State of the art with Dark Cloths

[TheFlyingCamera]

What's out there these days, beyond the BTZS hoods? Anyone have any recommendations? I've got a horse blanket that works just fine for me for most things, but I need to get a couple extras for my LF students.

 

[David Brown]

I would ask over on LFF. That's like asking what's the best film/developer/etc. over there.

 

[Eric Rose]

Just go to a fabric store and buy some heavy dark cloth. Cut to size.

 

[mfagan]

That’s what I did. Went through fabric store remnants pile for discounted short pieces. Put a couple of button holes in it and tied it onto the top of my MT2000 with an old shoestring. I guess maybe <$3.00 and I got to feel the heft of the material bwfore buying.

 

[awty]

Double thickness black material, not too heavy. My wife sowed in some elastic one end to fit tightish to the rear standard. Its good doesnt slide off.
Im sure you could find someone to make some for you. In fact if you pay for airfares I will happily send my wife over.

 

[DREW WILEY]

Ordinary fabric = lint, heat, weight, and water absorbency. If you want the cat's meow, order some black Goretex = lint-free, breathable, lightwt, waterproof.

 

[bdial]

XXX-large t-shirts work very well, sort of like a BTZS hood with arm holes (which are not used).

 

[MattKing]

I keep seeing ads on the top of the Photrio screen for "Blackjacket" products.
I think they have been advertisers for a while.

 

[Eric Rose]

A buddy of mine uses one of his wife's old plaid skirts that has an elastic waistband.

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

I keep seeing ads on the top of the Photrio screen for "Blackjacket" products.
I think they have been advertisers for a while.

I have one for 8x10”, and I like it. It’s light and compact for field use, and does a good job of keeping stray light out. I’ve also got a couple of traditional darkcloths, and they’re ok, too.

 

[silveror0]

I have one for 8x10”, and I like it. It’s light and compact for field use, and does a good job of keeping stray light out. I’ve also got a couple of traditional darkcloths, and they’re ok, too.

+1
And it also handles wind very well while composing; granted, one must then be patient for the wind to subside before exposure.

 

[Alan Gales]

I use a Blackjacket for 8x10. They seal up real well if you like it really dark under there. They are a little more finicky than the BTZS that I used to use for 4x5. The Blackjackets are darker because of the sleeves and more finicky due to the sleeves.

 

[Doremus Scudder]

Ordinary fabric = lint, heat, weight, and water absorbency. If you want the cat's meow, order some black Goretex = lint-free, breathable, lightwt, waterproof.

I second this, except I went for white Gore-Tex with a black liner. It's cooler in the summer than black by a long shot. My homemade cloth is about 3x5 feet and has Velcro around the edges so I can close it completely around me and the camera. It doubles as a reflector, a rain poncho and Superman cape.

Best,

Doremus

 

[mweintraub]

I borrowed my friends Wista setup and he had one that had velcro and had elastic on one side... I promptly went to the fabric store to get material to make my own.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I keep seeing ads on the top of the Photrio screen for "Blackjacket" products.
I think they have been advertisers for a while.

I have one for 8x10”, and I like it. It’s light and compact for field use, and does a good job of keeping stray light out. I’ve also got a couple of traditional darkcloths, and they’re ok, too.

+1
And it also handles wind very well while composing; granted, one must then be patient for the wind to subside before exposure.

I use a Blackjacket for 8x10. They seal up real well if you like it really dark under there. They are a little more finicky than the BTZS that I used to use for 4x5. The Blackjackets are darker because of the sleeves and more finicky due to the sleeves.

If I need to replace my dark cloth would consider getting a Blackhacket, but I see that the ground glass image will still be upside down.

 

[mpirie]

I use a dark-cloth made by Paramo and designed by Joe Cornish.

It's light, compact and elasticated at one end......it's not cheap, but worth it's weight in gold.

Mike

 

[paul ron]

i just pull my shirt over my head.

 

[Alan Gales]

If I need to replace my dark cloth would consider getting a Blackhacket, but I see that the ground glass image will still be upside down.

This will turn the image right side up for your Speed Graphic. The image will still be reversed though.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

i just pull my shirt over my head.

For me, that would be a bad idea... too many passersby would go blind upon the sight...

 

[Sirius Glass]

This will turn the image right side up for your Speed Graphic. The image will still be reversed though.

 

[paul ron]

For me, that would be a bad idea... too many passersby would go blind upon the sight...

 

[juan]

For years I used two black t-shirts, one inside the other. I put the head hole over my head and the waist over the camera. It worked pretty well. I use a BTZS now and it is definitely darker. Both are hot and fog the ground glass in Florida.

 

[removed account4]

fabric store dark piece of cloth.
felt is super cheap, that is what i have been using for about 30years.
they sell other non felty cloths too, nothing like 125$ more like 1.25/yard

 

[mweintraub]

i just pull my shirt over my head.

I am cornholio. I have TP for you.

 

[removedacct1]

I used a piece of black velvet I had been using as a backdrop until it got too roughed up for the purpose. It leaked light and was difficult to keep on the camera. Then I went to a fabric store and bought a fabric that was light tight, but was very slippery when used as a dark cloth, and was far heavier than I wanted. Then I gave in and bought a Harrison dark cloth from B&H, and it was a far better cloth than the make-do bits of fabric I had bought. It has Velcro for attaching to the camera, it’s silver on the reverse, which keeps you cooler when out in the sun, it weighs practically nothing, and folds up to a tiny volume. These traits make it a vastly superior tool for the purpose. Unless you are adamant that you save a few dollars, this is a much better dark cloth than some random bit of fabric from your local fabric store.