A compact and light way to carry 5 film holders

Mainecoonmaniac · Jul 31, 2017

I was at the thrift store and found a soft case that held 5 film holders, a Sharpie and also a small brush which I also got from the thrift store. I think the brush is made for LP records. The case is made by Sports Trend.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/eRziObCwtcv4t9pj2

KenS · Jul 31, 2017

Rather that having to humph an 'extra' container for the 6 or 8 'extra' film holders that will not find room in my camera bag, I always wear my 'cargo pants' with the 'oversize' pockets on either leg. It means that I'm not running back and forth to the camera bag (usually somewhare nearby) for a 'refill' .

Ken

Pioneer · Jul 31, 2017

Nice setup.

I wear a hip pack that carries 5 or 6 4x5 film holders, or a couple of 6x9 format roll film holders, along with a couple of bottles of water and a few handy survival items (whistle, matches, survival blanket, a few bandages, knife etc.) while day hiking in the mountains. It keeps my hands free for other things and really isn't too heavy. I am usually carrying my Wanderlust Travelwide which I use handheld or on a small monopod. Once in awhile I carry my Intrepid instead, attached to a small Slik tripod which just I carry over a shoulder or with a sling.

Patrick Robert James · Jul 31, 2017

If I am going to carry more than a couple holders, or more than one Grafmatic, I use a small sling bag that will fit them perfectly. I usually carry the holders on top of my lenses in an old hip pack made by LowePro which holds 5 lenses plus all my filters, etc. Works great. I wonder why more people don't do it! Backpacks are a pain and have to be set on the ground. I can do everything from straight in front of me and my back doesn't get jacked up from a backpack. I use the sling for other things as well. Works great to hold my 6x12 pinhole with a mini pod attached.

Alan9940 · Jul 31, 2017

I use a waist belt thingy that I bought from Zone VI Studios many years ago that holds 6 - 8 4x5 holders, depending on how I stack 'em in there, a small notebook for record keeping, and a pen/pencil slot. However, I don't trek too far afield with this setup. If I'm going any distance, and the holders are not loaded into my pack, I use a BPT cascading film holder.

grahamp · Aug 1, 2017

My 'stock' of 5x4 holders lives in a small 'six-can' cooler bag, while the ready use stuff goes in a BPT Cascade. Sometimes I add some extras to the main bag.

I am still looking for my personal ideal for 8x10 holders, but at least I have fewer of those!

Alan9940 · Aug 1, 2017

grahamp said:
I am still looking for my personal ideal for 8x10 holders, but at least I have fewer of those!

I like the BPT Cascade for 8x10, too, if you can find one.

Mainecoonmaniac · Aug 1, 2017

grahamp said:
My 'stock' of 5x4 holders lives in a small 'six-can' cooler bag, while the ready use stuff goes in a BPT Cascade. Sometimes I add some extras to the main bag.

I am still looking for my personal ideal for 8x10 holders, but at least I have fewer of those!

I still use the small 6 pack coolers too. I've used them for years as a pro. But as I get older, I find I can't carry as much. Less is more for me. But I also found at a thrift store a cooler for my 8x10 film holders. It's one of those soft sided coolers with a plastic tub inside. I had to remove the interior tub to make the holders fit. Without the rigid tub, it's pretty much a soft cooler which isn't an issue. It's like this one.

https://www.westmarine.com/buy/igloo--marine-ultra-soft-sided-square-36-can-cooler--14243877

Rick A · Aug 1, 2017

Bought at a resale shop for a quarter. Holds six 4x5 holders, nicely padded.

DWThomas · Aug 1, 2017

grahamp said:
I am still looking for my personal ideal for 8x10 holders, but at least I have fewer of those!

I'm not sure about "ideal," but when I go out with my 8x10 pinhole camera I use a padded laptop case from an ancient mid-90s vintage laptop. It's a 3rd party beastie with a carrying handle, shoulder strap, and a large flap pocket on the front. I am able to get 4 or 5 holders into it, and hung on the hook at the bottom of my tripod column it makes solid ballast. (But of course 8x10 is a bit out of the belt pouch range anyway! )

DREW WILEY · Aug 1, 2017

I use basic rectangular Tupperware boxes. These either go into my backpack or into a picnic cooler in the truck. On those instances I amble a little distance from the pack and carry my tripod and 4x5 rifle-style over my shoulder, I'll have a filmholder or two, filters, loupe, meter etc in a mesh bag firmly clipped to my tripod. A couple years ago I was doing that and had just set up a shot in the Wind River high country when a mother moose and her calf came straight at me. She wasn't angry. But I was right on her favorite path. So I'm glad I didn't have to suddenly move the entire 75 lb pack.

Mainecoonmaniac · Aug 2, 2017

grahamp said:
I am still looking for my personal ideal for 8x10 holders, but at least I have fewer of those!

Here's another thrift store find that works for carrying my 8x10 film holders. It's too heavy for me to carry all of the holders on a hike. It's heavier than my view camera.

https://goo.gl/photos/h8oCxdZyHC3Fpgp67

seezee · Aug 2, 2017

Mainecoonmaniac said:
I was at the thrift store and found a soft case that held 5 film holders, a Sharpie and also a small brush which I also got from the thrift store. I think the brush is made for LP records. The case is made by Sports Trend.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/eRziObCwtcv4t9pj2

That looks like a StaticMaster brush, or something like it — the kind that takes a radioactive refill. Yours is probably expired. Very handy for dust control on negatives, e.g., when scanning.

Mainecoonmaniac · Aug 2, 2017

seezee said:
That looks like a StaticMaster brush, or something like it — the kind that takes a radioactive refill. Yours is probably expired. Very handy for dust control on negatives, e.g., when scanning.

It's not. I'm allergic to polonium It's just a cheap record brush from the thrift store.

DREW WILEY · Aug 2, 2017

Polonium seems pretty effective at getting rid of critics of your regime, now that everyone wants to emulate Putin. But I never had much luck with it controlling dust. Rather, I sprayed all my film holder with an industrial antiststaticum. But the holders are loaded in a true clean room.

Mainecoonmaniac · Aug 2, 2017

DREW WILEY said:
Polonium seems pretty effective at getting rid of critics of your regime, now that everyone wants to emulate Putin. But I never had much luck with it controlling dust. Rather, I sprayed all my film holder with an industrial antiststaticum. But the holders are loaded in a true clean room.

Just watch what they're Putin in your tea.

DREW WILEY · Aug 2, 2017

Usually cat hair if I'm not careful, though I prefer coffee. Gotta go ... Time to read a book on the front porch while petting that cat.

Kilgallb · Aug 2, 2017

In the same vein of repurposing items, I use a fly fishing reel box from Orvis to hold two large format lenses on 4x4 lens boards. I bought it at Bass Pro-shop for $25.

I like your idea for film holders. I bought a purpose built on of a guy here on APUG (SAITTO) but fond it was not padded well enough. This one seems well padded.

A compact and light way to carry 5 film holders

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