Zone VI head conversion to LED

[Robert Langham]

I finally gave up on my T2 Zone VI enlarging head. It had a wildly uneven illumination field- and different contrasts within that field. Tube trouble, I'm sure. I first tried using an Aristo head with it, but the exposure times ran so long that it was a constant frustration. Modern Enlarger Lamps had made me an LED head for an Omega E6 chassis. That worked fine, in fact, was the best I had ever printed with. I took to just physically placing the light unit on top of the Z6 negative carrier for couple of big projects but hated moving the head back and forth. Modern Enlarger Lamps quit building 5X7 units.

I finally took all the parts out of the Z6 head except the light sensor and am building, (with help), a new illumination grid to put in it using the same LEDs that are in the MEL unit.

(If anyone is interested the Z6 guts, minus the light sensor, please IM me.)

Going to end up with a 7X11 1/2 inch lighting grid and new mixing box in the Z6 head. Hoping for a bright 5X7 illumination field of the correct color temp for under the lens filters on multigrade paper. The Z6 is an XL and it's the only chassis I have that will make a 20X24 off a 5X7 negative.

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[Keith Pitman]

I'm interested in your project. I hope you'll update this when you have the new unit up and operating.

[Eric Biggerstaff]

Like you I love my E6 MEL unit, it is terrific. I hope your projects goes well, keep us posted.

[Duolab123]

I just picked up two type 2 units. Both XL columns. One is the 8x10 rig with a VC head. I've completed a 12 step program on giving up 5x7 :) I've been clean for about 8 years. I want to use the 8x10 setup. I have Beseler 45 stuff for everything else.
I've heard good and bad about the 8x10 VC head. I wish you luck. I wish I had the disposable income, I would love to have a Heiland head for my Beseler with the VC and color modules.
I will be watching, very interested. Just so I don't get hooked on 5x7 again. For some reason I kept all my 5x7 processing equipment? ??
Best Regards Mike

[Robert Langham]

I just joined you. Picked up a Z6 8X10. Anticipating replacing the guts in it with LEDs as well. Plus I hear they are wobbly. Going to have to stabilize and anchor the column.

Be nice to be able to enlarge 8X10 though....I think.

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[Greg]

I use 4x5 Durst Laborator Ce1000 with a Durst CLS450 color head. While back adapted a 6x6 inch bank of LEDs (with a lot of diffusion) as a new head to try that would allow me to raise the head higher than with the very tall and boxy color head.. The LED unit had a " variable temperature" control. I was hoping that this would give me some variable contrast lighting. It didn't. Had to result to using VC filters below the lens and these did effect image sharpness by the slightest bit but too much for me to accept. So had some large acetate? VC filters that I could use above the film. These worked but changing them was a pain in the neck with the way I adapted the LED panel. Finally just switched back to the Durst CLS450 and using it for variable contrast and constructed a baseboard that could be lowered. Didn't want to go this route cause I would loose the "perfect" alignment of the Durst. In the end I'm sure I lost some alignment but in practice not enough to matter... just my 2 cents.

[Duolab123]

I just joined you. Picked up a Z6 8X10. Anticipating replacing the guts in it with LEDs as well. Plus I hear they are wobbly. Going to have to stabilize and anchor the column.

Be nice to be able to enlarge 8X10 though....I think.

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Did you get a whole different enlarger or just the 8x10 conversion parts? Mine will jiggle if you bump it but it quiets right down. As long as you are on a solid floor probably be OK. I was going to put up a couple of guy wires with turn buckles but I think its not needed. I've got mine screwed to the bench and to studs in the wall. I've got a friend who's a whiz kid at CAD software, he's going to try to get me a couple lensboards made. The lensboards are hard as heck to find. SK Grimes want $95 plus shipping for a nice drilled board, seems very fair. If I can get a couple of blanks I can cut the hole for the lens. It's not like Beseler where you can buy them for 5 bucks now and then.
One thing that is great compared to using a dichro head..... It's so quiet, I'm going to get my Radio going again.
Best Mike

[Robert Langham]

Just got the Z6 8X10 enlarger in. The weight wire is kaput, so that's got to be sorted out. It's the cold light but not variable MG light head. That gives me a little hope that it might throw an acceptable light field. Came with lens board and negative carrier. We'll see. I think my Nikon 210 orSchneider 240 ought to fit the flange that came with it. First I have to get the wire replaced. Going to at least guy-wire the column for a little more stability.

[Jeff Graves]

Hey Guys,
I have type 2 lens boards with with 50mm and 70mm holes, water jet cut out of aluminum. PM me for info. I picked up a Z6 810 enlarger last year and would like the ability to convert it to a 5x7 when needed. Robert, I'm interested in your LED conversion. At the moment I'm planning on fabricating my own 5x7 light housing with possibly an integral filter drawer.

[Duolab123]

Just got the Z6 8X10 enlarger in. The weight wire is kaput, so that's got to be sorted out. It's the cold light but not variable MG light head. That gives me a little hope that it might throw an acceptable light field. Came with lens board and negative carrier. We'll see. I think my Nikon 210 orSchneider 240 ought to fit the flange that came with it. First I have to get the wire replaced. Going to at least guy-wire the column for a little more stability.

The cables are a weak point, you can fabricate out of garage door hardware. Let me know if you need dimensions, I can measure mine
Mike

[Robert Langham]

This unit isn't the variable contrast head- it's the straight cold light. Looks good to the eye just turned on in the house....going to install in darkroom and test the light field. Maybe it's OK. These units are so late in the manufacturing that I THINK they got a good color tube in them.....we'll see. Gotta sort out the wire-( they sell them on eBay but they are ridiculously high. Might just shorten it six inches and use same wire.) Also strange: the lens mount thumbscrews seem too long. Can't figure out what's going on with that. They must have worked, but seem to bottom 1/4 inch before they tighten on the face of the lens board....weird. Must be something I don't know.

Jeff: Wonder how tough it would be to make a 5X7 negative carrier for the 8X10 Z6 unit.....at least it would cover, though you would have to print with long lenses, = small prints.

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Going to Shiprock and vicinity for Spring Break to freeze myself and gear. Won't get printing until after then. I think.

[Duolab123]

This unit isn't the variable contrast head- it's the straight cold light. Looks good to the eye just turned on in the house....going to install in darkroom and test the light field. Maybe it's OK. These units are so late in the manufacturing that I THINK they got a good color tube in them.....we'll see. Gotta sort out the wire-( they sell them on eBay but they are ridiculously high. Might just shorten it six inches and use same wire.) Also strange: the lens mount thumbscrews seem too long. Can't figure out what's going on with that. They must have worked, but seem to bottom 1/4 inch before they tighten on the face of the lens board....weird. Must be something I don't know.

Jeff: Wonder how tough it would be to make a 5X7 negative carrier for the 8X10 Z6 unit.....at least it would cover, though you would have to print with long lenses, = small prints.

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Going to Shiprock and vicinity for Spring Break to freeze myself and gear. Won't get printing until after then. I think.

Both my Zone VI type 2 lens board mount screws are Allen head, I think 5/32 wrench. Pretty sure that was standard

[Robert Langham]

Got the Z6 set up and working.

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The Alien Queen.

Ran illumination field test:

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Lousy, but pretty normal for Z6 enlarger.

Looks like it's off to LED land for this one as well. I had hopes, because it was a straight cold light, not the multigrade. But there it is. The iPhone file makes it a little heavier than it is in real life, but still....who wants to fight with built in dodging and burning? I had doubts about the light color for under-the-lens filters as well. That goes by the wayside.

Then I contacted an 8X10 under the MEL head.

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Grooving.

I took scissors and cut 1/8 inch off an 8X10 neg from the trash....it fit perfectly in the negative carrier. Got a little work to do there as well.

[Robert Langham]

Getting farther down the road....I pulled out all the guts except the light-monitoring diode that connects to the timer. Need that. Used the original base plate from the tubes, mounted 12 Cree XL warm LEDs on it in four rows of three. Remounted plate farther back at top of the inside space using 1/2 inch wood spacers. Put it together for an illumination field test. Light on both ends. I'm adding another row of 3 LEDS on each end of the grid. I think that ought to get me there. I also had a piece of silk glass cut. If I need it as an extra diffuser I will mount it on top of the attachment points for the original diffusion glass. Works with timer.

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There's what grid looks like at present.

[Duolab123]

What is the power supply for the leds?