erikj Posted March 22, 2004 Share Posted March 22, 2004 I just got my 4x5 kit and I have 2 film holders. What do people do after the film is exposed??? I know this is a lame question, but I have no experience with LF cameras. I know I can just leave them in the holders, but I want to reuse the holders. Do I have to get 10 holders if I want to take 20 shots? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vince_pulvirenti Posted March 22, 2004 Share Posted March 22, 2004 option #1 buy more film holders (not a bad idea) option #2 save the boxes that the film came in to put exposed film into. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbq Posted March 22, 2004 Share Posted March 22, 2004 -you need 10 holders or -you need to unload/load in the field or -you need to use quickloads/readyloads. (I chose #3). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve_levine Posted March 22, 2004 Share Posted March 22, 2004 You need a changing bag. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michael erlich Posted March 22, 2004 Share Posted March 22, 2004 Get a device called a changing bag. It's like a field darkroom, a lightproof rubberized cloth bag with elastic sleeves for your hands and a double zipper to seal it up tight. Put your filmholders and box of film in the bag and zip it up, insert your arms in the sleeves and then you can load and unload the filmholders in daylight. It gets easier with practice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jon_wilson Posted March 22, 2004 Share Posted March 22, 2004 Ditto to all of the above; plus, if you have a lab which will be developing your film, ask if they can give you an empty sheet film box that you can place your "exposed" film in. It is best not to "mix and match" exposed film in the same film box. Also remember what type of film etc. is in the "exposed" film box. Happy Shooting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wayne_scott Posted March 22, 2004 Share Posted March 22, 2004 Pick up a couple of Graphmatic 45 film holders. (6 shots each) or as others have said buy some more film holders. Wayne Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andre_noble4 Posted March 22, 2004 Share Posted March 22, 2004 You need a lens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danny_liao Posted March 22, 2004 Share Posted March 22, 2004 One warning. Whatever you do, DO NOT GIVE LAB YOUR FILM HOLDERS. Some labs are known to occassionally lose your holders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave schlick Posted March 22, 2004 Share Posted March 22, 2004 readyload/quick load if you do not like dust spots on your negs. then you can do 40 shots in a day.. but it will COST YOU.. start with the 2 and call it good for a while untill you v found a good lab, the right kind of film, before you start shooting up the neighborhood.. its expensive and you dont need a lot of duplicates of your mistakes.. my opinion only.. 4x5 is not about taking a bunch of shots , its about taking one GOOD shot.. if you get one good 4x5 a year youl be ahead of a lot of photograpers.. (Most dont shoot 4x5,,, hahaah..) thats to tonedown the hecklers.. realistically get some good shots.. ive driven to on spot across town to a parking lot to take a shot of the cathedral in my town many times.... it had to be at the right itme of day, the right time of year and i wanted no cars in the parking lot.. i finally got my shot.. but to me if you want a good shot youl have to work at it not wasee alot of film.... i think 4 shots will be fine for a while.. dave.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erikj Posted March 22, 2004 Author Share Posted March 22, 2004 Thanks, I thought those might be your answers. If I take a road trip and bring the 4x5, I will want to take more than 4 shots. I guess I will have to decide between more holders or the quickload film. Andre... what are you TALKING about??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andre_noble4 Posted March 22, 2004 Share Posted March 22, 2004 Just checking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stephen hazelton Posted March 22, 2004 Share Posted March 22, 2004 I noticed a lot of used film holders at various prices at the last camera show I went to, you might check if a show is coming up in your area. Some were very cheap, but I noticed they seemed to have sticky darkslides, where it would be difficult to pull them out without jarring the camera. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul_kent2 Posted March 23, 2004 Share Posted March 23, 2004 Get more holders. Considering that sheet film is 1 dollar per shot cheaper that Ready/QuickLoad, you only need to shoot about 20 sheets to pay for a single Fidelity holder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
john_kasaian1 Posted March 23, 2004 Share Posted March 23, 2004 Don't forget Polaroid Type 55 P/N! If you're going to do the changing bag thing, at least get four more holders or you'll be spending alot more time with your hands in the bag than you'll probably want to. ~Cheers! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt_needham Posted March 23, 2004 Share Posted March 23, 2004 Get some good condition used holders. Go for well known brand names such as Fidelity or Riteway. I bought some cheaper brand called Tiltall (or something like that). They were half the price of the better known brands new. They suck; very hard to load compared to Riteway or Fidelity. Always test used holders; you don't want to be surprised. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edward_kimball Posted March 23, 2004 Share Posted March 23, 2004 If you have a total of five film holders you can load a box of ten sheets at once and then when you have shot all the film you will have an empty box to put it in. Repeat as necessary. One draw back is that when you buy in 10 sheet boxes it is slightly more expensive than if you buy in 50 sheet boxes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edward_kimball Posted March 23, 2004 Share Posted March 23, 2004 The difference in price is about $15 per 50 sheet for Astia and $20 per 50 sheets for Velvia. Also, I second, or third the idea of a changing bag. Even if you do all your loading at home it is much more convenient and enjoyable to do at the kitchen table than in a dark bathroom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silent1 Posted March 23, 2004 Share Posted March 23, 2004 Another temporary storage option for exposed film, if you don't have immediate access to used film boxes (for instance, if you do your own processing and/or don't live near a lab that handles sheet film): Black ABS pipe The nominal 1 1/2" size ABS pipe will neatly hold a 4x5 sheet with the short dimension curled around (emulsion in, please), and is light tight with adhesive type interference fit caps pressed snugly on each end -- the caps can be removed easily with a twist, but won't slip off unless you drop the tube (and probably not even then), though you might prefer to glue one cap on each tube. Five dollars will buy ten feet of pipe (which cuts easily with a handsaw, coping saw, hacksaw, etc. -- use a $4 miter box to get a nice even cut), and the caps are around a dollar each; each such tube (five inches of pipe and two caps) weighs only a couple ounces. You still have to change film in the field, and it might not be worth bothering for a 4x5 camera using ANSI holders, but if (like me) you use an antique camera with properietary holders that are much less common than the Zeiss or Voigtlander type, it can allow you to expose (in my case) more than three frames on an outing. I'm still working on a convenient method of storing loaded film sheaths for these old plate holders -- I have (if I counted correctly) seventeen sheaths for the three holders, due to a lucky find on eBay, and it would be quicker to change sheaths than to load film into the sheaths, but the sheaths can't be stored in a tube. Those tin boxes that had cookies in them last Christmas might not wind up as pinhole cameras after all... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erikj Posted March 23, 2004 Author Share Posted March 23, 2004 I have been shooting polaroids for my first few shots. I went to load some film yesterday and it it a total nuisance. I am considering going with the quickload film exclusively. It reminds me of loading those spools for processing film. I am sure I got finger prints or dust or something on the film too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
__jon__ Posted March 23, 2004 Share Posted March 23, 2004 Erik, I have 5 grafmatics and wouldn't be without them. Very nice in the field. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
erikj Posted March 23, 2004 Author Share Posted March 23, 2004 What's the best place to buy graphmatics? I will check KEH and Midwest... Damn that Quickload film is expensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob haight Posted March 23, 2004 Share Posted March 23, 2004 Buy the film holders, preferably new. They slide better and don't have leaks. Changing film on site outside can lead to dust, dust and perhaps more dust. (not to worry it always settles in the sky in the middle). It just seems to me with the effort involved in LF in the field this is one issue easily resolved in favor of a sufficient number of film holders. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edward_kimball Posted March 23, 2004 Share Posted March 23, 2004 Erik, don't be afraid of cut film holders. After about 20 sheets you will be an old pro. When I first bought my camera I thought I would be using readyloads but a friend gave me a couple of holders and I have never looked back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt_needham Posted March 24, 2004 Share Posted March 24, 2004 "Erik, don't be afraid of cut film holders. After about 20 sheets you will be an old pro." I second this. Loading quality film holders and Grafmatics isn't very difficult with a little practice. It's much easier in the darkroom, than in a changing bag, but it's still easier than many other aspects of LF photography. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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