From Annoyance to Inspiration: The Road to a Double Film Holder
As a 4×5 photographer, I’ve spent a lot of time with both traditional film holders and Jagglé’s daylight developing cassettes. Each has its place: the classic holders are my go-to for longer trips, while the daylight cassettes are fantastic for quick experiments and working on location.
Still, there’s one thing that always gets under my skin when using the traditional cassettes — the darkslide. I can’t count how many times I’ve been standing there with the darkslide awkwardly in my hands, trying not to bend it, smudge it, or put it down somewhere unsafe while making an exposure.
When I started thinking about how to improve the daylight developing cassette, another idea emerged almost naturally: what if I designed a double film holder that solved the darkslide problem in a simple, elegant way?
The first sketches and prototypes were 3D-printed, but as I talked to manufacturers and friends, the idea evolved. Instead of plastic, why not make them from wood and bamboo — materials that connect more deeply with the craft and feel of large-format photography?
The result is a design that not only holds two sheets of film but also features a dedicated slot for the darkslide. No more fumbling, no more standing around wondering where to put it. It’s a small detail, but one that makes shooting large format that little bit smoother and more enjoyable.
This is just the beginning — over the next weeks we’ll share more about the design, testing, and production process. Stay tuned, and let us know what you think!