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Thread: Your favorite Enlarger Timer

  1. #11

    Join Date
    May 2006
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    1,419

    Re: Your favorite Enlarger Timer

    Omega digital timer. It has an outlet for a dual pedal foot switch - one for timer, and one for focus. I almost exclusively use the focus pedal for printing with a metronome. I find timing dodges and burns easier with it. For reallllly long exposures, I'll use the timer, which goes down to tenths of a second. I use it with my Leitz V35 and Devere 504. Downside to this timer ? it's $$ for a used one, if you can even find one...sigh
    Last edited by Fred L; 2-Mar-2021 at 11:24.
    notch codes ? I only use one film...

  2. #12

    Join Date
    Dec 2014
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    Suwanee, GA
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    1,078

    Re: Your favorite Enlarger Timer

    while I like the controller for my Multigrade 500 head, I miss the simplicity of an old school timer. I learned printing working in bursts of 3-4 seconds and could change filters between increments. IE Grade 0 for 6 seconds (2x3) , grade 5 9 seconds (3x3), burn upper corners and top 2x 3 seconds. I could get really focused on dodge and burn areas for those 3 second increments vs an overall 15 seconds. A foot pedal helps keep your hands free.

    RH Designs makes some amazing products so would not hesitate to get one of their timers for any head. The also have analyzers which get you in the print time ballpark much quicker.
    The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
    http://www.searing.photography

  3. #13
    Robert Bowring
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Location
    Wauwatosa Wisconsin
    Posts
    142

    Re: Your favorite Enlarger Timer

    Kearsarge 403 for my Omega enlarger with an Aristo Variable Contrast Head. A couple of Gra Lab 300 timers. Also have a Kearsarge 301 which I used before I got the Kearsarge 403.

  4. #14

    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Collinsville, CT USA
    Posts
    2,330

    Re: Your favorite Enlarger Timer

    I use two LEKTRAs, a vertical TM-8 and a "desktop" TM 763. Have used LEKTRAs since probably around the late 1970s. Never really liked or used foot pedals. Setting and changing the times setting has become second nature to me, to the point of not usually having to look at the knob settings. The TM-8 is connected to a Leitz Focomat V35, and the TM 763 to a 4x5 DURST Laborator Ce 1000.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails LEKTRAs.jpg  

  5. #15

    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Minneapolis, MN
    Posts
    169

    Re: Your favorite Enlarger Timer

    Quote Originally Posted by Tin Can View Post
    Love the Time-O-Lite

    but I have 3 that don't work!

    and that's why I have 3, they are so cool..................................................................looking
    I have three as well. Two are the older metal ones where the needle returns to the pointer position after the exposure is complete. Those both work fine. My third one is the later plastic one and the pointer moves to the set time at the start of exposure (when the button is pressed). Sometimes the needle doesn’t make it all the way to the set time on that one so I get an incorrect exposure. That one doesn’t get used very much.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    Reid

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/rjbuzzclick/

  6. #16

    Join Date
    Feb 2021
    Posts
    48

    Re: Your favorite Enlarger Timer

    I use an old Spiratone timer, which replaced one of the little ones with a dial that I don't remember well. I found a listing for the Spiratone on eBay! It makes me remember those dense ads in the back of photo magazines! For process timing, I'm using an Amazon Echo with a black box over it: "Alexa, set a timer for 8 and a half minutes!" I was using it as backup to an old GraLab, then the GraLab stopped working.
    Click image for larger version. 

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  7. #17

    Re: Your favorite Enlarger Timer

    Quote Originally Posted by Ulophot View Post
    The Zone VI compensating enlarging timer is one of the best investments I have ever made. We have only window air-conditioners in the summer, and the timer evens out the power fluctuations that used to drive me batty. Whenever my cold light head finally gives out, I am only hopeful that, unless another becomes suddenly available, someone by then will have started producing a moderately priced LED diffusion head that either uses the same sensor apparatus, or doesn't need one.
    I have already designed and built an alternative to the Zone VI development timer. Those moderately handy could build their own:

    https://gitbucket.tundraware.com/tundra/devtimer

    I too worry about what's going to happen when my Zone VI VC head bites the dust. I've already been looking at possible ways to
    build my own using LEDs. The technology is definitely available, it's the time to design and build a prototype that is daunting.

    Heiland does make an all-LED model but the 4x5 model is $1800-ish.
    Silver Photographers Never Die, They're Just Getting Fixed

    My Stuff: https://www.tundraware.com/Photography
    Reference Material: https://photoarchive.tundraware.com/

  8. #18

    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Canmore Alberta
    Posts
    754

    Re: Your favorite Enlarger Timer

    Zone VI compensating timer rigged to the VC ZVI head sitting on my Beseler 45MXT chassis, & an ancient Time-O-Lite that manages my Durst 138.

  9. #19

    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Location
    Iowa City, Iowa
    Posts
    1,700

    Re: Your favorite Enlarger Timer

    Metrolux II integrating timer. 2 channels, works with any light source, requires a photo cell, I have Zone VI VC heads with factory cells. Closed loop system.

    I've used a Gralab 451 and 450. For me the 450 is easier, doesn't have all the advanced features.

    I've used Time O Light , bullet proof. Doesn't have the resolution of the digital timers, but if you get a good clean example, it will last forever.

    Finally I have two Beseler 45MX units mounted with the finicky Beseler Universal 45 head. Three color RGB, three lamps, two different controllers, one for color one for VC black and white. They work great but be warned there's not any support and they are finicky. Kevin Brown at KHB in Canada can work on these, but it won't be cheap. When mine go I will go back to a ordinary Beseler 45S colorhead with a Gralab 450.

  10. #20
    Eric Woodbury
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Posts
    1,637

    Re: Your favorite Enlarger Timer

    Several MetroLux, of course. For over 30 years with cold lights and now with LEDs.

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