Anybody use the Bessler/Minolta 45a color head?

[stantheman13]

I suddenly have one at my disposal...everything works except the unit here doesn't have the plug-in analyzer. Is this necessary to have in order to just make color prints? It's a pretty unusual piece of equipment....using flash tubes for exposures.

[Erik Larsen]

An Epileptic fit waiting to happen

It's a slick little unit and you don't need to use the analyzer. Color or black and white it can handle. I couldn't get over the flashing output which is something you'll have to get used to.

Erik

[Brian Ellis]

I used one for several years. Actually I used the third generation which dropped "Minolta" from the label but it was otherwise identical to the second generation, both of which had some differences from the first generation but I don't remember what they were). It's a very nice unit for color (usable but not IMHO ideal for b&w too) but I'm not sure about the availability of bulbs for it today.

I don't see why it couldn't be used without the "analyzer" (it actually was more than just a standard analyzer IIRC). A guy named Darryl C. Nicholas wrote the manual and was the 45A guru back in the day. Beseler also named him as the parts and repair source after Beseler dropped the 45A. But that was a long time ago and I don't know if he's still around. He made a video for the 45A that I found very useful, he also made some accessories for it, you might stumble across some of this stuff on ebay.

If you have a chance to get a used "analyzer" I'd grab it. I seem to recall that it made using the unit a lot easier and allowed you to do some things that you couldn't do without it or that would be harder to do without it though I could be wrong, it's been about 15 years since I used mine.

[stantheman13]

Yea, the flashing would be a concern for some people! Also, for those who are used to printing with a standard cmyk filter set-up.....this unit seems to use three color adjustments only. Brian, did you find printing with this gave you similar results compared to more traditional color heads? So the analyzer is useful, but not necessary?

[danno@cnwl.igs]

I used one, for a couple of years, with the analyzing unit. An amazing setup, I eventually found it far too sophisticated for my ( purely amateur ) needs. While I did, at times, use it without the analyzer, for printing B&W, I was much more interested in the colour process. Additive printing is different from dichroic-based subtractive printing, and has a rather intuitive logic. But, between the constant - and long-drawn-out - flicker/flashing; the cost and rarity of flash tubes; and the lack of experienced support in the use of the unit, I found it too advanced for my interest, so sold it. I was more interested in the product than the process.

[emmett]

I've had two since the late 90s. It's a very intuitive system as you add what's needed. Need more red, add more red. I never used the probe. I found I was always where I needed to be within 2-3 test strips. The most annoying part of the 45A is the focussing. It has a separate flashing focus tube that is limited to 30 seconds or so. So every time you focus you feel the pressure to get your negative focused before the flashing stops. If you hit the focus too many times you can overheat the system. As Brian mentions Darryl Nicholas is the guy for this system. His company is Colorbat and its still in business although they no longer focus on the 45A.

http://colorbat.com/search.php

Good luck and it is great for B&W as well.

[Brian Ellis]

Yea, the flashing would be a concern for some people! Also, for those who are used to printing with a standard cmyk filter set-up.....this unit seems to use three color adjustments only. Brian, did you find printing with this gave you similar results compared to more traditional color heads? So the analyzer is useful, but not necessary?

The 45A was the only color head I ever used so I can't compare but I thought the results were fine. I can't imagine that once you learn how to use it any other system would produce better color prints. It's just a matter of learning to use it to best advantage. I stopped using it only because I started doing b&w exclusively and I thought a more traditional light source would be better for b&w. The flashing didn't bother me, the flashes were so quick they seemed almost like a constant light.

One problem that danno points out is that it can be difficult to find answers to questions because it's an unusual system and I doubt that many are still in use. That's why I found Darryl Nicholas' video so useful.

[Tracy Storer]

Ah, the Disco Head ! It's been many years, but I loved printing with those things. I did not us the analyzer.

[EdSawyer]

It's a great head. I have at least 5 or 6 of them. I use one regularly for my color printing. They were very expensive new, $2500+. I mainly use it without the analyzer, as I have standardized on paper and film so for the most part prints are almost dead-on right away without needing much adjustment. I used the analyzer a lot when working at a newspaper and having shots on different film and to different papers. Tubes are new-old-stock, but they last quite a while. I'd not worry about that for some time. It's a great head, perhaps the most sophisticated and best color head ever, for the format it was designed for. Really large prints require a fair bit of exposure, which can get long with this head since the light output is not as high as some continuous heads. But, it makes up for it with the ease of use, adjustability, better filtration than dichroic, additive color options, etc.

I have all the manuals (including the colorbat info) posted as a zip file here: http://pubpages.unh.edu/~eme39/beseler_45A_manual.zip

[Jan Pedersen]

I use the 45A and find it to be easy to use when it is dialed in for a specific color film. It only takes one maybe two test exposures to get the colors right after that.
The flashing output does not bother me much but it certainly is different than a other enlargers. Can't compare as this is the only color head i have. When i print B&W i prefer to put the condenser head on and use filters.
Actually have a spare unit and a few new tubes that are now hard to find.