What size darkcloth for 4x5

[brian steinberger]

I need to get a good quality darkcloth for my 4x5 work and stop using my homemade one. Any recommendations on size and make?

 

[Ray Heath]

g'day Brian

what's wrong with the homemade one?

surely a 'darkcloth' is a dark cloth

i use a black t-shirt

 

[brian steinberger]

g'day Brian

what's wrong with the homemade one?

surely a 'darkcloth' is a dark cloth

i use a black t-shirt

Well first of all, it's too small. My mom made it for me actually... (insert laughter here).. What's a normal size darkcloth for 4x5? Maybe I'll just have my mom make me a bigger one... (insert more laughter)....

 

[brian steinberger]

BTW.. I think a tee shirt would be is too small. I've use mine when I forget my darkcloth, and granted it's not always black, but I think it's too small...

 

[Ray Heath]

BTW.. I think a tee shirt would be is too small. I've use mine when I forget my darkcloth, and granted it's not always black, but I think it's too small...

you haven't seen my t-shirt, it's huge and needs to be

 

[stevew4567]

I need to get a good quality darkcloth for my 4x5 work and stop using my homemade one. Any recommendations on size and make?

Mine is about 3 ft. by 5 ft. (and homemade).... it works as well as anything. I personally wouldn't spend any extra money on anything else, but if your Mom wants to make one for me too.....cool! It also comes in handy to stuff in with all my gear to keep things from banging around during transport.

Steve Williams

 

[Chuck_P]

Brian,

I have a 54" x 58" Harrison Silver Classic dark cloth that works very well with my 4x5 rial. Not sure what you have, but if it is a field camera, I would check out the Black Jacket hood. If you have a rail, at least with my camera, I found that the tradition style was better. The Harrison has velcro that closes the cloth around the bellows, closes around the rail (if you have a rail) for a nicely dark environment around the GG. It's rainproof silver on the outside and black underside.

Chuck

 

[Jim Noel]

For 4x5 an xtra large black T shirt works well. Stretch the neck around the back of the camera and even if the cloth is somewhat porous, i works very well.

For a rectangular one I won't use anything smaller than 5x6 feet.

 

[BrianShaw]

Well first of all, it's too small. My mom made it for me actually... (insert laughter here).. What's a normal size darkcloth for 4x5? Maybe I'll just have my mom make me a bigger one... (insert more laughter)....

I wouldn't laugh... because my Mom made my darkcloth. It is about 4' x 5' and is two layer cotton - black and white, with weighted beading around the perimeter. Mom even put button holes in the corners and about every 12 inches around the edges. I've been using it since Mom made it in 1982. I might ask her to make another now that I have a second LF camera.

 

[User Removed]

I've been using Kevin Saitta's darkcloths (www.saittabags.com) for quite awhile and cannot be more please. I would highly suggest them. I think the proper size for your camera would me a 4' x 5' darkcloth.

 

[brian steinberger]

I wouldn't laugh... because my Mom made my darkcloth. It is about 4' x 5' and is two layer cotton - black and white, with weighted beading around the perimeter. Mom even put button holes in the corners and about every 12 inches around the edges. I've been using it since Mom made it in 1982. I might ask her to make another now that I have a second LF camera.

Brian,

That's awesome! You're mom sounds like a professional darkcloth maker. She knows what she is doing. Maybe your mom could make me one. Yours has lasted a long time.. it was born the same time I was.

Brian

 

[highpeak]

Brian,

That's awesome! You're mom sounds like a professional darkcloth maker. She knows what she is doing. Maybe your mom could make me one. Yours has lasted a long time.. it was born the same time I was.

Brian

Hehe, my dark cloth is a gift from my mother-inlaw It was made of two xtra large t-shirts, one black and one white, works really well.

I highly recommend home made dark-cloth, it's light and easy to carry. But if you want the real deal, go with the commercial one.

Alex W.

 

[Shawn Dougherty]

Brian,

I have a 54" x 58" Harrison Silver Classic dark cloth that works very well with my 4x5 rial. Not sure what you have, but if it is a field camera, I would check out the Black Jacket hood. If you have a rail, at least with my camera, I found that the tradition style was better. The Harrison has velcro that closes the cloth around the bellows, closes around the rail (if you have a rail) for a nicely dark environment around the GG. It's rainproof silver on the outside and black underside.

Chuck

I have the same dark cloth and use it for both my 8x10 and 4x5 cameras. The velcro works great, it is light weight and big enough to really cover everything. I think the best part about it is the fact that the outside is water proof so you can actually wrap your camera in it and wait out the rain. I can't recommend it highly enough. Best. Shawn

 

[Neanderman]

I wouldn't laugh... because my Mom made my darkcloth.

Mom, schmom. While my mother did sew my first darkcloth (from black drapery satin) in 1975, when I got a larger camera a few years ago, I made a new one myself using her machine (which I've 'inherited.')

It's constructed from heavy, black, duck cloth, has weighted sides and back, is double layered in places of high friction, has small 'pockets' in it where it hooks onto the springs used to latch closed the folded camera and has patches of hook & loop on it in strategic places for anchoring it to the sides of the camera(s).

Laugh if you want, I'm no seamster, but I'm proud to be able to sew a simple straight hem. And as the design is specific to my cameras, I'd put it up against anything on the market.

Be a man. Learn to sew.

 

[BOSS565]

Get a Blackjacket darkcloth. Check out the website quietworks.com for complete information regarding different sizes etc. I have one and like it alot. Keeps light out, not too heavy not too hot. Also, very nice people.

 

[removed account4]

i just use a big piece of $2 felt from the fabric place.

 

[eli griggs]

A good way to make a dark-cloth is to make a two thickness version, with white curtain blackout material as the top layer and a black bottom layer.

The blackout curtain material has a rubber or vinyl coating on one side that will keep all light from passing through and the white fabric side will allow you to work under the dark-cloth longer as it won't heat up like an all black cloth will.
Another advantage is the rubber backing material will keep the rain off your camera if needed.

You can find this type blackout cloth at fabric stores and Walmarts in most areas.

Eli

 

[Kilgallb]

A good way to make a dark-cloth is to make a two thickness version, with white curtain blackout material as the top layer and a black bottom layer.

The blackout curtain material has a rubber or vinyl coating on one side that will keep all light from passing through and the white fabric side will allow you to work under the dark-cloth longer as it won't heat up like an all black cloth will.
Another advantage is the rubber backing material will keep the rain off your camera if needed.

You can find this type blackout cloth at fabric stores and Walmarts in most areas.

Eli

I bought several yards of the aforementioned whitle blackout material. I used most of it to cover the door of my darkroom. Works great. I used the left over 3foot x 4 foot to make a dark cloth just as you described.It works great. I added velcro tabs on the edge to hold it to the camera. It also doubles as a padding for the camera when it is in the backpack. (Protects the GG)