LED enlarger head creation -- just a thought

[Ulophot]

I much admire the work of those who can design construct such items, as seen in recent postings. It's way out of my realm; I couldn't design a paper bag. However, it occurred to me as I stood before my Omega D2 the other day, that an entire box replacing the existing head might not be necessary. Could a VC light source be made that simply slides down into the round aluminum collar and sits on the diffuser, as the Aristo and Zone VI cold light heads do? It would need some kind of housing, like the cold lights, to hold whatever electronics are required for control and to block upwards light-spill, but wouldn't this simplify construction and lower cost?

I realize that I'm just talking about one enlarger here, but I bet a poll would show a lot of them in use, and perhaps the idea would apply to other enlarger designs as well.

From my standpoint, the unit would ideally have the kind of link to the Zone VI compensation enlarging timer that Paul Schrantz designed for Zone VI -- since I have the timer and need that stabilization, especially when the room air-conditioner cycles on and off in summertime. I don't know if that would be a patent issue, or if LEDs need some different kind of stabilizer/voltage regulator.

As mentioned in either my posting or private message to OP regarding the plans for a new VC LED head he has very generously shared with us, I'd prefer a wired connection to a timer, thought realizing that this would require different connections to various timers. I don't have an iOS device.

Finally, I use a foot switch to turn the time on and off, something I first read that W. Eugene Smith had rigged up, and which Zone VI included. What a difference in the ease of dodging and burning-in it makes! The Zone VI one uses a simple phone cable (UTP connector? STP?).

Okay, I'm done. I just keep hoping that someone will invent something that she or he will also build for sale, that is durable and reliable, versatile, perhaps modular/scalable or in several configurations for various popular enlargers, well-featured, and modestly priced, to replace our aging cold lights. I would guess that a Kickstarter campaign, if needed, could be a significant success.

[RLangham]

I have never seen an Omega, but looking at my Beseler it seems possible on this model. I would even consider it possible on mine to replace the bayonet socket inside the top cap with an LED array. Tell me, though... do PC filters work with LED's?

[Tin Can]

Stripping any existing head of internals and replacing with LED is fairly easy DIY

It is a poor business proposition

Too many variations wanted, too few sales imaginable

I broke a 5X7 Aristo Cold Lamp a few months ago, accidents do happen

It will be gutted and enhanced with LED

Sooner or later...maybe...

Don't forget MANY businesses will not survive the current Plague

We may emerge as a more DIGI world or retreat to new Dark Age

[John Layton]

I would much prefer to emerge into an analog "age of light."

[Ben Calwell]

I had a similar thought that adapting Intrepid Camera’s LED enlarger light source for use on my D2 might work. I would remove my ancient Aristo cold light head and simply place Intrepid’s LED light source on top of the Omega 4x5 neg. carrier. The dimensions look right, and Intrepid also offers a timer with their light. And it’s a VC-compatible light.

[eli]

You might try finding an Omegalite, like those seen here; http://www.khbphotografix.com/omega/Specialty/Omegalite.htm

If more modern LEDs will give good results to variable grade papers, then you could strip out the OEM light and install several winds of both dimable cold and warm LEDs, with dim controls for each, so you can fine 'tune the light source, as some have done with cake pans and other tins.

The advantage I see is low expense in a correctly shaped head that already fits the Omegas.

My 5x7" carries one of these heads and it is a separate size than the D series enlargers, which explains my having both a D and E on my bench, one for condenser, and the other for the 5x7" Cromeaega colour head I have yet to repair and replace the current 'cold head'.

OR, you can find a large enough can, paint the inside enlarger white, install Leds, wrapping around the inside cylinder and, Using the base to meet the enlarger, take a stainless steel bowl and paint the inside whit as well, and install outside clamps, the wire flip lock/unlock type to both the cylinder and reflector dome, for easy access when and if, a fresh coat of paint is ever needed. or you replace the cylinder with a new one.

You will still need to add light-proof vents, as the LED lights do become hot in use, but other than that, you should have a decent head, when properly married to the enlarger.

I hope this is clearly written and of uses as food for thought.

IMO, Eli

[Tin Can]

that would be ideal

we need to be realistic, right now

the enemy is at the ramparts our garrison unmanned


I would much prefer to emerge into an analog "age of light."

[koh303]

Stripping any existing head of internals and replacing with LED is fairly easy DIY

It is a poor business proposition

Too many variations wanted, too few sales imaginable

I broke a 5X7 Aristo Cold Lamp a few months ago, accidents do happen

It will be gutted and enhanced with LED

Sooner or later...maybe...

Don't forget MANY businesses will not survive the current Plague

We may emerge as a more DIGI world or retreat to new Dark Age

There is nothing easy about it. It takes special skill, know how, tools, components, and engineering to make a working, seamless LED conversion.

Heiland produces ready made, plug and play LED cold light sources for ANY and all enlargers, lead time is just a few days:
https://www.catlabs.info/product/heiland-led-cold-light-source

They are have been doing this years, and are a good, sustainable business.

[Tin Can]

Yes they are and you are a reseller

Most here want far cheaper

I have considered buying from Heiland




Heiland produces ready made, plug and play LED cold light sources for ANY and all enlargers, lead time is just a few days:
https://www.catlabs.info/product/heiland-led-cold-light-source

They are have been doing this years, and are a good, sustainable business.

[ic-racer]

Ebay usually has many Chromega D heads available and these are designed to replace the condensers of the D2. So the solution has already been thought out without requiring hard-to find-LED and PWM LED power supplies, etc.

[Tin Can]

I gave away a Omega Super Chromega F Dichroic II 8x10 Enlarger Head as I consider it a very flawed design.

One is FS right now, just like it...

LED is ready for Prime time everywhere


Ebay usually has many Chromega D heads available and these are designed to replace the condensers of the D2. So the solution has already been thought out without requiring hard-to find-LED and PWM LED power supplies, etc.

[LabRat]

Well, the easiest conversion for the everyman (or woman) , (for B/W) is using the condenser is simply changing out the bulb for a bright (slightly)warm white LED + diffuser at the same height of the old bulb... (This also takes a slight hardness off the condenser look due to the diffuser above...)There will be a (slight?)shift in the MG response, but should work with filters...

Color is a whole other animal...

Steve K

[Tin Can]

I have an old AGFA CB7 Color Head that was used on condenser with a 1” light source in storage

Non Dichroic

Pics of design tomorrow

[MartinP]

I recall reading a few threads here about using a high-quality, LED light-box as a light-source for 5x7 and 8x10 (possibly even larger?). That simply needed a foamcore adapter box and one layer of diffusion, then it worked rather well. Isn't that a simpler option if there are no funds/time/ability to produce a custom LED head? It is a nice hobby to develop such engineering triumphs, but I'd rather be printing.

[Tin Can]

Yes, I posted results in DIY years ago

But few saw it in DIY

some here really discourage anything experimental


I recall reading a few threads here about using a high-quality, LED light-box as a light-source for 5x7 and 8x10 (possibly even larger?). That simply needed a foamcore adapter box and one layer of diffusion, then it worked rather well. Isn't that a simpler option if there are no funds/time/ability to produce a custom LED head? It is a nice hobby to develop such engineering triumphs, but I'd rather be printing.

[Tin Can]

Here is a very old CB7 AGFA COLOR Head with matching condenser

The lamp is unknown, I never took it out, it does project as point lamp through a 2X2" glass diffuser and mounts only on the matching condenser head

Color Temp as measured today is 3300K as shown on my backdrop. I replaced a wheezing OE fan with a computer fan. It runs on 120 VAC 316 watts today

I see no reason an LED lamp could not be installed by almost anybody

Notice it has a filter drawer that looks unused

This is my spare, not for sale

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49712914926_37717615d5_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2iJXFCS)AGFA HEAD (https://flic.kr/p/2iJXFCS) by TIN CAN COLLEGE (https://www.flickr.com/photos/tincancollege/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49712915006_0781439937_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2iJXFEf)AGFA Diffuser (https://flic.kr/p/2iJXFEf) by TIN CAN COLLEGE (https://www.flickr.com/photos/tincancollege/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49712914866_e27eeecaae_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2iJXFBQ)AGFA Lamp (https://flic.kr/p/2iJXFBQ) by TIN CAN COLLEGE (https://www.flickr.com/photos/tincancollege/), on Flickr

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49712381123_7b6b9f6e7a_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2iJUWXn)AGFA Condensor (https://flic.kr/p/2iJUWXn) by TIN CAN COLLEGE (https://www.flickr.com/photos/tincancollege/), on Flickr

[Tin Can]

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49712915121_bb2d8fedc5_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2iJXFGe)AGFA 3300K (https://flic.kr/p/2iJXFGe) by TIN CAN COLLEGE (https://www.flickr.com/photos/tincancollege/), on Flickr

[Drew Wiley]

That colorhead looks like a Stone Age relic. Fascinating. But one merely needs to rest a small, even, bright LED panel above the neg carrier to make modest sized b&w prints. No need to rewire anything. Actual color printing is a different story.

[Tin Can]

of course Wiley, I will never enlarge colour prints

what will I do next...



That colorhead looks like a Stone Age relic. Fascinating. But one merely needs to rest a small, even, bright LED panel above the neg carrier to make modest sized b&w prints. No need to rewire anything. Actual color printing is a different story.

[Ulophot]

The Heiland is indeed a wonderful long-term investment, and I am all for high-quality long-term physical investestments, but the term before I am able to afford that expense may be longer.

DIY is great for those who can, but not all of us are quite so handy. What seems simple and obvious to one... I have put together enough "Oh, this looks pretty simple" items over the past 50 years to know how few of them ever succeeded. One is the anti-flare collar I made for my Pentax V spot meter out of a black plastic report cover back and some flocking paper. I'm proud of it, but I have yet to need it. I did make a light dimmer for a video light years ago. It does work, but it's a gangly, awkward thing that definitely does not look like the one in the photos, and I got a nice manufactured one for about $25. So, making something as important as an enlarger light source? I think not.

Though controlled VC contrast light is great, I'd be happy with an LED source that required my continuing to use under-lens VC filters.

[Ron789]

I'm not familiar with the Omega D2 but looking at pictures on the internet it looks like a condensor enlarger, using a light bulb. So the easiest solution would be to replace original the ligt bulb with a regular household LED light bulb. Just make sure it is 4000K or higher. I use LED bulbs in all my enlargers and that works perfectly well. No need at all for complex / expensive modifications, Heiland modules or DIY solutions.

[Ulophot]

Ron789, the D2 was originally created as a condenser enlarger. However, Aristo's cold light head was made to replaced the 2 condenser lenses held in the aluminum collar, by removing the topmost part, which held the light bulb. Zone VI subsequently sold a similar unit, which is what I have. It has the advantage of a sensor which connects to the zone VI enlarging timer, to alter the time appropriately when voltage fluctuations change the brightness of the lamp.

My entire musing is based on replacing the cold light, fluorescent diffusion source with a relatively (if possible) elementary LED diffusion source, incorporating equivalent light-stabilization technology of some kind.

The Heiland unit, from what I can see, plugs into whatever timer one may already have, and incorporates its own light stabilizer, which would be ideal. I just can't afford it; not now, at least.

[AnalogAngler]

I have wondered if it would be possible to use a Phillips Hue or similar color-changing bulb in my Beseler enlarger - currently has just the basic head with a standard Edison-base bulb. If it can programmed to produce any color - should work for MC or color pretty easily. Not certain the output will be sufficient for short print times...or how the exposure would be controlled as I believe these have to be always-on. Perhaps an app? Would save having to build anything else.

[seall]

All you have to do is glue this delight:

http://ussrphoto.com/WIKI/default.asp?WikiCatID=96&ParentID=2&ContentID=300&Item=Vega+22+UTz

on to one of these new fangled cree torches!

[Ben Calwell]

Ron789, the D2 was originally created as a condenser enlarger. However, Aristo's cold light head was made to replaced the 2 condenser lenses held in the aluminum collar, by removing the topmost part, which held the light bulb. Zone VI subsequently sold a similar unit, which is what I have. It has the advantage of a sensor which connects to the zone VI enlarging timer, to alter the time appropriately when voltage fluctuations change the brightness of the lamp.

My entire musing is based on replacing the cold light, fluorescent diffusion source with a relatively (if possible) elementary LED diffusion source, incorporating equivalent light-stabilization technology of some kind.

The Heiland unit, from what I can see, plugs into whatever timer one may already have, and incorporates its own light stabilizer, which would be ideal. I just can't afford it; not now, at least.
Ulophot,
I really think the inexpensive enlarger kit from Intrepid is what we need. It’s an LED light source that’s VC paper compatible, and it comes with its own timer. It’s designed to be used with their cameras (to make them into enlargers), but I’m pretty sure the light source could easily replace the Aristo head on a D2.

[LabRat]

Not super easy to replace on a Beseler or Omega due to the fact that both were basically designed for condenser stages that integrated into the upper body of the head... The add on heads usually had an issue as these had to go down the existing tubes and almost covered the neg, but usually missing the very corners on larger 4X5 negs... Above the neg stage requires re-design for proper pressure on carrier, and be close enough for full illumination...

Possible, though...

Steve K