Suggest a Changing Bag Please

marcmarc · May 15, 2010

Hi Everyone,

For the past five years that I've been developing film at home I've used the changing bags that Freestyle stocks to load my reels in. These seem to be the only ones they carry at least in their store which I live near. However, the quality isn't really great as each bag I've been through lasts less then a year before the seams start coming apart, the waxy finish starts flaking off etc. I just discovered my current bag has loose seams along the sleeves where light can get in. I've noticed at B&H a number of bags in a range of prices. Do I get anything more (besides a brand name) by buying one of the $50+ bags? What would be my best buy? As always thanks for replies.

Sirius Glass · May 15, 2010

If you want a bag with room to working and that folds take a look at Photoflex's Changing Room [http://www.photoflex.com/Photoflex_Products/Changing_Room/index.html]. It is good for 35mm and MF but it may be too small for various sized of LF.

Steve

thisismyname09 · May 16, 2010

After being cheap and buying a small, inexpensive bag, I can say: Do not buy a small bag to save money. The bag I have (the cheapest one B&H sells...) is too small for anything but taking film out of a 35mm camera that came off the spool, and even that is cramped.

MikeSeb · May 16, 2010

They aren't cheap, but the Harrison Pup Tent and its larger brethren are well made and roomy.

largeformat pat · May 16, 2010

I agree, the Harrison is the way to go. Lots of room, less chance of dust.
pat

JBrunner · May 16, 2010

Best bag I have ever had, and I've had a lot of them... Harrison. Worth every penny.

Brian Legge · May 16, 2010

I've only been using it for a few months, but I really like the Paterson Changing Bag (27x30") given its price. For 135/120, I have way more space than I need. If you are looking fora middle ground between a small bag and a large tent, I'd suggest giving it a shot.

smieglitz · May 16, 2010

There's a Fuji darkbox fdb12 on ebay right now. Item #260602880283. The ultimate changing bag IMO. It forms a cube 24"x24"x24". Sets up in about 10 seconds.

Metroman · May 16, 2010

I have three bags from Roger Luo. Good quality heavy cotton, no static, no clammy/sweaty hands and machine washable. I use the largest for re-spooling 400ft cans of Double-X on to 100ft cores comfortably.

mpirie · May 16, 2010

I've never used the Harrison tent, but do have the Calumet "Changing Room". It's pretty good, though the sleeves are very tight for me.

It's pretty good price-wise and a lot roomier than a changing bag.

Mike

Rick A · May 16, 2010

I've used a couple of different bags in the past, and I abhor the blasted thingies. I think a changing tent would be preferable, no collapse of the bag onto your hands and goings on inside.

BenZucker · May 16, 2010

I will give an other endorsement to the harrison changing tent.....its very good for loading sheet film as well because the bag does not sit on the holders and thus i find it less dusty than the traditional style black bag.

Pupfish · May 16, 2010

I've got the Photoflex Changing Room tent and with it I'm able to load Grafmatics. These are awkward and long when opened, it'd would work for conventional 8x10 holders, doubtless. I've had it only for six months, but no light leaks and no dust problems on my film. It seems sufficiently robust to hold up to several year's worth of use. It was ~1/2 the price ($70) of a similar sized Harrison Pup Tent.

Necator · May 16, 2010

Metroman said:
I have three bags from Roger Luo. Good quality heavy cotton, no static, no clammy/sweaty hands and machine washable. I use the largest for re-spooling 400ft cans of Double-X on to 100ft cores comfortably.

I bought one of these as well. Great bag, pity it was a gift to a friend . Anyway, I will soon get one for myself to replace my current, non cotton bag.

AgX · May 16, 2010

Not every changing bag is protective against infrared light, in case that might be an issue.

fotch · May 16, 2010

In using a conventional changing bag, I always put a small cardboard box inside with the ends cut out so the bag would stay off my hands. I have progressed to a Harrison tent, which is very roomy.

michaelbsc · May 16, 2010

smieglitz said:
There's a Fuji darkbox fdb12 on ebay right now. Item #260602880283. The ultimate changing bag IMO. It forms a cube 24"x24"x24". Sets up in about 10 seconds.

I have one of these, and I used it *A LOT* until I got a properly darkened room with a table. (Now I have an 8x10 room that's awaiting proper plumbing. Isn't old age with the kids gone wonderful? "Nope kiddo, you can't move back in. I converted your bedroom to a darkroom.")

This Fuji tent is absolutely superb. I think I paid about $75 for mine from a place that was closing up shop. Apparently it was supplied with Fuji mini-labs.

It has enough room inside when set up to load half a dozen 4x5 holders, or several tank reels with exposed film.

But it ain't little. Don't expect to stuff it in your camera bag and take it with you. For use at home, I think it beats the Harrison hands down. But in the field I think the Harrison is a more manageable package. If you're operating out of a hotel room or something then the Fuji does fold up into a nice package and would work well there.

MB

kevin_c · May 17, 2010

Metroman said:
I have three bags from Roger Luo. Good quality heavy cotton, no static, no clammy/sweaty hands and machine washable. I use the largest for re-spooling 400ft cans of Double-X on to 100ft cores comfortably.

+1 - I've been extremely pleased with my bag from him - great quality and reasonably priced.

Robert Budding · May 17, 2010

The Harrison pup tent is excellent.

Andrew K · May 18, 2010

Had a photoflex changing room tent for years - no light leaks, and enough room to load a 5 reel film tank...

picker77 · Jun 1, 2010

smieglitz said:
There's a Fuji darkbox fdb12 on ebay right now. Item #260602880283. The ultimate changing bag IMO. It forms a cube 24"x24"x24". Sets up in about 10 seconds.

I've used one of these Fuji rigs (also obtained via the bay) for the last year. It's an outstanding device, especially if you have room to set it up and leave it set up. It is luggable when folded up, but very heavy, since the folding base is two hefty chunks of formica-covered particle board. However, it works great as a portable motel room rig on trips (assuming you can park pretty close by). I have a small darkroom so can't leave it set up, but I can pop it open on a table and have it ready to go in about two minutes. The rest of the time it's stored on end in a corner. Works great, very roomy, with long double-elastic sleeves. Dust has not been a problem, either.

When I got it I was looking for a big Harrison pop-up, which I'm sure would also be nice to have, but they were about three times the price of the Fuji.

Adrian Twiss · Jun 1, 2010

Another vote for the Harrison. Its the first changing tent I have owned where my hand did not start to sweat when delaing with a difficult sprial. I use mine in the darkroom all the time because I am unsure if it is completely light tight. OK for printing but not worth the risk with film. They are a great (if expensive) product.

clayne · Jun 1, 2010

Photoflex here. Never had any issues with it and there's plenty of room. Grafmatics get a bit tight though.

Vincenzo Maielli · Jun 8, 2010

Also i use the Photoflex Changing Room, very useful, practical and effective. Highly recommendend, for me.
Ciao.
Vincenzo

w9cae · Jun 8, 2010

I got to get a new dark bag as the one my brother lent me is on its last legs. Everyone I look at seems to be made in China. So I might just settle for the Paterson one, hopefully they give them an English check over ?

Suggest a Changing Bag Please

Moderator

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency