4 x 5 camera 'dark cloth' for HOT climates recommendation

Roger Thoms said:

Another option depending on what camera you have is a binocular reflex view with a magnifier.

Roger

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That's a very good option, perhaps better, but less portable.

Southern Californian here. I use 2 thin black cotton lightweight fabric sheets, loosely clipped together on an edge, one over the other. The double layer blocks enough light, the light weight means it breathes well. It ain't perfect but it's good enough that I haven't been driven to find a better one.

Just to see what’s around. They also have a fly weight dark cloth that would work well for hot climates. A little more expensive than a t- shirt but solves the problem.

I bought a white black out liner for curtains frrm a fabric store and sewed a black fabric to one side along the edges. Heavy enough to resist wind and the white blackout liner reflects the sun.

guangong said:

At one time dark clothes were available with a white exterior sheet to reflect sunlight and black on interior. If not commercially available, very easy to make.

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I suggest you make your own blackout cloth out of white fabric, rubberized on the other, heavy "Blackout" curtain material, with a black interior made of a double layer of black Gortex.

The blackout material is light proof, I've had my darkroom blacked out at both sunny window and the interior door with this and it works very well in those roles, so I expect you'll be happy with it too, but keep in mind, sewing machines and sewing in general will leave thread holes that cumulatively allow a fair amount of light pass through, so leave enough margin all the way around the joined materials, that can be helmed over the sewn cloth, by way of a good, flexible fabric glue, for making certain your's is completely dark.

Cheers

hahahahahaha excellent very funny

On a serious note, I have ordered the Chamonix reflex viewer. I never got used to/much liked the upside down viewing thing of 4 x 5 and apart from the heat, 'the sweats' can come at any time and in any weather!!! haha I will see how I get on with that first. I like the intimacy of viewfinders with cameras. Thanks for all the comments and of course they are all welcome and relevant as I will order a 'dark cloth' just in case.

sperera said:

hahahahahaha excellent very funny

On a serious note, I have ordered the Chamonix reflex viewer. I never got used to/much liked the upside down viewing thing of 4 x 5 and apart from the heat, 'the sweats' can come at any time and in any weather!!! haha I will see how I get on with that first. I like the intimacy of viewfinders with cameras. Thanks for all the comments and of course they are all welcome and relevant as I will order a 'dark cloth' just in case.

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If the heat comes a an issue, perhaps a cooler, first choice, with some sealed chemical freezer cooling packs or a grocery's to isolated, zipper bag with handles, second choice, for your dark cloth in hot situations, will allow you to work more comfortably.

When using a changing bag on hot/high UV or bright days, it may get better handy to use your white sided dark cloth as a cover over your bag or tent to help you not to instantly have sweat covered hands, making things more difficult.

You might even be able to develop in the 'field' like this.

FWIW even though moot post viewfinder purchase, I'm a fan of the Wanderer fly weight dark cloths as well.

BrianShaw said:

I’ve heard about the T-shirt technique. I’d do it the other way… head through neck band, backward, and the waist hole over the camera. Quick release and a safety factor against loss if there is wind!

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T-shirts. 2 xxlarge. White on outside, black on inside, sewn together, sleeves sewn shut. Neck opening fits perfectly on my Sinar F1. Wouldn't use anything else.

TmRn said:

T-shirts. 2 xxlarge. White on outside, black on inside, sewn together, sleeves sewn shut. Neck opening fits perfectly on my Sinar F1. Wouldn't use anything else.

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The sleeves were how I got my hand in there to control focus and rear movements.

I found using the neck end on the camera worked much better because it was just slightly smaller than the standard, so when you stretched it over the frame it held on very well.

Now, I use a Harrison dark cloth. The velcro wraps around the bellows just in front of the rear standrad. When I'm done focusing and applying movements, I need to remove the cloth so I can insert the film holder, so with my head still under the dark cloth, I loosen the velcro wrap it around my neck like a cape. If I decide to make more adjustment, loosen it from my neck and back around the camera.