Moisture in Changing Bag

[BradS]

I have been using a little, tiny cloth changing bag to load sheet film. Have had the little bag forever. It works but it is so small that it can barely accomodate two holders and a box of film. I decided to step up to a new, bigger bag. I spent a little extra to "get the good one". It easily accomdates eight holders and the box of film but....

Here's the problem: The inside compartment on "The good one" is made of that rubberized (?) cloth material. It does not breath! In the time it takes to get two film holders loaded, so much moisture has condensed inside the bag that it is impossible to load anything more....

To make matters worse, now, I have a hlf a box of film with moisture "concerns".

Yeah, I know, better to use the bathroom & bathtowel but, that's not really an option at at the moment. I've gone back to the little bag for now but, short of dumping the new bag and buying "the cheap one" what can I do?

 

[glbeas]

Get a cloth bag full of silica gel to drop into the changing bag when you are working on the film. That should help a good bit and the gel can be restored by s short bake in the oven. Store it in a ziplock in between.

 

[Shmoo]

I had the same problem and I dumped the rubberized changing bag and got a changing tent. In the interim, you could try using the bottom half of a plastic box to keep the bag from collapsing on you and your film...like a plastic shoe box or storage box. Turn it on it's side, push it to the back of the bag and let it create a "tent" for you.

S

 

[Deckled Edge]

I had the same problem and I dumped the rubberized changing bag and got a changing tent.S

I own all three flavors of the Harrison tent. I just couldn't change a 7x17in. holder in a 36 in. tent. The tents also suffer from humidity, but not nearly so severely as the bag. As Shmoo points out, the humidity is less if there is no wet material pressing on your work. The interior volume of the tent is such that humidity is rarely such a problem that removing your arms and hands, washing them in cold soapy water, and a good drying off won't cure. You can also time your work so you unload a few, then air out; unload the rest and dry out; put in the box of new film and load a few, etc. The Harrison tens also have nice open flat floors which make film loading much quicker and more effortless, so you don't sweat as much.
B&H carries them:
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=productlist&A=details&Q=&sku=172903&is=REG

 

[Bob F.]

I'll second (third?) the changing tent. I have the smaller Harrison 'Pup' model and there is plenty of room for loading 5x4 film holders (there's room for unloading them into a Jobo reel and tank - it's a bit tight, mainly because the hand-holes are a bit low, but doable). Many people suggest getting the next larger size but I find the Pup is fine.

Having said that, it may be cheaper to just light-proof your bathroom or a large closet etc - it's certainly a lot easier to load holders and reels outside the confines of a changing tent...

Cheers, Bob.

 

[mark]

Another vote for Changing tent good, Changing bag bad. I use a photoflex cuz I can't afford a harrison. And a second vote for Light tight Bathroom better than the others. it is hard to get that damn bathroom into the truck to change film in the field, though.

 

[BradS]

Thanks all. Silica gel and changing tent ideas are both good. Will try the cheep one first (assume that's the silica). With regard to packing the bathroom, I alway wonder how I'd explain it to the baggage inspectors at Heathrow.

"Right! You say you've got a lu in there?"