New to 4x5 film holders

Christopher Walrath · Jul 3, 2008

Aw, heck. Anything 4x5. But I'm learning. Hey, I just got 5 new (to me) 4x5 film holders from a seller on eBay. (Reminds me to leave feedback). Anywho, where does the film go? Surely not in the slot that holds the dark slide. There is a slot inside of that against the center of the holder. Is this where the film goes and are there any tricks to getting it in and out and making sure the emulsion doesn't get scratched or anything? Or am I over vexing this, as usual. I gotta stop this thinking thing . . .

BradS · Jul 3, 2008

Pull the dark slide out about half way. Lift the flap. The film slides in the slot below with the back side of the film touching the center of the film holder and the emulsion side facing dark slide, of course. Just hold the sheet of film by the edges and don't worry about it. Practice in daylight with one sheet (That's what the 25th sheet is for in those wacky 25 sheet boxes).

Bob F. · Jul 3, 2008

The link I always send people to: http://www.butzi.net/articles/filmload.htm

Have fun, Bob.

Fotoguy20d · Jul 3, 2008

Bob F. said:
The link I always send people to: http://www.butzi.net/articles/filmload.htm

Have fun, Bob.

I just printed this out a couple of days ago (couldn't remember which corner the notches were in). Just got a Grafmatic in the mail today and couldn't figure it out at all. Found this link courtesy of google. It seems easy enough now. Definitely an improvement over the film holders, I think.

Dan

Curt · Jul 3, 2008

Paul is right on the money.

The white side and black side of the dark slide can be used to prevent confusion about which holders are loaded, and which are exposed, etc.

Different photographers use different conventions, so if you share holders with someone, you'll need to make sure you use the same convention.

I use the following one: Film holders which are loaded with unexposed film have the white side of the dark slide showing. All other film holders have the dark side showing.

So, if a holder has the white side showing, I know it's OK to put it in the camera and expose the film in the holder. If it's black, either the film is exposed (and I don't want to re-expose it) or else it's an empty holder. Either way, I don't want to put it in the camera.

Christopher Walrath · Jul 3, 2008

Yeah, Bob. Great page. Answered all of those questions. More to come as they occur to me. Something that occured to me. I got three Liscos and tow Agfas. The Agfas are about 1/2 shorter than the Liscos so I need to be careful not to put the Agfa darkslides into the Lisco holders. Should be easy enough.

Andy Tymon · Jul 3, 2008

Chris, the only time you really need to pull the darkslide out all the way is when making an image, you can pull them out half way to load them. I always check that the film is seated under the film rails by gently hooking my finger under the film(at the flap end) and if I feel resistance then I know it's loaded correctly. There is nothing like making an exposure then trying to push the darkslide back in to feel resistance or worse looking through the groundglass and seeing something obscuring the view,take the back off and find a piece of film in your bellows!

I never trust those little catches that catch the film holder and stop it from falling out,I use them but for insurance I use a 1.5" piece of 1/2"masking tape over the darkslides. This prevents acidental exposure if the catches aren't great and you reach in the bag and pull out the holder by the slide end. The tape is removed before exposure and I stick it on my pant leg then when I have made the exposure replace it(making sure i put the darkside out). It comes in handy as you can write what n+ or _ dev you want to give that neg, plus if you will always know if the holders have tape on they are loaded- and no I don't have any affiliation with masking tape manufacturers

Christopher Walrath · Jul 3, 2008

Ah, I'm a cheapskate, at least my employer makes me so. We're talking older wooden one piece jobs. No flaps for me. (great)

bdial · Jul 3, 2008

Chris,
Are you sure about no flaps? I've got some wooden holders that are close to 100 years old, and they have flaps. Note that the darkslide holds them shut.
Barry

Konical · Jul 3, 2008

Good Evening,

I'm surprised that no one so far has mentioned the advisability of using an anti-static brush on the holders and on both sides of the darkslides before loading film. Having dust specks on negatives is highly frustrating.

Konical

Christopher Walrath · Jul 4, 2008

bdial said:
Chris,
Are you sure about no flaps? I've got some wooden holders that are close to 100 years old, and they have flaps. Note that the darkslide holds them shut.
Barry

(LMAO). OH!!!!! Never mind!!!!!!!!

bobwysiwyg · Jul 4, 2008

Konical said:
Good Evening,

I'm surprised that no one so far has mentioned the advisability of using an anti-static brush on the holders and on both sides of the darkslides before loading film. Having dust specks on negatives is highly frustrating.

Konical

Saw some of these at Huron Camera the other day and thought this might be a good use for them. Your post confirms this. Bact to Huron Camera to pick one up. Thanks.

Christopher Walrath · Jul 4, 2008

John Kasaian · Jul 7, 2008

I'm rather fond of giving them a good vacume between loadings rather than blowing dust off with compressed are or using anti static brushes.

Vacume and you know where the dust went. I have a dedicated Mini Shop-vac for photo gear.

Blow off the dust and it goes out into space only to ambush you later.

Anti static devices hoard the dust so you're exposing all your holders to more of the same hoping the little buggers don't eventually anti-the anti static.

That is why I prefer to vacume!

Give the dark slide edges an ever so spare coat of wax so they sllde eaily in the grooves and you're jake!

My 2-cents anyway!

Phillip P. Dimor · Jul 7, 2008

I like to vacuum mine as well. I have about 50 holders, when I buy a box of film and have empty holders I vacuum them out and use an anti-static brush (which never works as well as it should for me but it's good to get all the crud out) before loading.

Definitely brush and vacuum the inside of the flaps and the part where the darkslide enters.. There's lots of posts and threads about this too but it's a good habit to get into.

Konical said:
Good Evening,

I'm surprised that no one so far has mentioned the advisability of using an anti-static brush on the holders and on both sides of the darkslides before loading film. Having dust specks on negatives is highly frustrating.

Konical

PHOTOTONE · Jul 7, 2008

Regardless of whether you vacuum or anti-static brush your film holders, you should from time-to-time blow thru the light trap with an air-compressor and air gun. This will dislodge a whole lot of dust that gets caught there and can fall on the film. Stick the air-gun right up to the the slot where the dark-slide goes and blow and look out...dirt will come flying out.

Richard Kelham · Jul 9, 2008

I've been using DDS in various sizes for some 40 years and have never needed to vacuum them, though I agree that an occasional blast of air through the light trap is a good idea.

Beware of anti-static brushes as they usually contain isotopes of Polonium210 which is a highly radioactive alpha particle emitter. It has a half-life of some 138 days so the effectiveness of these brushes is somewhat time-limited. Plus you have to be very circumspect about disposal...

Richard

bobwysiwyg · Jul 9, 2008

Richard Kelham said:
I've been using DDS in various sizes for some 40 years and have never needed to vacuum them, though I agree that an occasional blast of air through the light trap is a good idea.

Beware of anti-static brushes as they usually contain isotopes of Polonium210 which is a highly radioactive alpha particle emitter. It has a half-life of some 138 days so the effectiveness of these brushes is somewhat time-limited. Plus you have to be very circumspect about disposal...

Richard

Yipes! Thanks, guess I'll skip the anti-static brush approach.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polonium

yellowcat · Jul 9, 2008

I was taught when loading darkslides to always tap the edge of the sheet of film on the edge of the bench to dislodge any dust that had been attracted to it by the action of sliding the film out of its pack.
Seldom had any problem with dust.
The worst dust on 5x4 film was from someone who had used a changing bag to load darksides.

Christopher Walrath · Jul 9, 2008

Oops. So much for the changing bag. (scribble, swear, scribble some more)

John Kasaian · Jul 11, 2008

Christopher, don't sweat it man. Use a changing bag--just make sure that you're the only one who has used it (buy a new one) and vacuum your holders between loading sessions and you'll be just fine (unless you live on a sand dune or something!)

Christopher Walrath · Jul 12, 2008

Yeah, it would be rough shooting 4x5 on Tatooine, huh?

BradS · Jul 16, 2008

The dust issue depends greatly upon the relative humidity. Notice the folks in England claim not to have much problem with dust. Out here in California, dust is just part of everyday life. Keeping film holders in plastic ziplock storage bags coupled with vigilant and persistent use of the vacuum is the only solution I've found. Even with all of this effort, I still have a running joke with my lab..."is that my dust or yours?" (hint, I figure my dust was there at the time of exposure and the lab's came afterward).

A changing bag is OK for loading 4sx5 film holders as long as you keep it clean inside (and don't sweat too much). The bigger problem with the changing bag is that as you sweat, the humidity inside the bag rises and eventually, you may find water condensing on the metal insides of the film holders...which makes loading difficult.

Christopher Walrath · Jul 16, 2008

Well, I live here in Delaware where the 90 in the forecast refers to more than just the temp.

Fotoguy20d · Jul 17, 2008

Christopher Walrath said:
Well, I live here in Delaware where the 90 in the forecast refers to more than just the temp.

Very apt, as we head into a 3-H sort of weekend here. A northeast summer was inevitable I suppose.

New to 4x5 film holders

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