Yet another embarrassing newb question ...

MCTuomey · May 16, 2008

I'm a hopeless 35mm shooter trying to get my arms around acquiring and using my first LF kit. And so I have a stupidly naive film handling question. I will have one grafmatic back to start, so am reading the on-line manual. Should be able to load, operate, unload, and reload in my fairly large changing bag (B&W which I will develop at home). But what do I do if I load and shoot film for commercial development? How do I handle the exposed film in the grafmatic? Do I bring the back into the shop with a vacant look on my face and hand it over for the shop to unload? Is there some kind of light tight container used to transport exposed but undev'd film?

In exchange for a quick answer, I'm quite willing to accept all types of verbal scorn :confused:

David William White · May 16, 2008

I just pack them back into an empty film box -- black poly and all -- and hand them over.

MurrayMinchin · May 16, 2008

Hi Mike,

Because you're new to the LF game you probably don't have any empty film boxes laying around...you know, the three small 'nesting' light tight cardboard boxes the film originally comes in. Why don't you go to where you're planning to get them developed and explain that you're new, and ask if they have extra film boxes to bring your exposed film in to be developed. They should have a bunch laying around.

Have fun

Murray

MCTuomey · May 16, 2008

Perfect! Thanks very much, David and Murray.

lxdesign · May 17, 2008

I too am brand new to large format... just picked up Cambo SC camera, and I have to learn all about film loading, unloading, etc.... so this is quite helpful.

Mick Fagan · May 17, 2008

The Grafmatic six load film holders are terrific, but there is a couple of things which can make life interesting.

One of them is the ability of the operator to inadvertently let some light in, allowing the film ends to fog.

I have three Grafmatic backs and with one of them it is possible to slide the whole shebang out all of the time because the twisting lock thing, doesn't work. This will let a small amount of light to fog the film(s).

To understand this, pull the unit apart and check out the film holders (septums) you will notice that they are cut in one corner.

This cut-out, is to facilitate the loading and unloading of sheets of film. However when you pull the inner out when it is off the camera, look carefully, you will be able to see the bottom 3 septums in the centre.

If you do this when the back is off a camera, you will fog the bottom three sheets in the corner where the cut-out is

This is probably the most common mistake made with these wonderful film holders.

I've made this mistake more than once.

Mick.

Mick Fagan · May 17, 2008

I have just re-read the OP's first post.

I would suggest if at all possible, wait for night time, sit in a wardrobe, or whatever, but don't load these in a changing bag, especially if you are new to sheet film loading.

These units are slightly fiddly, to say the least, you will spend a reasonable amount of time loading sheets and stacking up the loaded septums prior to then loading the loaded septums into the holder.

I, and most people I know, including myself, slowly get hot sweaty hands in a changing bag. This does complicate things a bit and it will be a bit of a squeeze.

A changing tent should be alright, but I have never found a problem in most places, of finding a dark space for film loading.

I have sat in a sidecar with a walking stick for a tent pole, which was draped over with a double layer of tent canvas, as a darkroom.

Mick.

Kino · May 17, 2008

A nice thick coat buttoned or zipped up, the bottom folded over and your arms in backwards through the sleeves and the hood folded down snugly makes for a good emergency changing bag, but, as Mick pointed out, only briefly as the sweaty-factor rears its ugly head very quickly.

Most household bathrooms, unless you live in a McMansion, make easily light-proofed rooms for loading film. A Few towels in the cracks and over the windows, wait a few minutes to get your eyes, patch the few remaining leaks and then work really fast!

thebdt · May 17, 2008

I still say your savior will be a large, tent-like changing bag, like this one or this one (which is what I own).
The world is so much easier when you have a little more space to load LF; also the sweat factor is reduced because it takes longer for these larger tents to humidify up. I just tried LF myself this past week, and I think I would have been driven to distraction trying to load LF film in one of those tiny bags that keeps collapsing over your hands while you work.

markbb · May 18, 2008

dont hand over a grafmatic to a lab! I did it once, they phoned me up as they had never seen one before and had managed to ruin all but one sheet.

juan · May 18, 2008

I agree that a changing bag will probably cause you a great deal of frustration. A changing tent is better. But best of all is to darken a small room like a bathroom - it's pretty easy at night. I find Grafmatics take up a lot of room - there's a pile of film from the box, the open Grafmatic that's twice as long as when closed, and a pile of septums. I don't think I could handle this in even my largest changing bag.
juan

infest · May 18, 2008

Markab said:
dont hand over a grafmatic to a lab! I did it once, they phoned me up as they had never seen one before and had managed to ruin all but one sheet.

It reminds me of the time I gave my 4x5 holder to the lab - to find it deformed when returned. Somebody managed to step on it... One learns.

MCTuomey · May 23, 2008

many thanks to everyone for the advice. i intend to load the grafmatic in the bathroom (making our small BR light tight shouldn't be a problem at night), at least until i get more capable. the unit is a bit intimidating, somewhat more fiddly than i prefer. we'll see how it goes.

and i won't be taking it to the lab, that's clear

kirkfry · May 25, 2008

IMHO grafmatics may be wonderful but they add another level of complexity you don't need starting out. Get yourself some good film holders. With the film holder in the horizontal position with the opening to the right, the film notches go on the bottom right. Also get a book "Using the View Camera" by Steve Simmons. Happy shooting. K

Removed Account · May 25, 2008

Hey Jason, where are the LF youtube videos? Your adoring fans wait anxiously!

Yet another embarrassing newb question ...

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