Loading Large Format Sheet Film Holders - Part I

[crispijnvansas]

I've a question about the holder itself. I own 15 holders of which 2 are leaking light. I discovered it after I developed my first film but want to prevent further mistakes. Are there any good tips for recognizing malfunctioning Holders?

[ZoneIII]

@crispijnvansas Usually, you can tell if a holder will leak light just by inspecting it. Make sure the tape hinge is in good shape. That's a common leak area. The other thing to check carefully is the felt seal for the slide. Some of the older slides could crack but you should be able to see that. If you have some old film, you can load the holders with it and leave them in the light for a while and then develop to see if there are leaks. (Continued...)

[ZoneIII]

@ZoneIII If your holders are old and questionable, it might be a good idea to simply replace them. It's amazing how the price has come down on good used holders on eBay. Ten years ago they were really expensive and new ones really are expensive, but good used ones are going in large lots for next to nothing these days. I bought about 3 dozen of them last year even though I didn't really need them but just because they were so inexpensive that I couldn't pass them up. I avoid the old wood ones.

[ZoneIII]

@ZoneIII One more thing: Be careful how you remove and insert the slides. Don't angle them when you reinsert them. Also make sure they are inserted in the camera back correctly. I was having a real problem with this with my 8x10" camera. The holders were brand new. Now i leave the dark cloth on the camera when I remove and replace the dark slide. I have never had that problem with my 4x5" cameras but some cameras are easy to put the holders in incorrectly. Make sure they are snapped in.

[choppageworshipper]

It has been over 16 years since trying out 5x4 whilst on work experience with a pro photographer, i am now(many years later) a photography student again studying for a BA in photojournalism, with my practice moving towards a Documentary/New- topographic and Architectural styles.

I have recently started with 5x4, this and the other videos have been very helpful in refreshing my memory- thanks, Lee :-)

[ZoneIII]

@choppageworshipper I'm glad that you found the videos helpful. The way my memory is getting, I may have to watch my own videos to remind me how to do things! :-)

[ZoneIII]

It''s radioactivity was depleted many years ago, Now it's just a nice regular brush. (-:

[CaptainMacNasty]

May I ask about folks' experience loading sheet film? The first time I tried this, I got everything ready in advance, but once I put my hands inside the portable light tent to load, it became so hot in the tent that my hands began to sweat onto the holders and film. I also realized that if I were to go on a multi-day, multi-location photo vacation, that i would end up spending every night in the hotel just loading film holders for the next day's shooting. I bought QuikLoads.

[ZoneIII]

@CaptainMacNasty I don't care for quickloads myself. To avoid having to unload and load holders every day on a trip, I simply have lots of holders. Good used one are now dirt cheap on eBay. I have never had the problem with my hands sweating that you have even though I almost unbelievably hot-blooded. I can go around in zero degree temperatures in just a T-shirt. I don't even own a hat or gloves. Maybe you should put a big window in your tent! LOL

[ZoneIII]

@ZoneIII BTW, on trips, I unload and load film in the bathroom at hotels. They make great darkrooms and the counter makes things easier.

[ZoneIII]

@ZoneIII My joke about putting a window in a changing tent reminds me of something that happened once. I was loading film in my changing tent on a picnic table. A man came over and asked what I was doing. I explained what I was doing. He thought about it for a minute and then said, "That makes no sense. Why don't they put a window in the tent so you can see what you're doing?" I am not making that up! It really did happen. :-)

[CaptainMacNasty]

@ZoneIII - Thanks for the reply! I do know that Quickloads limits the film choices available, so maybe I should give it another try. Thank you for the video, too.

[ZoneIII]

@CaptainMacNasty You're very welcome and thank you!

[redpillftw]

Nice radioactive antistatic brush!

[ZoneIII]

@redpillftw LOL! Actually, it's radioactivity was probably depleted 10 or 15 years ago. I still use it simply because it's a nice soft brush. Then again, maybe that's why I have such a glowing personality! :-)

[lindsaysw]

Thank you so much!!!!

[heratus007]

great series of vids

[ZoneIII]

@heratus007 Thanks much!

[ZoneIII]

@heratus007 Thanks you!

[AnthraxCrumpet]

Good video man. One thing maybe worth noting is that not all film makers seal their film in foil in the box. Some makers leave the sheets in an unsealed silver bag with one side folded over. I learned this the hard way and ruined half a box of Ilford fp4, having only shot fuji up to the point.

Much better than expertvillage videos :)

[ZoneIII]

@AnthraxCrumpet Good point! I haven't seen film that is unsealed myself but I'm glad that you mentioned that there are films packed like that. What type of film was it?

[nonplasmaant]

There's like, no real transition from 35mm to this, really. The whole thing's way easy. developing your negatives is much better in this format too, because even if you're good at it in 35mm, you can still fuck up every once in awhile and get parts that won't come out at all. I'm sticking with the BTZ developing system, if any. I love how much less time it takes to develop with this format, too. I was impressed.

[nonplasmaant]

Those cameras are easier to set up than I thought. o.o 4x5 cameras are what we're gonna use. Woot.

Btw: your videos make more sense than the ridiculous junk spouted by the so-called 'professional' by expert village- who tried to condense everything into a two to three minute long video- something I say should NOT be done with something like this.

[ZoneIII]

Thanks much! I know exactly what you mean about the Expert Village videos and that's why I made this video. When someone is new to this, they want to know the nuts & bolts. I'm planning a video on tray processing to go with the Part I I did. I hope to have it up soon. I want to do videos on LF shooting as well. Thanks again!

[nonplasmaant]

I can't wait to start the class I'm taking on this. :D

[ZoneIII]

You're going to have a ball! BTW, in case you are interested, I plan on posting a detailed video on tray processing as a follow-up to my tray processing overview video. I am going to go into more detail than most videos of this type.

[nonplasmaant]

I really know the basics to small format film developing/shooting/whathave you, so I dunno how easy it is to transition from small to large. Either way, I've already read most of the book, and anything I don't get I try to look up online for more detail anywho. It'll be rad.

[ZoneIII]

I really appreciate that! If I can be of help in any way, please email me. You can find my email address at my website which is shown in the video.

[ZoneIII]

Thanks brandeiss1000. I will probably be posting more videos about large format photography soon and possibly some darkroom videos as well. I want to give more detail than some videos on YouTube have.

[brandeis1000]

Very helpful.