Páramo Darkcloth (alias 'Light & Land' darkcloth)

Thingy · Post by **Thingy** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 2:15 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

During the Maldon meeting several participants were using an excellent focussing cloth that didn't need holding down to stop it blowing away...

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.

Sal Santamaura · Post by **Sal Santamaura** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 10:06 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

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!

Patrick Dixon · Post by **Patrick Dixon** » Tue Apr 28, 2009 10:28 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

Here's hoping for a future version I can afford ...

joolsb · Post by **joolsb** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 8:09 am Etc/GMT-1+01:00

I just use an old black fleece. I'm not proud.

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

Post by **Joanna Carter** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 8:20 am Etc/GMT-1+01:00

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

Thingy · Post by **Thingy** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 2:13 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

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

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!

joolsb · Post by **joolsb** » Wed Apr 29, 2009 3:35 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

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.

Post by DJ » Wed Apr 29, 2009 3:58 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

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

timparkin · Post by **timparkin** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 7:49 pm Etc/GMT-1+01:00

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