FINALLY! A light tight, good quality darkcloth for LF and ULF!

My dark cloth is made from a two-ply Gortex fabric, available at Rockywoods Outdoor Fabrics in Loveland, Colorado. It is super lightweight, breathable, and waterproof. Black on one side and white on the other. The inside we lined with an opaque black china silk. It is half the weight of my old horse blanket. We added a couple of small pockets on two corners to add flat sinkers when wind becomes an issue, a piece of elastic to keep it snug around the camera back and velcro closures. Works great!

Well, I just wanted to report that I've been using my Saitta darkcloth for a few weeks now and no problems! I'm using it with the 11x14 camera and find that the 5x6 is a perfect size for this format.

Ryan McIntosh
www.RyanMcIntosh.net

I am with Ryan.
I have (had) a BTZS which I gave away because it was uncomfortable to use.
I have a Blackjacket which I liked much better and used until I bought a 5x8' cloth from Kevin. A wonderful cloth. Not too heavy, easy to use with the 7x17, rainproof - what more could you want.
And thep rice when compared with inferior cloths is dirt cheap. My ULF partner bought one when he used mine.

An alternative darkcloth

In the early 1990's I attended a John Sexton workshop -- most of you know that he does a lot of "quiet light' image making....twilight and later. To do this requires a very "dark" darkcloth. He found the best darkcloth was homemade ---

He used black ultrasuede(tm) and white ripstop nylon. Both materials are still available in fabric shops. The ultrasuede is absolutely black, and the ripstop is water repellent. I made mine by having the edges sewn together, leaving a tiny gap. It was turned inside-out through this gap, then the gap was sewn shut.

Its a wonderful darkcloth. Not cheap. Absolutely no light through the cloth even when putting it up to a high intensity light bulb (like the Nuarc UV printer).

IMHO commercial products aren't always the only nor best alternatives -- YMMV.

Regards
Don

I use the BTZS on my 7x17. I have been leaving it wrapped around the camera to act as a cushion when traveling. Don't do this. The stretch elastic fabric on the edges worked off the back standard and onto the bellows flattening a fold. Long term this would have done damage to the fold on the bellows, possibly causing a light leak. Learn from my mistake.

John Powers

I'll put a plug in for the Harrison Silver Classic Dark Cloth. But first, I did try the Black Jacket Hybrid but it did not work well with my camera back as the rear cabinet width was too narrow and thus it was a bit tedious for me with my LE, it is a very nice cloth BTW----the customer service provided by Keith was excellant however and anyone new thinking about a 4x5 field camera ought to give that hood a try.

I'm still using a Calumet darkcloth I got years ago for 4x5 and 5x7 field work. It folds up nice and compact and is light tight enough while staying lightweight. I also have a Sawtooth Designs (the one that Photo Formulary sells) in a 5'x6' size to use in the studio on my Century Master studio camera, and with my 8x10. I haven't been taking the 8x10 in the field much lately, so I'm not worried about another darkcloth, but I'd likely investigate one of Kevin's, and the BTZS Hood, for field use with the 8x10.

Where you offered a cheerful refund or exchange by Photographer's Formulary?

Ryan,
Are the two pieces well connected. I find with many clothes the white and black pieces can move separately and where you pull tight on the white piece the black piece will droop down in your way of view when you are trying to scan the screen.

Michael Andersen