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Stopped using my changing bag after a light leak ruined 8 rolls, a guy at the Chicago camera show sold me a $15 fix
I kept getting these weird foggy streaks on the first few frames of every roll and blamed my seals for 3 months. Someone at the Chicago camera show in April told me to skip the bag completely and load my film in a dark closet instead, then I found out the zipper on my bag was letting in light the whole time. I taped over the zipper with black gaffer tape and the streaks stopped on the very next roll, which was a huge relief since I had a wedding shoot coming up. Honestly changing bags are overpriced junk for most people, just use a closet or a bathroom with a towel under the door. I know pros swear by them for field work but for home developing they are more trouble than they are worth. Has anyone else had a bag fail on them, and did you just toss it or keep using it after patching it up?
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alexlewis6d ago
Taping the zipper is a solid temp fix but keep an eye on the tape edges, mine started peeling after like 20 rolls and let light sneak in right at the corners. What actually saved me was getting a cheap big dark hoodie and loading film inside it with both arms pulled down into the body, works better than a closet when I don't want to wait for a room to get fully dark. The closet with a towel is still my main move though, just tape the door edges too if there's any gap near the hinges.
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wrenwilson6d ago
Used to roll my eyes at people who said changing bags were a waste, figured they just bought cheap ones and didn't know how to use them right. Then my own bag started leaking at the zipper and I lost a batch of shots from a trip I will never get to redo, so yeah, that changed my tune fast. Turns out the whole thing was a cheap ripstop bag that looked fine but had a light path right along the teeth. Taping it shut like you did worked for a while, but I eventually got sick of dealing with it and just started loading in my closet with a towel stuffed under the door. Still keep the bag around for when I have no other choice, but for home stuff it sits in a drawer now.
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