IkarusJohn Posted February 19, 2015 Share #1 Posted February 19, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) To date, I've been using a storage cupboard in my office to load film into the developing canister. Lots of room, but stumbling around in the dark, and suspicion that light may be leaking around the door, has encouraged me to try a film changing bag. I can't source these locally (or at least, they aren't in stock to look at). B&H has a Photoflex for $84.95. Does anyone have any recommendations - good, bad, indifferent? I've searched the forum and found some comment, mostly about how frustrating they can be, particularly with 120 roll film (Andy Barton), but little in the way of recommendation. Thanks John Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 19, 2015 Posted February 19, 2015 Hi IkarusJohn, Take a look here Recommendation for film changing bag. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
M9reno Posted February 19, 2015 Share #2 Posted February 19, 2015 I bought a large one of these from Firstcall. Firstcall Changing Bag, Large As far as it goes, it is a nice bag, and well made. The larger the better, and there are situations in which I t is certainly convenient. BUT I know that many of the scratches on my film are due to fiddling in this enclosed space, along with lids, scissors, film canisters, etc. In the end, this problem outweighed the bag's convenience. Best to keep the film from making contact with things if possible, so the ideal way is not using a bag. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted February 20, 2015 Share #3 Posted February 20, 2015 (edited) Far, far, better than a changing bag is a changing 'tent' such as this https://www.calphoto.co.uk/product/calumet-changing-room/RM1000/?tracking=|searchterm:changing|tent it gives you more space to work in and helps keep films, spirals, scissor etc. apart. It folds up easily. But if you are wedded to the idea of a bag do get one much bigger than you think you will need. Steve Edited February 20, 2015 by 250swb Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted February 20, 2015 Author Share #4 Posted February 20, 2015 Thanks Steve. No, not wedded to a bag at all. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
philipus Posted February 20, 2015 Share #5 Posted February 20, 2015 I would also recomment a tent. The Calumet one wasn't available when I ordered so I went for the Photoflex version which I like a lot because the arms go in from the side. https://www.photoflex.com/products/changing-room1 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrism Posted February 20, 2015 Share #6 Posted February 20, 2015 Tents are great in summer if it is warm enough for your hands to begin to sweat (much more likely to happen with the bag materials in contact with your hands), and also an absolute must if placing sheet film in holders. Having said that (and bought the tent), it is possible to get a cardboard box, remove two adjacent sides, and place the box in the bag. It has to be the right size to let you do up the zip, but with that you have a tent much cheaper than the Harrison type. Chris 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Henry Posted February 20, 2015 Share #7 Posted February 20, 2015 Advertisement (gone after registration) John, Buy this bag I have 2 bags like this. It's in cotton cheap, very solid and you can put tank for 135 and MF size without problem Darkroom Film Changing BAG FOR 4x5 Linhof Sinar Hasselblad Toyo Wista Mamiya | eBay Direct shipment 10 days from Hong Kong by air Serious seller Best Henry 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
IkarusJohn Posted February 20, 2015 Author Share #8 Posted February 20, 2015 Tents are great in summer if it is warm enough for your hands to begin to sweat (much more likely to happen with the bag materials in contact with your hands), and also an absolute must if placing sheet film in holders. Having said that (and bought the tent), it is possible to get a cardboard box, remove two adjacent sides, and place the box in the bag. It has to be the right size to let you do up the zip, but with that you have a tent much cheaper than the Harrison type. Chris Great idea, thanks Chris. And thank you to everyone else for the recommendations. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
250swb Posted February 20, 2015 Share #9 Posted February 20, 2015 but with that you have a tent much cheaper than the Harrison type. And cardboard dust? Steve 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
honcho Posted February 21, 2015 Share #10 Posted February 21, 2015 I've had the same two changing bags for years, one is a nylon type fabric and the other is a heavy cotton fabric. Since sweaty hands have already been mentioned, this is the reason why I never use the nylon bag. Unless you are loading dark slides or a sheet film tank, a bag is perfectly adequate for loading reels with 35mm or roll film as long as it's big enough to work comfortably with your largest tank. My cotton bag is about 20" square and easily accommodates a Paterson 5 reel tank. Once a reel is loaded and safely in the tank, I discard the empty cassette or backing paper and spool and bring another film and spiral into the bag to repeat the process until the tank is fully loaded. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris_livsey Posted February 21, 2015 Share #11 Posted February 21, 2015 +1 for the Calumet type of pop up bag, folds flat when out of use, pops up with no hassle. tall enough for a 5 reel paterson tank. Mine is from Calumet but they are not exclusive to them: Pop-Up Changing Tent 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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