The BlackJacket focusing cloth

[kswatapug]

Interesting. There are some similarities in the designs, with the biggest difference being the depth of the “tube” the fabric makes extending back from the camera, and, of course, the sleeves.

I’ll be the first to admit that the BLACKJACKET™ isn’t for everyone. I’ve shared the concept with many of my professional friends and while they acknowledge it works, many prefer whatever method they have grown accustomed to using over the years. Wrestling with a dark cloth is a non-issue with them. Some don’t use cloths at all. They’re able to get the job done some other way. But for people for whom the dark cloth is nothing but a source of frustration, IMHO this is a grand slam, especially when the wind is blowing.

>But with memories of sweltering miserably under a darkcloth last hot, >humid summer with sweat running into my eyes, it looks awfully stuffy to >me.

Different strokes for different folks. Customers from Florida working in 100% humidity found the ORIGINAL, all-silver fabric model unsatisfactory in sticky weather, so I developed the HYBRID, which has a top panel of a waterproof/breathable fabric. It is cooler to the touch, with a feeling much like satin, and it breathes.

But the cooler fabric weighs more. So for photographers backpacking in the mountains who don’t operate in 100% humidity, the ORIGINAL, all-silver fabric continues to be popular.

>Also since all of your camera adjustments are outside the darkcloth, the >only time you use the sleeves is to hold your loupe or mop your brow.

Actually, how one chooses to attach the device, my design (and based on your sketch), yours, decides whether the controls are inside or outside of the dark environment. The BLACKJACKET™ shock cord is threaded through the leading edge of the neck, so the actual tension ring of gathered fabric is only about half an inch wide, so it doesn't tend to get in the way of controls.

Regarding time under the cloth, I find that a darker environment makes the task of framing and focusing much quicker. The net result is less time spent under whatever one uses to shade the ground glass.

>After I'm adjusted , focused and locked down, I just pull off the dark cloth >before inserting the holder. Nothing more to see after that point anyway so >having room under the cloth to pull the slide isn't an issue.

I agree. I usually take mine off the camera when I insert a filmholder. But, some folks prefer to leave it in place, which also works.

 

[Bruce Cairns]

Further info has been useful but am still keen to find out your thoughts on usage in windy conditions.

Or am I the only mad dog Englishman who chooses to shoot in such conditions?

Many thanks

Baxter

Bax, I've just ordered the hybrid version - I'll let you know when I've received it and had the chance to test it in an English gale.

Bruce

 

[James Bleifus]

I was able to take my hybrid Blackjacket out into the field for the first time yesterday and all I can say is "wow." Although I wasn't in gale force winds, it was windy and the Blackjacket was a breeze to use. This was the brightest my ground glass has ever been. I'm using the 8X10 jacket with my 5X7 camera and there is plenty of room to pull the slide out while the jacket remains attached. The only (very minor) drawback is that I had to do some adjusting to get a firm seal between the jacket and the bottom of my camera but it was nothing near the problems I had with my horse blanket (which I'll be throwing on ebay soon). I'll never use a horse blanket again..

Cheers,

James

 

[Baxter Bradford]

Will that be a Horseman camera (or ensemble) then? I bet that was stable....even when reining.......

Thanks for feedback on windy condtions. Am getting more convinced that this is something I need, once funds permit.

 

[James Bleifus]

Nope, an Eastman #2. It was still as stable as can be, even fully extended. Baxter, you won't go wrong with the Jacket.

Cheers,

James

 

[SLNestler]

I agree. I usually take mine off the camera when I insert a filmholder. But, some folks prefer to leave it in place, which also works.

I'm using a 4X5 in S. Florida. If I prefer leaving it in place, should I order an oversized model (5X7)?

 

[kswatapug]

Steven,

The only difference between the 5x7 and 4x5 models is the neck size. For the 4x5, the circumference is 32 inches, which accommodates most 4x5s. The 5x7 neck measures 46 inches, to easily encompass a standard 5x7 camera back.

There are some instances when the 5x7 neck size works better for a 4x5. The rear standard on Lotus and Walker cameras are larger than most other cameras of similar format. So, it is a tight squeeze to use the 4x5 model BLACKJACKET(TM) for on a 4x5 Walker camera. Instead, the the 5x7 BLACKJACKET(TM), with its 46 inch neck is better suited for the task.

This also seems to be the preference for folks with monorail cameras, as most customers have ordered the next size up, so that in addition to the rear standard, they can encompass the monorail itself.

There are some posts in this thread that point out a preference for using the 8x10 model on the smaller cameras (it has a clip that restricts the collar size to 32 inches for occasional use on a 4x5). In James' case, the restrictor clip on the 8x10 was repositioned to restrict the collar to 46 inches, to suit his needs as an 8x10/5x7 photographer. Because an 8x10 camera cabinet is so much larger than a 4x5 or 5x7, a greater volume of fabric is used to construct a corresponding BLACKJACKET(TM). The extra room this provides seems to be appreciated by more than one user, most of whom prefer to leave the jacket in place when making their exposure.

I hope this helps.