What a difference a dark cloth makes!

RichSBV · Sep 14, 2005

Calamity Jane said:
I've tried using my T-shirt - seems to cause traffic accidents

CJ, next time you plan on such a shooting, let us know!

And on dark cloths... Yes, it's much cheaper to use a t-shirt or make your own. I have sitting in a bag here, the material for making one or two nice sized cloths, bought from a fabric store. It's been sitting in the bag for a couple of years now.....

In the mean time, I have a few cloths to choose from, some from camera purchases. My lightweight cloths are nice because they fold up so small and are, well, light. But absolutely worthless in the slightest wind...

The two I actually use are the heavy cotton B&W one from Calumet (I think), without any weights! It's a good size and heavy enough to withstand a good wind. The second is from Harrison. It's fairly light weight and silver on one side. Very nice for using on a hot, Sunny day, as water proof as a cloth will get and good for breezes.

For bad weather, the cotton Calumet cloth gets used though. It's heavier against the winds and is now semi-water proof after being sprayed with Scotch-Guard.

I have never tried a t-shirt. Might someday? But a true dark cloth just seems like part of the LF experience. I would hate to lose that... And it works better to cover the entire camera either when taking the shot or when the rain starts....

kjsphoto · Sep 14, 2005

Blackjacket does it for me.

tgb12 · Sep 21, 2005

There have been two mentions of "Blackjacket." Why do you prefer it over the t-shirt idea? Where do you get it?

lee · Sep 21, 2005

they are located here: http://www.quietworks.com/FRAMES_FILES/WELCOME_BJ_FOCUSINGCLOTH.html

they are sponsors of this site. They keep a lot more light off the ground glass than a T shirt would.

lee\c

mark · Sep 21, 2005

outofoptions said:
I knew a deputy game warden who won't hunt with his inlaws. They shoot at things they can't see! I won't bore you with all the stories he told...... Should be enough to keep you thinking if you shoot cameras where other people shoot guns though.

Yep this is the reason I want the Orange cloth. I WANT to be seen and seen really really well.

Maybe a neon green and neon orange cloth would be better.

Bob F. · Sep 21, 2005

What you need is a hat with a blue flashing light...

Cheers, Bob.

Donald Qualls · Sep 21, 2005

That's just silly, Bob -- no one will ever see that when you have your head under the dark cloth, and the light will reflect in the ground glass!

raucousimages · Sep 21, 2005

Shoot Back. I am a photographer and a hunter and I always cary a .45 auto.

Bob F. · Sep 21, 2005

Donald Qualls said:
That's just silly, Bob -- no one will ever see that when you have your head under the dark cloth, and the light will reflect in the ground glass!

Good point... silly of me, I clearly didn't think it though enough...

Ahha! I have it! (don't worry, it's not contagious)... you could put it on after you pull the cloth over your head so it is holding the cloth down - thereby making it useful in windy weather as an additional bonus feature... Stick an APUG logo on it and I'd buy one!

timparkin · Aug 10, 2007

I have to say that I'm also a blackjacket convert after using a home made one..

Kino · Aug 10, 2007

RichSBV said:
How 'bout the next time a hunter is out, they smash your camera?

And seriously, even the fools that think photographing or videoing animals before hunting seasons helps are just wasting their time. Animals change almost ALL of their habits at the beggining of hunting season. Some due to it being hunting season, but mnostly due to the change of seasons itself.

If you do see a hunters camera out in the woods, it would be much better to leave them with a hoto of something to remember. Either a simple sign telling them what a dumb thing they did and how much money they wasated on the equipment, or maybe a shot of a 'full moon'!

But suggesting that someone destroy anothers expensive equipment, for whatever reason, is simply a pretty stupid thing to do!

Just leave 'em a big old pile of scat in clear view of the camera; your scat. Certainly will deter most hunted animals from the site...

Murray@uptowngallery · Mar 26, 2008

Scat, Kino. I don't want to step in that.

TWO t-shirts. One one the camera, one on the phototographer. Stay outta trouble that way.

Man, there are alot of hazards to being out in the woods.

largeformat pat · Mar 28, 2008

I normaly like to make simple things like a focus cloth, However for my 8 x 10 I purchased a focus hood from "Fred". I have a binocular viewer for my 4 x 5 and this is great. However, this hood is fantastic, today under the Australian sun I could check my focus down to f45 no problems. I'm honestly suprised at the simplistic design and the great results
Largeformat Pat

NavyMoose · Mar 29, 2008

I bought an ok dark cloth off E-Bay for only around $5 which has black on one side and white on the other. I'm going to bring it outside to how well it blocks light. If needed, I'll get thick dark black cloth and have it sewn onto the cloth I already have. I can't imagine looking through the GG outside without a cloth.

haris · Mar 30, 2008

ann said:
i don;t think many of the women who use LF cameras are going to be crazy about using a t shirt, without with an apug logo.
I rather not end up in jail for indecent exposure

Not everywhere, and not allways...

butterfly · Mar 31, 2008

No mention of these:

http://www.lightandland.co.uk/article.aspx?articleId=326&typeId=2&conId=8

It was expensive but it is a lovely darkcloth, breathable, and dark as dark inside once round the camera! Did a fantastic job for me in Iceland recently.

(I do not work for or have any affiliation with the manufacturers) - I would not want another type after using this.

Bob F. · Mar 31, 2008

Mine uses two layers of breathable waterproof fabric. Thread here ((there was a url link here which no longer exists)) includes detailed instructions of mine and some other people's designs.

Cheers, Bob.

mjs · Apr 1, 2008

Doesn't have to be black and white

Just some light color on the outside and black inside will do.

Wade D · Apr 2, 2008

I had a dark cloth custom made for me by some friends years ago. Black on the inside and white on the outside.
As a joke they embroidered "Ansel Adams Jr." on it. I am in no way any where near his ability but still aspire to it.
I met him in Yosemite in 1976 and was in awe of his images even before that. He signed one of his postcards that I had bought at his gallery and I cherish it to this day.

What a difference a dark cloth makes!

haris

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