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soupdragon

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Where can I get a reasonably priced film changing tent from a uk supplier.
I've done the usual Google search but have drawn a blank.

Sadly I missed one for sale on this forum

I am a 4x5 soon to be 10x8 user if that makes any difference at all.
 
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Changing bags are fairly cheap on the auction site. If it's just for loading/unloading 4x5 film holders you can put a box inside to give you more room, like a tent.
 
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soupdragon said:
Where can I get a reasonably priced film changing tent from a uk supplier.
I've done the usual Google search but have drawn a blank.

Sadly I missed one for sale on this forum

I am a 4x5 user if that makes any difference at all.
Click to expand...

I found that the changing bag I bough (a Calumet model) was prone to distributing dust onto my negatives. So, I now resort to a darkened bathroom in a hotel or roadside facility to do the necessary film swaps.

I also carry several boxes into which I place the film, one box for each development discipline I plan to use: N, N-, N+, Semistand, EMA, etc. I track which exposures are in which box and in what order on my phone or computer.
 
It's a shame you can't get the pop-up Calumet ones in the UK anymore as they were great and cheap. I only stopped using mine after some of the interior taping started to peel (probably repairable with tape), but not until I'd put several 100 sheets of film through it.

I bought a Kangrinpoche one from somewhere in the UK (Speedgraphic?) which at first glance looks like a chinese Harrison knockoff but is actually great and doesn't stink like the Harrison ones do. If you can find one of these you're in but I don't think anyone if importing them now.

The other thing to keep your eye open for is the Fuji dark box changing tent that originally was supplied for changing the paper rolls on Frontier minilabs. They are great and sometimes will pop up on ebay in the UK for reasonable money when labs close or dispense with them, and would be the last changing tent you'd ever need.
 
AnalogueWendy said:
Changing bags are fairly cheap and. If it's just for loading/unloading 4x5 film holders you can put a box inside to give you more room, like a tent.
Click to expand...
I should add that you need a large changing bag for this. 70cm square minimum (and for everything, really. Small ones are too hard to use.
Remind me where you are based?
 
I have a Calumet, as noted previously, the adhesive of the tapes inside disintegrated and the tent filled with dust. I stripped the tape out, vacuum cleaned, sponged out the dust and, after drying out, sprayed the inside with a generous amount of matt black acrylic paint. It seems to be light leak free. I'm only using it in subdued light though.
 
I am very happy with my LARGE paterson changing bag which is also fine with 5x7 and even the largest of the paterson tanks.
 
The Harrison tents get horribly sticky as the plastic coatings on the sleeves breaks down. I also managed to get a Kang Rinpoche bag from Speedgraphic before they closed. Kang Rinpoche as a firm has disappeared, which meant that I had to find a source for a replacement tensioning pole (scottishmountaingear.com) as one of them fractured when the bag was assembled. At least the poles are available for the Harrison tents from Linhof Studio.
 
Although not particularly portable, another vote for the Fuji dark box FDB12.

I have the sticky Harrison tent, good while it lasted. Rolled up small for in the field.
I've got the Calumet film change box. I find the mid-air sleeve height awkward and although flat not ideal for in the field.
And both cotton and nylon change bags. Not so large format user friendly.

The downside to all of them is the sticky humidity that builds up while loading and unloading film holders.
I much prefer having plenty of film holders (un)loaded in a well ventilated darkened room.
 
AnalogueWendy said:
I should add that you need a large changing bag for this. 70cm square minimum (and for everything, really. Small ones are too hard to use.
Remind me where you are based?
Click to expand...
UK south coast.
I don't like the way the changing bags collapse and restrict the working space.
I'm also planning on going 10 x 8 soon so need a solution to film handling.
 
Collas said:
The Harrison tents get horribly sticky as the plastic coatings on the sleeves breaks down. I also managed to get a Kang Rinpoche bag from Speedgraphic before they closed. Kang Rinpoche as a firm has disappeared, which meant that I had to find a source for a replacement tensioning pole (scottishmountaingear.com) as one of them fractured when the bag was assembled. At least the poles are available for the Harrison tents from Linhof Studio.
Click to expand...
I miss speed graphic as they were a 20 minute drive from where I live.
Just to clarify, I intend to start 10x8 soon so can't live with my current changing bag.
 
MartyNL said:
Although not particularly portable, another vote for the Fuji dark box FDB12.

I have the sticky Harrison tent, good while it lasted. Rolled up small for in the field.
I've got the Calumet film change box. I find the mid-air sleeve height awkward and although flat not ideal for in the field.
And both cotton and nylon change bags. Not so large format user friendly.

The downside to all of them is the sticky humidity that builds up while loading and unloading film holders.
I much prefer having plenty of film holders (un)loaded in a well ventilated darkened room.
Click to expand...
Sadly, I do not have the luxury of a dedicated darkroom.
 
Pete Spencer said:
I have a Calumet, as noted previously, the adhesive of the tapes inside disintegrated and the tent filled with dust. I stripped the tape out, vacuum cleaned, sponged out the dust and, after drying out, sprayed the inside with a generous amount of matt black acrylic paint. It seems to be light leak free. I'm only using it in subdued light though.
Click to expand...
Are they still available?
 
You can check out the specs at Linhof Studio, and when you've picked yourself up again, make your mind up if you really need one.

Changing & Pop Up Tents

The Harrison Film Changing Tents are used by many large format photographers as a portable dark room to load and unload film.
www.linhofstudio.com
 
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