RE: Black bags...

["Wesson, Dexter L" <dexter.l.wesson@xxxxxxxx>]

> Well, you didn't ruin my day, but you did confirm that just because your
> paranoid, it doen't mean no one is out to get you. 
> 
Well I really didn't think anyone was out to 'get me', but I will be more
careful - now that you mention it ;-).

> I have been using the
> calumet changing room for several years, and have had good success with
> it,
> but if I am changing out IR film, I wait till after dark, and all it has
> to
> do is block the small amount of visible light that is present from the
> normal camp stuff. 
> 
Well I've had mine for only a couple of years, so I don't have your vast
knowledge with it, but - I did assume that
since it was a 'film' changing tent,bag,room, supposedly for changing film
under most conditions, that it could be used as such.  My previous bag
(stilled used for IR 'film') had no problem with using it any time, any
where.  Unfortunately it is a nuisance to use it.  

Yes, I very much like the Calumet (Photoflex) bag, and I did test it, as
recommended for seam
leaks. Unfortunately I used Tmax 'film' rather than IR 'film' - much much
cheaper.  Luckily I only lost 6 exposed sheets  and 10 unexposed sheets to
fogging at my first real use.  When I suspected a problem, duh, and being an
uneducated paranoid neophyte, I tested the bag by holding a sheet of IR
'film' and Tmax 'film' in the bag (direct sunlight, just to be extremely
paranoid) for ten minutes.  When processed the IR was completely fogged and
the Tmax was completely UNexposed.

> I even wait till the fire has died down. 
> 
Sure, I could do that, but I really prefer to sleep at nights so I can get
up before sun rise.  I could also take the Edward Weston approach and have
someone cover my car with a tarp and bind it tight wilst I change film
inside - but I really bought the 'film' changing bag to do just that.

> Have had no
> problems, but I sure am glad I never just went ahead and used the darn
> thing
> in daylight for IR. BTW, it is a wonderful changing bag for conventional
> film
> 
> Bill
> 
> 
My problem is not with the bag, but with the way it's represented.  After
the above test, I called Calumet and they were quite shocked.  They gave me
the number for Photoflex and suggested I call them and 'please let us know
the results'.  I called Photoflex and they had the designer of the bag call
me back.  He stated that they had test the bag's design with several types
of film (but not IR).  He also had  received complaints about the bag's
transparency to IR and would consider including a note along with the bag.
There were no plans to redesign the bag to rectify the problem - so much for
the IR market share ;-). I reported the results to Calumet and they ASSURED
me that they would note the fact that the bag was transparent to IR in their
future catalog's - apparently they have not because this question keeps
popping up every 6 months or so.

Back to the original question - the bag is transparent to any IR source - if
you must wait for the lack of an IR source, cloudy, moonless night ;-), why
use the bag?  Its not a bad bag for 'conventional' film, but that wasn't the
question!

dex
> Sorry to ruin your day, but I bought one a couple of years ago (made by
> Photoflex) and you are better off just changing outside the bag!  It's
> completely IR transparent. Both Calumet and Photoflex know it too cause I
> called and raised a fuss about it.  So unless they've changed in the past
> couple of years - not good for IR.  I still use it for chrome and Tmax but
> use the el cheap'o Tundra bag for IR.
> 
> dex
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
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