!!???

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Might as well glue together paper bags from the supermarket & then

wrap them in trash bags when it comes time to use it in the field.

I don't understand the problem. I have no darkroom and have loaded

and unloaded film holders in a standard changing bag for years, with

no problems. But I don't think I have ever loaded or unloaded more

than six holders at one time, usually four or less. Maybe he is

trying to do too many at one time?

dan,

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when one buys a photoflex changing room new there is a printed warning

advising the product is not guaranteed to be light tight. this is one

of the many reasons i use shadow boxes. a great many people use the

photoflex without problems, though.