Protecting Filmholders from direct sunlight

photobackpacker · Nov 16, 2007

Using Ziplock bags for filmholder dust protection in the field is widely accepted. Taking this a step further, I am curious:

1. How many of you take steps to keep direct sunlight off of your filmholders when in the field? (Storage, Moving to the camera, While exposing and returning to storage.)

2. If there were black, antistatic poly bags (similar to printing paper storage bags) available to fit your filmholders (ziplock or otherwise) - would you view these as a valued accessory?

dslater · Nov 16, 2007

photobackpacker said:
Using Ziplock bags for filmholder dust protection in the field is widely accepted. Taking this a step further, I am curious:

1. How many of you take steps to keep direct sunlight off of your filmholders when in the field? (Storage, Moving to the camera, While exposing and returning to storage.)

2. If there were black, antistatic poly bags (similar to printing paper storage bags) available to fit your filmholders (ziplock or otherwise) - would you view these as a valued accessory?

The only time I worry about keeping direct sunlight off my film holders is when a holder is in the camera and I have pulled the dark-slide. Otherwise I don't give it much thought.

AllenR · Nov 16, 2007

Bruce,

I pretty much agree with dslater, in the camera with the dark slide pulled is the time of biggest risk. The dark cloth serves to minimize problems there. I carry holders in a cooler in the truck, and in my backpack or vest when away from the vehicle. I use clear 2mil reclosable poly bags from Uline ( http://www.uline.com/Browse_Listing_208_2.asp ) for everything from 4x5 to 11x14.

Antistatic bags would be nice, but I doubt that the cost could be kept at a reasonable level. I use bags only once, because they readily collect dirt, so cost is definitely an issue. I wouldn't find a black bag useful simply because I couldn't just look to see if a holder was exposed, I'd have to open the bag.

Jim Noel · Nov 16, 2007

My film holders see minimal daylight and never direct sunlight. When in the field they stay in their zip-lock bags in a film case until ready for use. The film case is opened under the dark cloth and the film holder inserted in the camera w/o getting out from under the cloth.
I think one major mistake often made is having too small a dark cloth so that it is difficult to keep direct sun off the holders. I have several the smallest of which is 4x6 feet for use with 4x5 and 5x7. For the larger cameras the cloth is 5x8 feet.

David A. Goldfarb · Nov 16, 2007

I just keep my filmholders in a bag or case to keep them out of direct light for extended periods of time. I don't see any practical way of transporting them that doesn't also keep them out of direct light.

As for the value of Ziploc bags, I think it depends on the humidity. They can also produce static under the right conditions with plastic filmholders, which will attract dust when the holder is removed from the bag. I think someone has posted a source for antistatic bags that aren't too costly. They're quite common items for packaging electronic circuit boards and such, so it shouldn't be too hard to Google up a good price on them.

DannL · Nov 16, 2007

I do make effort to keep direct sunlight from entering the equipment. I use equipment that predates the dinosaur and I simply cannot trust it to perform like modern equipment. Light leaks can be interesting, sometimes. But I would prefer to add that effect in the darkroom and not in the field. Basically, I find storing the holders in a light proof bag a good practice. Not pulling the darkside completely, another. And if needed, I'll cover a majority of the holder with a dark cloth, when in use. Steps that can make the memories of a 200 mile drive and 20 mile hike more enjoyable. I use those black plastic film bags often, and made a film holder bag from light proof vinyl material. I use it regularly.

Photo Engineer · Nov 16, 2007

I have found over my long career in photography that picking up a film holder by the dark slides is bad. You should only handle it by the edges. Pressure on the darkslide when holding it can bend the slide inward a tad and cause some light leakage.

PE

Rob Skeoch · Nov 16, 2007

I've ruined so many shots with light leaks it isn't funny. Now I never let them see the sun. I keep them so covered and dark they could be growing mushrooms.

I would like a black zipbag.

-rob

AllenR · Nov 16, 2007

David A. Goldfarb said:
As for the value of Ziploc bags, I think it depends on the humidity.

I will have to disagree. I work almost exclusively in the low humidity here in the southwest and even non-antistatic bags are way better than nothing. There is certainly a potential to generate a little static when removing the holder, but it is very minimal if the holder is removed from the bag at something less than warp 9. I experience virtually no dust issues with the Uline bags and I utilize only plastic holders.

Allen Friday · Nov 16, 2007

I live in rural Iowa--think gravel roads and dust from farm equipment. After driving on a gravel road for even a day, my dash will have a fine layer of white, limestone dust on it. To protect the film holders, I keep them in Zip lock bags inside a soft cooler, which I got at Sam's Club. When I get ready to make an exposure, I open the cooler and pull out the holder. I cover the holder with an anti-static cloth to carry it to the camera. Under the dark cloth I wipe the holder down with the anti-static cloth and insert it in the camera. I pull the dark slide under the darkcloth and I wipe the dark slide on both sides before reinserting into the holder. Sounds like a lot of work, but it is now just my routine and only takes a few seconds. My problems with dust and light leaks has pretty much gone away.

Allen

Steve Hamley · Nov 16, 2007

Here's a couple of options. Not dirt cheap, but if people are that interested, split up a large order. Good company to do business with.

http://www.uline.com/Browse_Listing_7850.asp?desc=Uline+4+Mil

http://www.uline.com/Browse_Listing_57.asp?desc=Reclosable++Static+Shielding+Bags+With+No+Print

Want a recloseable black bag? Rob you got it. How about 10 cents each?

http://www.uline.com/Browse_Listing_232.asp?desc=Colored+Reclosable+Poly+Bags

Cheers,

Steve

walter23 · Nov 16, 2007

I haven't given it any special consideration and I've never had problems. I usually keep my holders in my backpack except when I'm using them, though there are times that I'll throw a handful of them into a handy plastic bag which I carry around with my tripod / camera to get a couple of angles on something. I've never had a problem with leaks.

My Toyo holders came with black antistatic bags but they eventually got too grimy to use. Now I just rotate through basic white plastic bags (clean ones from the camera store and that kind of thing).

photobackpacker said:
Using Ziplock bags for filmholder dust protection in the field is widely accepted. Taking this a step further, I am curious:

1. How many of you take steps to keep direct sunlight off of your filmholders when in the field? (Storage, Moving to the camera, While exposing and returning to storage.)

2. If there were black, antistatic poly bags (similar to printing paper storage bags) available to fit your filmholders (ziplock or otherwise) - would you view these as a valued accessory?

rknewcomb · Nov 16, 2007

Is this a great group of people on this forum or what! Somebody brings up a topic or problem, in this case dust in holders, and in just a little while there is a link to the perfect solution!
Gotta Love It!
Robert Newcomb

Vaughn · Nov 16, 2007

When I was shooting 4x5, the quart ZipLocs were my friends.

Someone gave me several pink antistatic bubble-wrap bags that fit my 8x10 holders (3 in each bag.) I'll have to replace them soon.

I try to avoid any extended time in the direct sun (not usually a problem in the NW and even more rare in the NW and under the redwoods.) So the holders stay in the pack until time to go into the camera -- then a darkcloth over the camera the whole time.

Vaughn

PHOTOTONE · Nov 16, 2007

I shoot tons of 4x5 and 5x7 film in the field for my personal projects. I have perhaps 100 working holders in each size. I don't have any new holders, and some are 50 to 80 years old. If a holder is problematical, I work on it. If it still leaks light in direct sun, then I don't use it. I certainly understand the need to keep film holders from environmental dust. Yesterday went out on an all day trip shooting bridges on dirt roads. The whole inside of the Tropper was covered in dust. Filmholder were in containers except when being used. This helps keep dust on the holders down.

A filmholder should be light-tight, if it isn't then there is something wrong with it, and it should be repaired or discarded.

Shawn Dougherty · Nov 16, 2007

Wow,
I just make sure they are clean when I load my film and keep them in my backpack or messenger bag. When I need them I take them out and use them. I've had almost no problems with dust and I've used them everywhere from Death Valley to Mono Lake...

If you're getting light leaks between taking them out of your pack and putting them in the back I'd guess your using bad holders or a leaky camera.

wildbill · Nov 16, 2007

I use(d) ziplock freezer bags that perfectly held 5 8x10 holders without a bunch of extra bag flapping around. I only bought one box and they last quite a while but now i can't find them anywhere! 1.5 gallon size from Target but they don't sell them anymore.

rwyoung · Nov 16, 2007

Steve Hamley said:
Here's a couple of options. Not dirt cheap, but if people are that interested, split up a large order. Good company to do business with.

Uline is great but you will get a zillion catalogs in the mail from them after you order! :rolleyes:

John Kasaian · Nov 17, 2007

wildbill said:
I use(d) ziplock freezer bags that perfectly held 5 8x10 holders without a bunch of extra bag flapping around. I only bought one box and they last quite a while but now i can't find them anywhere! 1.5 gallon size from Target but they don't sell them anymore.

I've bought them both at Target and Walmart, though sometimes they're out of stock for months at a time! Its a good thing the 1.5 gallon bags last such a long time!

resummerfield · Nov 17, 2007

Rob Skeoch said:
.......I never let them see the sun. I keep them so covered and dark they could be growing mushrooms.

I would like a black zipbag......

Same here. I keep mine in darker anti-static bags, but I would like a black zipbag to put everything in.

Steve Hamley · Nov 18, 2007

Eric,

HELLO! See previous post.

http://www.uline.com/Browse_Listing_232.asp?desc=Colored+Reclosable+Poly+Bags

Steve

Bruce Watson · Dec 5, 2007

photobackpacker said:
Using Ziplock bags for filmholder dust protection in the field is widely accepted. Taking this a step further, I am curious:

1. How many of you take steps to keep direct sunlight off of your filmholders when in the field? (Storage, Moving to the camera, While exposing and returning to storage.)

2. If there were black, antistatic poly bags (similar to printing paper storage bags) available to fit your filmholders (ziplock or otherwise) - would you view these as a valued accessory?

Actually, I don't worry too much about using my film holders in direct sunlight. I only shield the holder from the sun when pulling or inserting the darkslide. But then I bought all my holders new many years ago and keep good care of them.

I do keep them in zip-lock freezer bags. They are a little wide for the service. It would be nice to have a bag that fit a 5x4 holder better. It would be nice if it were an anti-static bag.

But I want a clear bag, not a black bag. I want to be able to find unexposed film at a glance -- by seeing the white side of the darkslides. I'm not at all interested in having to open black zip-lock bags one-by-one (letting in dust while I do it) looking for a film holder with a white slide. Black bags seem counter-productive to me.

Protecting Filmholders from direct sunlight

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PHOTOTONE

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Protecting Filmholders from direct sunlight

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