Focusing cloth vs Folding Hood- Thoughts/ recommendations

[RalphLambrecht]

A while back, I bought an Intrepid 4 x 5 and assembled a system thanks in good part to excellent advice and guidance I received on these forums.
Unfortunately, I was greeted shortly after finishing assembling my system with a leukemia diagnosis so I’ve done very little with this system. My prognosis is fairly good, so I hope to be back behind the glass before too long.

Partly just because, and partly because of my condition, I always seem to be on a quest to save weight wherever possible. One option I am considering is buying the focusing hood accessory so I can shave off a couple pounds compared to carrying around a focusing cloth. But I am noticing that, while the fresnel screen makes the screen look brighter and more even, it actually makes focusing a little ambiguous. I was just wondering annyone has experience with focusing hoods versus focusing cloths, and whether the hood makes it harder to see the corners properly without a Fresnel screen.

I see the hood more on press type cameras, and I had a crown graphic when I started out, but it is long gone. So I am reaching out to the helpful folks here, of which there are quite a few!

I have a hood for my Linhof and for my Toyo and use the same cloth on both. Overall, the hoods are simpler,faster and lighter but the cloth is better for focusing. Still whenever possible, I use the hood.

 

[Pioneer]

I use a reflex viewing hood that came of an old monorail and I also have a light nylon darkcloth. I use both at different times but I do prefer the darkcloth if I am traveling light and the viewing hood if I am working out of my truck. I build a light duty wooden case for the viewing hood that tucks in front of the seat. In fact, when I checked right now the viewing hood was in the truck cab and the darkcloth and the loupe is in the backpack.

Imagine that. Things are where they are supposed to be for once in my life. Except for the camera. It is sitting on the tripod in the hobby room but I doubt I would leave it behind if I were going out shooting...right? Right!!

 

[mpirie]

Like Ralph, i have hoods for both my Linhof and my Ebony. They are great for quick composing and focussing, but ultimately need to be moved out of the way for critical focus/movements.

The Linhof is better in this respect as it hinges out of the way (like the folding hood), but the Ebony needs to have the hood (a modified Cambo T20) removed completely.

So despite having hoods, i still take my dark cloth with me.....it's one made by Paramo in the UK, very light, an elasticated collar at one end and a zipper/domes along the length.....it's also waterproof.

One thing that causes me problems when using the hoods is the cold air breeze causing my eyes to water, not a problem when under the dark cloth.

Mike