Wow! just got my new Toyo VX125 and is it ever a hummer. That ground glass looks quite vulnerable to damage however. Does anyone have any experience with the Calumet 4x5 ground glass protector? Or any other door-like attachments to protect the glass? I know about the folding Toyo viewer for $100, but don't really want the viewer part. You would think someone (Toyo for instance)would make a simple swinging door... Thanks any help!

Scott

-- Scott Jones (scottsdesk@home.com), March 15, 2001

Answers

I've used the Calumet GG protector and it's works fine. I've also made two wooden ones for wooden cameras that press fit next to the glass.

-- Keith Pitman (kapitman@msn.com), March 15, 2001.

I too use the calumet GG cover. Its a cheapy plastic thing but it works fine. I use it all the time since I have a new Boss Screen. Keith

-- Keith Baker (doublehall@aol.com), March 15, 2001.

I just made one for an 8x10; I had the framing shop at a local discount art supply store cut a fairly thick piece of plex slightly larger, and stuck it on with velcro. Total cost was about $3, works fine.

-- John Hicks (jbh@magicnet.net), March 15, 2001.

I've used the Calumet version and it works o.k. but looks and feels like the cheapest piece of black plastic junk you've ever seen. Canham makes a much nicer clear plastic one that will fit most any camera (i.e. it isn't restricted to Canham cameras) is also more substantial and I suspect would do a better job. It costs around $30. I bought mine from The F Stops Here but any Canham dealer should have them. Wisner also makes one but I've been told by a dealer that it will only fit Wisner cameras for some reason.

-- Brian Ellis (bellis60@earthlink.net), March 16, 2001.

I'm not familiar with exactly how a ground glass protector would attach to your camera, but I came up with a solution for my camera that I thought was kind of clever and might also work for the Toyo.

I bought one of the plastic 18% gray cards and cut it to fit over my ground glass and under the little accessory latch that my camera has to hold a folding hood.

I pop my camera on the tripod, release my GG protector which doubles as a handy sized gray card to use for metering.

-- Tim Klein (timklein@qwest.net), March 21, 2001.