8x10 Enlarger Chassis for Heiland LED Recs

Eventually I want to move up to an 8x10 capable enlarger, and my plan will be to get a Heiland LED unit. From my experience with the LPL you basically ditch the mixing box, any filtration units, obviously no condensers. It's just an LED panel that sits a few inches above your film holder, bellows, lens.

So i'm curious what would be a good platform for that set up? I was sort of thinking of a Zone IV upgraded unit if I can find one. But I'm open for recommendations!

I'm also poking at the idea of building a chassis but that's probably a pipe dream with my skills.

(Posted this on Photrio but thought I should ask here too).

The Durst L138 Chassis would be a far more solid and precise option, and can be adapted for 8x10 use, provided you are not making prints much larger than 20X24 inch. But you'd need a custom sizing adapter. Anyone with good shop skills could do it, or perhaps someone like Glennview already has something appropriate for this conversion.

If one was to make a horizontal enlarger then things might be simpler, though taking up much more floor-space of course.

One of the better enlargers out there is the DeVere. You can still find them fairly cheap and sometimes for free. I was fortunate enough to get an 8x10 free from a lab that was getting rid of all of their enlargers.

My Heiland 5x7 unit, which I typically use on my Zone 6 series 2 enlarger, works great on the DIY 8x10 horizontal rig (for 5x7 of course) I cobbled together awhile ago to originally use with my old, single tube 8x10 Aristo head. This horizontal enlarger is very simple and solid, relatively compact and easily stored, and is used atop a very sturdy work table. Will post pix soon.

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Originally Posted by Michael Wellman

One of the better enlargers out there is the DeVere. You can still find them fairly cheap and sometimes for free. I was fortunate enough to get an 8x10 free from a lab that was getting rid of all of their enlargers.

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:eek: Color me jealous. I saw a Durst 138 head on a 184 chassis for free recently, but it was rusty and abused.

I think a condenser head Durst 184 that's missing the condensers also might make a good LED conversion.

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Originally Posted by fj55mike

:eek: Color me jealous. I saw a Durst 138 head on a 184 chassis for free recently, but it was rusty and abused.

I think a condenser head Durst 184 that's missing the condensers also might make a good LED conversion.

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I've got one it's either a G-139 or an SM183. Mine's the 183, but it's not abutsed, and pretty much mint. Thought about getting the 8x10 LED adaptor for it, but don't really need 3 8x10 enlargers! L

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Originally Posted by Michael Wellman

One of the better enlargers out there is the DeVere. You can still find them fairly cheap and sometimes for free. I was fortunate enough to get an 8x10 free from a lab that was getting rid of all of their enlargers.

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I keep waiting to come across a deal...last guy I ran into with an 8x10 enlarger was asking like $15k. I don't think he'll get it! But talking him down to anywhere approaching reasonable isn't going to happen either.

I gave one away last year and it didn't exactly fly off this list. It all depends largely on location and how far you're willing to drive for it. I drove a 2,000 mile round trip in 2015 for my DeVere 8x10.

L

I have a Zone VI, later model after Calumet bought Zone VI. The negative carrier is glassless, straight out, pulls film flat. VC cold light with a Metrolux II integrating timer. It's lovely. I got this and another Zone VI for a couple hundred bucks from a place that wanted them Gone!

I would love to find a nice Devere, but the Zone VI fits my needs perfectly.

Somewhat related question: If I wanted to print 8x10 with the fill film border included, which I usually do, do most 8x10 enlargers allow this? Or do you specifically have to step up to 10x10?

My little story on the film rebate. I was in art school when the Avedon book came out with the 8x10 prints showing the rebate. I remember saying to my friends, 'some day I'll shoot 8x10, but only if I have some way to enlarge it like the Avedon prints. '

Fast forward 30 years and I got a top of the line 10x10 Durst, but the glass carrier is only just 10" across. Almost no room to show the rebate. I couldn't believe Avedon's team struggled with micro-precision to get that whole rebate. Then I saw the enlarger he used. It was one-size bigger. It seems that is the case with just about any film format; to show the rebate easily you need an enlarger one-size bigger.

Attachment 203577

Having posted that above, here is a photograph of a 11x14 print from 8x10 negative. It took maybe 15 minutes of fiddling just to get that border making the print. With image size changes during focusing, and getting the blades to just crop the edges cleanly and getting it all centered. Yes, I did it, but I can't see doing that for every print. Maybe it does not bother you but the actual film edge is NOT included in my print. I am forced to cropping into the rebate on the 10" side, and therefore cropping into the rebate on top and bottom to try to make it even. So without seeing the film edge, getting the black border even on all 4 sides is very difficult. As you can see it is not even all around.

Attachment 203578

Ugh, so annoying! Well at least I’d be able to easily do it with 57 and 45.

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Originally Posted by ic-racer

Having posted that above, here is a photograph of a 11x14 print from 8x10 negative. It took maybe 15 minutes of fiddling just to get that border making the print. With image size changes during focusing, and getting the blades to just crop the edges cleanly and getting it all centered. Yes, I did it, but I can't see doing that for every print. Maybe it does not bother you but the actual film edge is NOT included in my print. I am forced to cropping into the rebate on the 10" side, and therefore cropping into the rebate on top and bottom to try to make it even. So without seeing the film edge, getting the black border even on all 4 sides is very difficult. As you can see it is not even all around.

Attachment 203578

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That's a beautiful print. No way I can show the edges with my Zone VI. I guess a strong case for contact prints if one requires everything, then how do you matt it?
Again beautiful print.

Many years later after first seeing Avedon's work, and getting my own 8x10 enarger, I read this:

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Negatives also required work, either with re- touching, to block off the background so that it would remain white, or with [printing] masks, to give cropped images the black border that was Avedon’s signature. --- The Making of In the American West
Article in Journal of the American Institute for Conservation · December 2008 DOI: 10.1179/019713608804539574

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Of course Ruedi Hofmann would know, but the black borders on his print look too perfect to be the actual rebate from the snake handler negative.

Attachment 203593

I will say however that my black border obsession is kind of a crutch. I really should get over it. With the exception of some old school folks a la Avedon, none of my current favorite photographers print that way. Plus the border is not worth throwing out a winning image because I flubbed the horizon line slightly.

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Originally Posted by ic-racer

many years later after first seeing avedon's work, and getting my own 8x10 enarger, i read this:



Of course ruedi hofmann would know, but the black borders on his print look too perfect to be the actual rebate from the snake handler negative.

Attachment 203593

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scandal.

So lets just say you are willing to drive a thousand miles away for a DeVere 8x10. Where do you find them. I can't find any on ebay or craigslist.

Matt into the print is my way

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Originally Posted by Duolab123

That's a beautiful print. No way I can show the edges with my Zone VI. I guess a strong case for contact prints if one requires everything, then how do you matt it?
Again beautiful print.

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Originally Posted by Andy F

So lets just say you are willing to drive a thousand miles away for a DeVere 8x10. Where do you find them. I can't find any on ebay or craigslist.

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It’s all a matter of luck and patience! Where are you located?