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Páramo Darkcloth (alias 'Light & Land' darkcloth)

Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 2:15 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by Thingy
During the Maldon meeting several participants were using an excellent focussing cloth that didn't need holding down to stop it blowing away... :oops: :oops: :oops:

The cloth in question was a Páramo Darkcloth which is being sold by Light & Land. The current price is £90 including postage & packing and can be obtained by ringing Jenny or Claire on +44 (0) 1432 839 111

More details below:
http://www.lightandland.co.uk/article.a ... =2&conId=8



I ordered one this morning. :D

Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 10:06 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by Sal Santamaura
Looks like a nice design, especially the breathable fabric. However, two improvements are needed:
  • * Larger size so it'll fit around the back of my SV Wholeplate
  • * White outside fabric surface. Black might be fine for you who live where cloudiness is the norm (sorry for stereotyping :) ) but things inside would rapidly become oppressively warm for those of us who shoot in the blazing southwestern US sun.
Here's hoping for a future version I can order!

Posted: Tue Apr 28, 2009 10:28 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by Patrick Dixon
Here's hoping for a future version I can afford ...

Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 8:09 am Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by joolsb
I just use an old black fleece. I'm not proud. :wink:

The Paramo darkcloth is an excellent piece of kit but it's very heavy and not exactly cheap.

Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 8:20 am Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by Joanna Carter
joolsb wrote:The Paramo darkcloth is an excellent piece of kit but it's very heavy
Hmmm, that's not been my experience; it's light and crushes down into a very small volume and has already saved my Ebony from a strong squall on a beach in Brittany. I only wish I had been wearing something as waterproof at the time :roll:

Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 2:13 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by Thingy
Joanna Carter wrote:
joolsb wrote:The Paramo darkcloth is an excellent piece of kit but it's very heavy
Hmmm, that's not been my experience; it's light and crushes down into a very small volume and has already saved my Ebony from a strong squall on a beach in Brittany. I only wish I had been wearing something as waterproof at the time :roll:
Now, now..... your Ebony need lots of TLC. Special things need special, loving care. Look after Helen and Helen should take good care of you! :)

Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 3:35 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by joolsb
Hmmm, that's not been my experience; it's light and crushes down into a very small volume
In comparison to my little fleece it's very heavy... Not quite as heavy as the standard Morco 'horse-blanket', mind.

Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2009 3:58 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by DJ
My home-made effort is very light, but certainly not waterproof in any way.

Just black cotton cloth, doubled over and stitched into a "tube" and elasticated at one end. I do worry sometimes that I move the camera too much by removing the elasticated end though.

The Páramo one looks very nice, quite useful, but I don't think I could justify £90 for a darkcloth at the moment ;)

Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2009 7:49 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00
by timparkin
I use a black jacket which has some significant advantages over the paramo but isn't quite as 'cool' (apart from in the sun). I do like the way that the blackjacket allows lots of space for your hands to access the groundglass.. I imagine it would cost a similar amount as the paramo with import duty etc..

Tim