"Poll" Question: Do you use a footswitch for your enlarger?

[Ulophot]

Some timers offer it as an option; I know some photographers who have been able to rig their own, DIY. It's convenient though not as necessary for those who use a single long exposure rather than a cumulative exposure from a number of shorter exposures, e.g., 3 seconds times 8.

After decades of using a enlarging Time-O-Lite, I got the Zone VI-provided footswitch (apparently called momentary, requiring just a tap to start the timing) when I bought the compensating timer. Recently, I had to sort through some specifications, re: type of connector, wires needed, open or closed, for the friend who is building the LED head for my D2.

I'm curious how others work in this respect.

[Alan9940]

I've used a foot switch for both of my enlargers for over 40 years. Personally, I find it indispensable for dodging/burning sequences as I use both hands for this. I do, also, use it for initial exposure because I find it easier than reaching across the enlarger base (my timers sit on the rear side of each enlarger.)

[Duolab123]

I use a footswitch for a Zone VI development timer when developing b&w prints in trays. I've never used a footswitch for an enlarger.

[John Layton]

Footswitch for my enlargers? Yup...you betcha! Makes so much sense to do this...keeps my hands free from the get-go for whatever dodges/burns/nose-picking/etc. that I need to accomplish during the exposure time.

[Oren Grad]

I use a footswitch for my wet-side timer, but not my enlarging timer.

[neil poulsen]

For both my enlarging timer and my developing timer.

[koraks]

Yes, I use a footswitch. It's one I got in a box of parts from a friend; wired a coaxial cable to it and hooked that up to my DIY LED enlarger controller. I wouldn't want to go without one anymore.

[jnantz]

I worked at a portrait studio and got addicted to a foot switch, been using one ever since. like Alan said, indispensable ..

[Tin Can]

My CB7 has a handy push button timer built into front edge with motorized height and usable power focus

With its OE oversize head, nothing beats lt

Good for wheelchair too

[Salmo22]

When I was a kid, sixty years ago, I spent lots of time with my father in his darkroom - he was a professional. He obsessed over making tack sharp prints and always worried about inducing vibration while he was making enlargements. Heck, he had me stand perfectly still in the middle of the darkroom during his exposure time. It seemed silly to me at first. But over the years, it became something I was ingrained with. I remember when dad got his first footswitch. It seemed "high tech" at the time.

So yes, I use a footswitch in my darkroom. I wouldn't know how to make an exposure without one.

[Greg]

My first full time Photo job consisted of being a professional printer for about 50% of the week. Foot switch was for making the exposure and a knee "switch" was for composing, focusing, and burning in. The knee switch was totally isolated from the counter so activating it (pushing it in) didn't initiate any vibration to the enlarger. I still use Lektra TM-8 Electronic Interval Timers (DURST 4x5 and Leitz Focomat V35), but have stopped to use knee and foot switches, preferring to be more minimalistic n the darkroom as far as equipment goes.

[Drew Wiley]

Yep, on all of them.

[Corran]

Absolutely, was a huge improvement to my workflow when I got one. Would like to get an additional one for my second enlarger.

[Duolab123]

I've got footswitches for every timer I own. Now I feel like I need to try them.

I have neuropathy in my feet, makes it difficult for me to feel this sort of thing, maybe I need moccasins or fancy driving shoes :o

[Merg Ross]

Always have, going back sixty years. One for enlarger and one for contact printing (different timers.)

[Fred L]

yup, one newspaper lab I worked in had them and it was a revelation ! currently use dual pedal foot switches with my Omega digital timer. For most prints, I use the momentary/focus pedal and a Seiko metronome. For really long exposures, it's the timer footswitch.

[Doremus Scudder]

Indispensable for me too.

I use foot switches for all my enlargers and my wet-side timers.

On the wet side, I wired two foot switches in series so I can start/stop the timer from different locations. One switch lives under the developer tray, the other under the fixer tray.

For enlarging, I use the "focus" toggle switch on the wall-mounted unit to turn on the enlarger for focusing. For exposing, however, I use the foot switch.

My timers are set on the maximum number of seconds possible (99 in the case of my digital GraLab timers) and the metronome "beep" function is turned on. I start exposures with a card held under the lens, let things settle down and then pull the card and start counting seconds. Dodging is done between certain counts, say this shadow from counts two-five, then this other one from 10-14, etc. Exposure is ended by putting the card back under the lens. Burning is then a simple matter of counting seconds with the metronome. I can switch off the light with the footswitch while burning to check notes, change filtration, etc. easily.

Test strips are made by pulling the card away and beginning the exposure and then covering up stripes on the test strip in pre-determined 25% 30% interval. (10 - 13 - 17 - 22 - etc. for 30%). Exposure is ended by putting the card back under the lens.

Enlarger light gets turned off after exposure with the footswitch.

Best,

Doremus

[PRJ]

Footswitches for me too. And for the developer timer as well. Just makes things easier.

[Bernice Loui]

Better question would be, how does any darkroom printer work efficiently without a foot switch on the enlarger timer and wet side timer(s)?

Both hands full with dodge/burn/etc tools/implements.. trying to manage all other print making moves efficiently essentially demands a foot switch to aid in dealing with the printing process. Essentially the same with using both hands dealing with the exposed print (no krinkling of the print before and after wet).. kinda demands a foot switch..

Back in them days, all the "better" darkroom timers had a connector for a ... foot switch .... why?


Bernice

[Tin Can]

OK

I will install a foot switch

[Daniel Unkefer]

I have two Omega 4x5 DII's, and an Omega 5x7 E-3, and a custom variable contrast contact printing light source. All are hooked to foot petals.

[Conrad . Marvin]

I have foot switches Everywhere in my darkroom. Hands free enlarging, flashing et all.

[Peter Lewin]

I have foot switches on both my ZoneVI developing timer and my ZoneVI enlarging timer. I started using them because they came with the ZoneVI timers but couldn’t imagine working without them. I tray develop my 4x5 film with shuffle agitation, which uses both hands, so the foot switch is wonderful. Similarly when burning and dodging during printing, both hands are occupied, so the foot switch is perfect.

[Renato Tonelli]

Foot switch on enlargers as well as the timers along the sink; I wired the GraLabs to work with a foot switch. Makes my life easier.

[Willie]

Not on the enlarger, but on the green safelight for developing negatives by inspection. Makes it easy to use. Timing is not with any glowing timer but with a music CD made with voice timing letting me know every 30 seconds - minute and half minute - up to 20 minutes. Helps a lot with my timing as I develop in the dark.

[Michael R]

I’ve never used foot switches.

[Tin Can]

I am very good at silent counting

I often use my talent when processing onesie by hand in trays

I now need to find my 2 foot switches


and rewire for use with 4 enlargers.... convert to common connectors

I stiil have not unpacked all DR stuff since my move 5 years ago

[mdarnton]

I don't currently have a darkroom, but when I did, from about 1965 onwards, I always set the Time-O-Lite to 5 seconds and used a footswitch. It's a real speeder-upper for production.

[Tin Can]

I like Time-o-Lite!

The CB7 has one built in

I bought many off this forum

All didn't work!



joke is on me


I don't currently have a darkroom, but when I did, from about 1965 onwards, I always set the Time-O-Lite to 5 seconds and used a footswitch. It's a real speeder-upper for production.

[Rick A]

I have an Omega D-5 with a GraLab 525 and a Beseler MXT with a GraLab 505, both with foot switches.

[Michael R]

Time-O-Lite are still being made too:

http://www.industrialtimercompany.com/



I like Time-o-Lite!

The CB7 has one built in

I bought many off this forum

All didn't work!



joke is on me

[Tin Can]

I need to get quote

Thank you



Time-O-Lite are still being made too:

http://www.industrialtimercompany.com/

[jp]

Gralab 451. No foot switch. Really I don't do much dodging and burning, and if I do, it's pretty simple stuff that doesn't preclude me from hitting the big fat start button at the base of the 451.

[ic-racer]

Yes.
232076

[Dugan]

No....

[John Layton]

Thing about time-o-lites is that they should be first set to "zero" to see if any time is added to the first second, and beyond this check to see if there is any interval between when the button is pushed and the timer actually starts to move. Otherwise, time-o-lites can be great - and quite bombproof when used with high voltage light sources.

[bob carnie]

Tried a footswitch once , hated it I use a simple timer that I can reach in dim light to work on the multiple hits when I print.
I move around the easel a lot when I print to access different areas of the print , not being stationary while printing makes a footswitch almost impossible for me to use.

[Tin Can]

Adding to this issue

How many non working Timers have you bought from 'friends' on this forum!

[d.s.]

Yes.

[nolindan]

<Time-o-Lite timer> I need to get quote

I just looked it up, professional curiosity... B&H: P72 timer $543.50; FS65 footswitch $94.95; shipping $20 (?). For a total of $658.50.

Back to the original question: I use 3 footswitches: one for the enlarger timer; one for a white light at the enlarger easel; and one for the inspection light above the fixer tray.

[otto.f]

Yes I do, but for dodging and burning I mostly need one hand. But I seldom need the whole exposure time twice, so it's quite practical to stop the lightsource when it's enough. And indeed, as said, this prevents movement blur too. I find the development time in the tray not that critical that I would need a foot switch for that timer, I use my Apple watch with a red dimmed dial for that.

[Edward Pierce]

Yes a footswitch is very helpful.

This brings up a question that’s been nagging me for quite a while.

My first two enlarger setups, for graded papers, used a footswitch with a tik-tock metronome. Hold the switch down and count the clicks to make the exposure, then release the switch to stop. This was great for burning.

When I transitioned to a VC setup (Zone VI Type II), the tik-tock timer would not work with it. So I replaced it with a Zone VI compensating timer. With this setup the footswitch only functions to start the timer, not stop it as well. So if I’ve just made a long main exposure and now want a short burn, I have to change the timer to a shorter duration to avoid holding a card under the lens for a long time.

I wish there was a way to rig the compensating timer with a tik-tock style footswitch.

[Scraps]

I found that the footswitch frees up both hands for dodging and burning. I imagine that's the obvious reason they are made. I don't have to frantically grab my tools once I hit go.

[Tin Can]

I found my NOS floor switch

It is on the list