How do you change paper negs?

ged · Jun 10, 2005

I am interested to hear what tricks people use to change paper negs when outdoors. I would also be interested to know what size paper you are using.

I have yet to build a pinhole camera but these questions have been nagging me for a while. I imagine that trying to fit a pinhole camera and box of photo paper into my smallish changing bag would not leave much room to work, if it fit at all.

Thanks for your help!

John Bartley · Jun 10, 2005

ged said:
I am interested to hear what tricks people use to change paper negs when outdoors. I would also be interested to know what size paper you are using.

I have yet to build a pinhole camera but these questions have been nagging me for a while. I imagine that trying to fit a pinhole camera and box of photo paper into my smallish changing bag would not leave much room to work, if it fit at all.

Thanks for your help!

I built the camera to fit a 4x5 film holder and then just load paper instead of film and then change holders instead of papers. The upside to this method is that when the urge to move up to LF hits, you already have the holders, so you can tell your sweetheart that it won't cost as much

Nige · Jun 10, 2005

for my 5x7 pinhole I use a change bag. I sit on the ground and put the camera and two paper envelopes in the bag and get the exposed sheet into the exposed envelope and a new sheet into the camera... takes about 3-4 minutes! I stuck some tape with a flap poking out onto one envelope to indicate the exposed one. For my 8x10 pinhole, I use it one shot... have to take it back to the darkroom to empty and reload.

k_jupiter · Jun 10, 2005

Nige said:
for my 5x7 pinhole I use a change bag. I sit on the ground and put the camera and two paper envelopes in the bag and get the exposed sheet into the exposed envelope and a new sheet into the camera... takes about 3-4 minutes! I stuck some tape with a flap poking out onto one envelope to indicate the exposed one. For my 8x10 pinhole, I use it one shot... have to take it back to the darkroom to empty and reload.

For my 120 pinhole, I just advance the film! For my 4x5, I use a Speed Graphic with a pinhole replacing the lens. Those I use film holders for. And for my 18x24 I will be building soon, I will probably take it back to the darkroom as my daughters do with their paint can cameras. Matter of fact, I might get an empty gallon paint can for that camera.

tim in san jose

Donald Qualls · Jun 11, 2005

The 4x5 stereo pinhole camera I'm designing may get foam-core construction film holders (which would hold paper just as readily, and cost a lot less than modern double dark slides). And that, in turn, will simplify the process of converting to 5x7 single sheet; just pull out the center septum and change the tape on the pinholes; one shutter with three arms will cover all three and work from the same cable release.

How do you change paper negs?

ged

John Bartley

Nige

k_jupiter

Donald Qualls

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency