Greetings,

I'm new to the 4x5 world, and there are so many areas (technical and not-so-technical) I am trying to get up to speed (!) on.

When shooting with, for example, a Speed Graphic or Crown Graphic, what do photographers typically do with the dark slide when it is out of the film holder during the shot? It is too wide to stick in the band of their fedoras!

Thanks,

Some old press photogs put the darkslide between the film holder an the ground glass. Later Speeds and Crowns came with clips to put the holder on the back of the ground glass cover.

For view camera work I usually hold the dark slide in one hand to shade the lens from the sun/strobes/lights and trip the shutter with a cable release.

Occasionally I've managed to put them in my back pocket, and even managed to keep a couple of film holders held in the small of my back by my trousers and belt. With my shirt untucked it's hardly noticeable and was able relinquish the bad shot to the authorities while keeping the good shot for myself. Apparently Kodak security doesn't frisk trespassers when they aren't going to charge them.

Hi, Les,

Quote:

On 2006-07-29 12:26, Les wrote: Some old press photogs put the darkslide between the film holder an the ground glass.

Yes, I tried that on my Crown Graphic and it looked credible!

Quote:

Later Speeds and Crowns came with clips to put the holder on the back of the ground glass cover.

Yes, I just discovered that (mentioned in an article by Rittenhouse, in fact). I see from the seller's excellent pix that my new Pacemaker (pre-1955) Crown Graphic (in transit to me) had them, but they are broken off. (I can see their "shadows"!)

Quote:

For view camera work I usually hold the dark slide in one hand to shade the lens from the sun/strobes/lights and trip the shutter with a cable release.

Sounds like a good idea! Makes one look like a true artiste!

Quote:

Occasionally I've managed to put them in my back pocket, and even managed to keep a couple of film holders held in the small of my back by my trousers and belt. With my shirt untucked it's hardly noticeable and was able relinquish the bad shot to the authorities while keeping the good shot for myself. Apparently Kodak security doesn't frisk trespassers when they aren't going to charge them.

Ah, every trade has its tradecraft!

Thanks so much for the insight. One more step in my trip "over to the dark slide". (Ooh!)

Best regards,

Doug

I usually use it to shade the lens. Other than that, I just put it in my pocket.