ardea Posted March 29, 2003 Share Posted March 29, 2003 I have a dark cloth that I purchased when I got my Shen-Hoa 4x5. It's so big and heavy it could double as a storm jib on a 50 foot cutter. Any suggestion on a lightweight functional DC ? What about the BTZS cloth? Thanks for the help. Regards, Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troll Posted March 29, 2003 Share Posted March 29, 2003 I absolutely love my BTZS cloth, (but have friends who can't stand it -- "too confining"). The best (and cheapest) solution is probably to make your own, or to cut down the one you have. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhananjay_n Posted March 29, 2003 Share Posted March 29, 2003 Another pretty convenient option is to use a T shirt of sweatshirt. Stick head in through neck opening, drape waist over back of camera and use armholes to operate knobs etc. Cheers, DJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_randall3 Posted March 29, 2003 Share Posted March 29, 2003 Hi Richard, I too vote for the Beyond the Zone System dark cloth. It is not necessarily the lightest, but the design is elegant. Now, if Fred could only get one made from Gore-Tex.... Best regards, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_owen Posted March 29, 2003 Share Posted March 29, 2003 Harrison (makers of the film changing tents) make a good one. It is waterproof and silver on one side and black inside. It is fitted with velcro to keep it closed and has an elasticated edge that fits snugly around the bellows/back of the camera. It is a fair size, nearly 5 foot square but is lightweight compared with others I've tried! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason_greenberg_motamedi Posted March 29, 2003 Share Posted March 29, 2003 If you search through the archives there is quite a bit of information on dark cloths. Someone even posted a link describing how they made a cloth out of a goretex like material. I keep meaning to make my own goretex cloth, but can't seem to get myself to dig out the sewing machine... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neil_poulsen1 Posted March 29, 2003 Share Posted March 29, 2003 I went to fabric shop and looked through all the black materials, held them up to the light, etc. I found one that was lightweight, yet it let through very little light. It's a synthetic material. I purchased enough to double it over, and my wife sewed it around the edges. Even doubled, it's light weight. It also doesn't crease, which is interesting. Being light, it does tend to flap in the wind a little more than a heavier cloth. But, clipping it to the camera helps. I don't know the name of the material. Perhaps I can find out. The think probably didn't cost more than about $5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aaron_van_de_sande Posted March 29, 2003 Share Posted March 29, 2003 Have you actually used a dark cloth before? There is a reason they are big and heavy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken_schroeder Posted March 29, 2003 Share Posted March 29, 2003 Richard, you don't list the actual size of your dark cloth. I tend to agree with Aaron....I use a Zone VI cloth. It's 4'x5'. I had a couple smaller cloths over the years, a tiny black cloth and a larger slicker cloth. (I think from Calumet.) The slick cloth slid away over the years, as did the black cloth. The cotton Zone VI remains in service after 22 years. I confess I have often thought about making a somewhat smaller one, but never when actually using it. The size allows you to back away from the groundglass and the weight will help keep the cloth from blowing away in the wind. I've never used it as a storm jib, but it does keep me warm while shooting. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robert_eaves2 Posted March 29, 2003 Share Posted March 29, 2003 I'll have to second the vote for the BTZS cloth. I like the way it "attaches" to the camera back and stays put. It might be a little confining, but not bad at all. And if it rains, it is somewhat waterproof, so it will protect your gear until you get under cover. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ardea Posted March 29, 2003 Author Share Posted March 29, 2003 Thanks for all the help...My DC is 5'x3'...Richard Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daniel_blakeslee Posted March 29, 2003 Share Posted March 29, 2003 I, too, like my BTZS darkcloth, but wish it were made from lighter fabric. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob_moulton7 Posted March 29, 2003 Share Posted March 29, 2003 I too have a BTZS dark cloth.I like its size. I thoroughly hate the elastic sewn into it. The fit is far too tight to enable one to use and remove it easily from the camera.Please note: I ordered three of them eventually, one for 4x5 one for 8x10 and one for 5x7. Only the 8x10 gave me adequate space for easy removing. And it was too large. I had someone sew me a darkcloth made of white nylon backed with ultrasuede. It is the larger square design, but with velcro added it is very effective. My ideal would be the BTZS made of ultrasuede and nylon with velcro not elastic. Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bill_taylor2 Posted March 29, 2003 Share Posted March 29, 2003 I took Dhananjay's advice and went with a T-shirt. Went down to my local t-shirt shop, got the cheapest ash grey and black X-Large shirts they had, $5 total. I put the black inside the grey, then went to the alterations shop to have the two necklines sewn together, $12. While she was at it, she threaded a bootlace into the neck, like a drawstring. Add the springloaded keeper and the cost of the bootlace, $3. Total of $20, plus tax and driving around. I just used it today to shoot some climbing ivy in the backyard. Put the neckhole completely over the back standard and tighten the drawstring. Just stick your head in at the waist opening and it functions as a nice little dark hood for focusing. In full sun, I could see light coming through the weave, but for all practical purposes the ground glass was in full darkness. When all is ready, just pull the shirts forward over the bellows and insert the film holder. I think the only real problem is that the shirts are a little too long. It would work fine with about 6 inches less shirt tail. Maybe next time I'll start with a woman's half shirt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pvp Posted March 30, 2003 Share Posted March 30, 2003 Part of the mystique of LF photography, to me at least, is the experience of composing and focusing the groundglass image. The more I can exclude the world that is not coming in via the lens and groundglass, the better I like it. My darkcloth is three layers, heavy and 3'x4'. When it's not on the camera I use the velcro to fasten it around my neck and wear it like a vampire's cape. I think it helps to convince passersby that I'm crazy enough to be left alone. Hey, whatever it takes... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troll Posted March 30, 2003 Share Posted March 30, 2003 Bob Moulton, your comments are right on the money! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doremus_scudder1 Posted March 30, 2003 Share Posted March 30, 2003 My 2 cents: After a hefty dousing by a "sneaker wave" on the CA coast, I finally got around to making my own GoreTex darkcloth. I mail ordered white GoreTex material and backed it with a non-slip, lightweight, opaque black coat lining material I found in a local fabric store. The local shoemaker sewed it together with velcro around all edges for not very much. It is big enough to wear as a rain cape or cover me and the camera from any future sneaker waves, but rolls up to a "sausage" 3-inches around and 14-inches long that easily straps to the back of my pack. Total weight, 10 oz. or so. I could get by with a smaller one even, but this one is working fine. The white reflects the heat, the GoreTex makes it completely waterproof and the velcro closures hold it to the camera and to itself and keep it from flapping around in the wind. Regards, ;^D) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doug_meek1 Posted March 31, 2003 Share Posted March 31, 2003 Bob Moulton - I also had the same complaint about my BTZS darkcloth fitting too tight around the camera. Frequently, the camera would move when I attempted to remove the cloth and I would have to recompose all over again. I sent the cloth back and they gladly loosened it for me at no charge. The cloth has worked flawlessly ever since. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ken_schroeder Posted April 4, 2003 Share Posted April 4, 2003 Richard, have you used your present cloth enough to know you have a problem? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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