DeVere 504

[Ari]

Hi,
I have the chance to get a DeVere 504 with colour head.
It comes with a module which controls, among other things, filtration and exposure time.
It's in a bit of a mess, but I'd like to know if there are any parts that I should make sure are included in the sale, i.e., how do I know it's ready to plug-and-play?
I'd hate to have to look all over creation for some missing part, or worse, pay KHB's extortionate prices.
Your help is appreciated, thanks in advance.

[ic-racer]

Sounds like it has a closed loop head. Is it a ZBE?

[Ari]

Sounds like it has a closed loop head. Is it a ZBE?

I will find that out on Monday.
Anything else I should look for?
Thanks, ic.

[Fred L]

Beware ZBE units. I had something blown out in my 8x10 controller and basically it was not worth fixing, cost wise, unless I REALLY needed autofocus, which I didn't.

[Peter De Smidt]

I have a floor standing 504 with a color head. Originally, it came with an analyzer, which had sensors in the head. The Analyzer didn't work, and everyone I talked to, including KHB and Odyssey Sales, told me not to use it. It was easy to remove, and the enlarger works fine using a regular timer, an RH Design Stopclock Professional in my case.

If possible, turn it on and see if everything works, including the dichroic head. Make adjustments, such as focusing and head height, and make sure everything locks down ok. Mechanically, these things are really sturdy. Does it have lens boards that you need? (I can probably help if needed.) Are the plastic hinges on the negative carrier ok? (They can be replaced.) If there's glass in the carrier, is it in good shape?

[Ari]

Peter, once again, thank you very much.
I'll see everything on Monday or Wednesday, as soon as I can go, and report back.

[Peter De Smidt]

Check out the light mixing box, too. There's both a 4x5 and 6x7 version. If you want to do 4x5, and it only has the 6x7 version, that could be a problem. Whatever you do, don't crack the white plastic diffusion plate on the bottom of the mixing box. It's been cnc'd to even out the light, and a replacement is super expensive.

[ic-racer]

Post pictures if you can.
When you test it make sure the light goes on and off as it is supposed to and see that the filters change the color of the light.

The above test seems pretty simple, but if it has an electronic controller and you (or the seller) can't even figure how to turn the light on and off and change filtration, just imagine how hard it is going to be to fix when it breaks (http://www.apug.org/forums/forum43/59904-d5500-power-supply-complete-rebuild-scratch.html).

[Fred L]

Make sure it has the Trans Stab and all power cables. Also know that these are not the quietest enlargers out there ;) Very nice units but the fans are loud as is the Trans Stab.

Is it a floor model or table ?

[Ari]

Thanks, Fred; I'm going to snap some photos tomorrow, and I'll post here asap.
I haven't been in town all week, but I appreciate everyone's help and opinions, so I'm anxious to get more information.

[tautatis]

I also think it is best to use regular time with beeps or LED counter. The time that comes with it is dim and hard to see or gauge time. I got it from a lab in VA and came with 3 lenses - radagons 150 & 80 mm plus latest design on Nikkor 150 mm. Great machine and I love mine!

Tautatis

[Ari]

I went to see the enlarger today; it looks good, just some dust to clean.
It powers on, the timer works, as do the filters, all of which are programmable at the module.
The module itself could use a little cleaning, as some of the buttons needed some extra encouragement, but overall, it worked.
Here's some pics:

http://i43.tinypic.com/sf81dx.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/ekm32d.jpg

http://i42.tinypic.com/2qb7jg3.jpg


Is there anything missing in this photo?
http://i42.tinypic.com/2ahut6a.jpg

[Ari]

More stuff.
Looks like the mixing box, and it's likely 4x5; can anyone confirm that?
Thanks

http://i40.tinypic.com/29kxw7m.jpg

http://i40.tinypic.com/kdmhya.jpg


And the power module, works well.
http://i39.tinypic.com/1687trt.jpg

[Ari]

Things like neg carriers and lensboards are uncertain as they are in the vast basement somewhere, and the "storage expert" is back on Tuesday.
But I was assured that there was a Devere box somewhere.

Any thoughts, assistance and advice are greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

[Fred L]

Looks like a non AF model, consider yourself spared possible heart ache ;)

If you're missing anything , let me know. I have a box of stuff I may or may not need.

and make sure there's a manual for the control pad. Should be easy to figure out if there isn't one but it helps.

[Ari]

Hi Fred,
Actually, it is supposed to be AF, but I may be wrong; and, yes, the manual is included.
Next week, I'll find out what's included, and I'll get in touch if I need a box of stuff :)
Thank you very much.

[ic-racer]

Nice find.

Need to see the bottom of the mixing box to make sure it is the one for 4x5.

The round hole is where the filtered, unmixed, light enters. The rectangle hole on the other side is, I believe, where the closed loop sensors read the color of the mix.

[Ari]

Need to see the bottom of the mixing box to make sure it is the one for 4x5.



...d'oh!

I mean, when I go back next week, I'll find out; thanks for letting me know that.

[Fred L]

Hmmm, the AF on my 5108 has this doohickey.

sorry for the large file


http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7028/6772623053_12e9979ee5_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14296855@N07/6772623053/)
DevereAF (http://www.flickr.com/photos/14296855@N07/6772623053/) by lfshooter (http://www.flickr.com/people/14296855@N07/), on Flickr

[Ari]

I understand now; the manual I have is for all AF Deveres, but the one for sale is not AF, even though it uses the same manual.
Thanks for pointing that out, Fred.

[Fred L]

I think non AF is actually better. Setting the AF sounded like a right royal pain and was nowhere near as easy as say a Leitz V35 Focomat.

Ari, you're going to really enjoy using the Devere, neg carriers not withstanding ;) I thought Omegas were built like tanks but these beasts,wow. Just don't give yourself a hernia moving it around.

[Ari]

Thanks, Fred; but I'm only buying it to use a coffee table :)

[naimation]

Hello,
I am a Arts PhD student majoring in photography and we recently got an Devere 504 as a donation from Medicine Faculty. I only used manual enlargers. This one has a keypad for autofocus but we do not have any manual . Is there anyone who knows about how this works ?
I tried only once. We entered value 1 and the head went up and hit the ceiling.

Could you please help me to find a manual to make it work. I am enclosing pictures of keyboard, timer along with the enlarger/

Another question this one has 50mm Rodenstock Lens, can I change the lens I have Rodenstock Rodagon 135 for large format.
And are there 4x5 negative carrier available or any compatible ones, the film holder seems to have a smaller format not medium but not 4x5 ,although I didn't tested it yet.
195869195870195871

[Peter Lewin]

I can't speak to the automation question, since my 504 is an older manual model. First suggestion is to contact http://odyssey-sales.co.uk who are the major DeVere source in the U.K., where the 504s are made. Different enlarging lenses need different DeVere lens boards; without running down into my darkroom, IIRC the 50mm board is recessed, while the boards for longer lenses are flat. My negative carrier is a clam shell casting, with different inserts for each negative size, and I have inserts for 35mm, 6x7 (which I also use for 6x6), and 4x5. You can either look for lens boards and carriers on the used market, or contact Odyssey, because those parts are available new (but costly).

[Martin Aislabie]

Hello,
I am a Arts PhD student majoring in photography and we recently got an Devere 504 as a donation from Medicine Faculty. I only used manual enlargers. This one has a keypad for autofocus but we do not have any manual . Is there anyone who knows about how this works ?
I tried only once. We entered value 1 and the head went up and hit the ceiling.

Could you please help me to find a manual to make it work. I am enclosing pictures of keyboard, timer along with the enlarger/

Another question this one has 50mm Rodenstock Lens, can I change the lens I have Rodenstock Rodagon 135 for large format.
And are there 4x5 negative carrier available or any compatible ones, the film holder seems to have a smaller format not medium but not 4x5 ,although I didn't tested it yet.
195869195870195871

I would start with the manufacturers - Odyssey Sales - http://odyssey-sales.co.uk/product-category/photographic-enlargers/

They are a decent bunch of people to deal with.

In answer to your other questions :-

Yes - you can exchange the 50 mm lens for a 135 mm lens - they should both use the same lens board

Yes - you can buy new or second-hand 5x4 negative carriers - but you need to know what generation of enlarger you have - to get the right one.
Again talk to Odyssey and show them the photos - they will recognise it instantly.

Martin

[Fred L]

Contact KHB Photografix for the Devere Autofocus manual. He also has the Troubleshooting Guide as well. The keypad should also control variable contrast filtration as well, and/or CMY filtration.

[naimation]

thank you so much for all the replies. I received an answer from Odyssey. The person who replied says that:
"The model was made for fast production of prints in a commercial laboratory.
As this type of work is no longer done, we do not support this model any longer as parts are no longer
available.We advise to disconnect all of the electric components and motor and use manually."

That is ok for me but I will try to get the manual as well from KHB, I hope the mavailable online as I live outside Canada.

[calebarchie]

Oddyssey have been particularly useless in my search for a unit. You indeed have a closed loop head, a friend has hacked them to manually control filters. It is a messy job... When you are done with unit and wish to pass along contact me :)