Cold Light Head

[philip jameson]

I'm Looking For A Used [new ? ] Aristo Vcl 8100 Head For My Beselar
45 V-xl Enlarger

[Brian Ellis]

Do you really want a VCL8100, not the 4500VCL, for your 45 V-xl enlarger? I ask just because I don't think either is made any more but I think you'll have an easier time finding a 4x5 version than an 8x10 version. Plus the 4x5 version should fit your enlarger right out of the box, putting an 8x10 on it likely will require some modifications if it's even feasible to do. FWIW I used the 4500VCL on my Beseler 45MXT and it worked very well.

[Eric Woodbury]

Why?

[philip jameson]

Sorry for the delay. I was out of the country. I've been using the VCL8100 for at least 25 years, and it works beautifully,
My only concern is maybe one of the lamps might stop working, so I'm really only concerned about getting back-up blue and green lamps.

[Eric Woodbury]

Best to call Aristo or what became of Aristo and see what's going on. If they're gone, then see if a local sign maker can make the tubes or supply the ballasts for you. However, there is no reason to think that the unit will fail.

[Andrew O'Neill]

Looks like they're still around...

http://www.aristogrid.com/cold_light_heads.htm

[rknewcomb]

I emailed and called Aristo just recently - no luck. The phones were not working and no reply to my emails. All the Aristo heads at B&H are no longer available. YMMV.
Robert

[philip jameson]

I was able to speak with the people that bought out [bankrupt] Aristo last month. They have closed down operations completely. They kept no stock, and will not accept repair orders.
I checked all around the usual places and no one has either the complete 8100, or any lamps. This makes me nervous because I shoot only 8x10, and my standard paper size is 16x20". So far I've had no problems,but you never know.
When creating 44x55" works, I scan the neg, which gives me about a 1.3 gig file.
A friend of mine tells me that a good camera with full 35 mm. sensor and the ability to merge 7 or 8 bracketed exposures into a single file with it, is as good or better than what I'm currently doing. This seems too good to be true, But it sounds a lot better than the
8x10 camera, 5 lenses, cassettes, Reis tripod etc. that I am lugging around now.
Does anyone have any opinion about this?

[Eric Woodbury]

There was a guy in LA that made coldlights back a bunch of years ago. Morley Baer had one of these coldlights. Mervap. Is he still around?

You may not be able to replace the VC coldlight, but there must be a substitute for the standard V54 blue-green tube. I hope so. I have one. Works great with gel filters and much faster than the VC.

Philip, there are plenty of opinions about digital. Some amazing things can be done. If you like film, use film. If not, make the digital work. If that doesn't work, take up painting.

[philip jameson]

Perhaps you misunderstood me. I will never deviate from printing silver bromide with 8x10 negs. But-- if I can produce an 8x10 NEGATIVE using the data file, it would be a neat trick. This is being offered by commercial labs [expensive].