Loading Large Format Sheet Film Holders - Part I

How to unload, load, and clean large format If I can be of any help to you, just email me through YouTube or through my website listed in the video. There's a "email me" button on the site. film holders and also some tips to avoid dust problems. tjohnstonphoto.com

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• 4x5
• ansel adams
• darkroom
• sheet film
• field camera
• view camera
• large format
• large format camera
• zone system
• tom johnston
• film holder
• darkslide
• analog photography
• film photography
• tom johnston photography
• ZoneIII
• apug

[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! :-)

[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 :)

[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]

@CaptainMacNasty You're very welcome and thank you!

[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]

@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. :-)

[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.