I recently learnt about the above item and saw one in Bourges at the French LF conference but did not have time to physically try it on my Ebony 45SU.
Does anyone have experience of this item? I would welcome any comments before purchasing one.
It is a focussing cloth with sleeves for the arms rather like a pullover with an elongated neck, which fits on the rear of the camera.
Black Jacket focussing cloth
Hi,
After having seen several rave reviews of the Black Jacket dark cloth I took the plunge and bought one. Its compact size / light weight is great, and the material is much more light proof than anything I had tried before. However, I have found it difficult to use with my camera (also a 45SU). I know some have had a difficulty with attaching the BJ to the 45SU as the neck was very tight - I didn't have this problem as I bought one with a slightly wider neck to allow for this. My main problem is that the plasticised neck of the cloth is very stiiff where it attaches to the camera (and the drawcord is quite chunky), and it doesn't fit around the rear standard in a particularly light tight way. You can pull the neck forward to compensate, but then it starts interfering with the bellows. The bag the BJ comes in can be velcroed to the cloth once in place, so as to cover the gap between the bottom of the viewing screen and the base of the camera, but personally, I found this fiddly. The other niggle is that becuase the fabric is not breathable (except a panel), fogging tends to be a problem, especially in more humid UK conditions.
I have just made my own dark cloth from some black fleece bought from the local market - this fabric is slightly 'furry' which makes it very light tight). I sewed the 'male' end of a hot shoe onto the top front of the cloth, and I attach this to the hot shoe on the front standard of the 45SU - this way the cloth is always oriented correctly, and the drape extends far enough forward to exclude any light entry from the side. I have sewn the hanging edges tohether so I basically have a fabric cone - this attaches snugly to the camera (aided by a bit of elastic), and if needs be I just tuck some of the hanging cloth between screen and base to exclude light from there. Not yet tried in anger but was working in back garden last weekend. Total cost under a tenner, but it is bulkier than the BJ. I don't miss the 'arms' that the BJ has as my DIY job is sufficiently large to make conventional access easy, without letting light in.
I know some people spend a lifetime, trying to find teh 'right' camera for them - I suspect that the same may prove to be true for dark cloth users.....
Good luck!
Gordon
After having seen several rave reviews of the Black Jacket dark cloth I took the plunge and bought one. Its compact size / light weight is great, and the material is much more light proof than anything I had tried before. However, I have found it difficult to use with my camera (also a 45SU). I know some have had a difficulty with attaching the BJ to the 45SU as the neck was very tight - I didn't have this problem as I bought one with a slightly wider neck to allow for this. My main problem is that the plasticised neck of the cloth is very stiiff where it attaches to the camera (and the drawcord is quite chunky), and it doesn't fit around the rear standard in a particularly light tight way. You can pull the neck forward to compensate, but then it starts interfering with the bellows. The bag the BJ comes in can be velcroed to the cloth once in place, so as to cover the gap between the bottom of the viewing screen and the base of the camera, but personally, I found this fiddly. The other niggle is that becuase the fabric is not breathable (except a panel), fogging tends to be a problem, especially in more humid UK conditions.
I have just made my own dark cloth from some black fleece bought from the local market - this fabric is slightly 'furry' which makes it very light tight). I sewed the 'male' end of a hot shoe onto the top front of the cloth, and I attach this to the hot shoe on the front standard of the 45SU - this way the cloth is always oriented correctly, and the drape extends far enough forward to exclude any light entry from the side. I have sewn the hanging edges tohether so I basically have a fabric cone - this attaches snugly to the camera (aided by a bit of elastic), and if needs be I just tuck some of the hanging cloth between screen and base to exclude light from there. Not yet tried in anger but was working in back garden last weekend. Total cost under a tenner, but it is bulkier than the BJ. I don't miss the 'arms' that the BJ has as my DIY job is sufficiently large to make conventional access easy, without letting light in.
I know some people spend a lifetime, trying to find teh 'right' camera for them - I suspect that the same may prove to be true for dark cloth users.....
Good luck!
Gordon
-
Baxter
- Posts: 99
- Joined: Sun Mar 25, 2007 12:15 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00
- Location: Lymington, South Coast
- Contact:
I've seen the Blackjacket in use and users like them. I think that it has too much sail area to be left attached to the back of the camera in windy conditions.
For several years, I used a v-neck stretchable Helly-Hansen fleece with the sleeves chopped off and plastic poppers on neck removed. Far less windage and so easy to attach, that I generally left it around my neck and hooked onto camera when needed and off when heading back to the bag for filters, meter etc. Short sleeves facilitate really easy access back of camera.
I've been using the Paramo Darkcloth for over a year now and love it. Very easy to attach (shock-cord) and versatile with zips and different popper positions so that you can adjust to your requirements.
Harrison darkcloths inflate like a paraglider. The black material is porous and the silver isn't. Not recommended on a cliff-top in Force 7.
I had predated the Paramo tube/cape combo design when first starting out with LF. Used curtain blackout material. This is not terribly flexible, gets condensation on loupe etc at dawn. However it is incredibly cheap!
For several years, I used a v-neck stretchable Helly-Hansen fleece with the sleeves chopped off and plastic poppers on neck removed. Far less windage and so easy to attach, that I generally left it around my neck and hooked onto camera when needed and off when heading back to the bag for filters, meter etc. Short sleeves facilitate really easy access back of camera.
I've been using the Paramo Darkcloth for over a year now and love it. Very easy to attach (shock-cord) and versatile with zips and different popper positions so that you can adjust to your requirements.
Harrison darkcloths inflate like a paraglider. The black material is porous and the silver isn't. Not recommended on a cliff-top in Force 7.
I had predated the Paramo tube/cape combo design when first starting out with LF. Used curtain blackout material. This is not terribly flexible, gets condensation on loupe etc at dawn. However it is incredibly cheap!
Baxter