Beseler 45V-XL - Head options for B&W

slodat · Wednesday at 6:02 PM

Hello. I'm new to the forum. I'm putting together my first darkroom for black and white medium format (for now) film and print processing. I'm looking at buying what looks like a nice condition Beseler 45V-XL with the Universal 45 head and controller. I've been reading on here and the other usual places for days hoping to not make a mistake buying this enlarger and the old head ends up with control/electronics issues. I welcome input on if this is a good enlarger to start with, options should I run into an issue, and whatever else you want to throw my way. I'm in the inland Pacific NW if that helps at all.

Thanks in advance!

Edited to add: there's what appears to be a very nice Zone VI-Cold Light enlarger further away if that's a better option.

MattKing · Wednesday at 6:25 PM

Welcome to Photrio.
In case you don't have this already, here is Beseler's current website: https://www.beselerphoto.com/

GregY · Wednesday at 6:35 PM

slodat said:
Hello. I'm new to the forum. I'm putting together my first darkroom for black and white medium format (for now) film and print processing. I'm looking at buying what looks like a nice condition Beseler 45V-XL with the Universal 45 head and controller. I've been reading on here and the other usual places for days hoping to not make a mistake buying this enlarger and the old head ends up with control/electronics issues. I welcome input on if this is a good enlarger to start with, options should I run into an issue, and whatever else you want to throw my way. I'm in the inland Pacific NW if that helps at all.

Thanks in advance!

Edited to add: there's what appears to be a very nice Zone VI-Cold Light enlarger further away if that's a better option.

I have a Beseler 45MXT with a Zone VI variable contrast head. It's been a gem, but if/when it fails, Aristo is no longer in business so cold light tubes will be pretty much impossible to get.

mshchem · Wednesday at 6:41 PM

I use the Universal heads for color and VC, Yes these are buggy. I have no problems with the ones that work
The Zone VI VC heads, the latest version work fine with a proper timer.

Basically you need to buy a chassis, I've been using the Beseler 45 MT machines forever. Then select a lighthouse.

The 23c is less expensive if you're not planning to go to 4x5.

The only absolutely foolproof lighthouse is the original condenser head, which work great with everything.

slodat · Wednesday at 6:54 PM

mshchem said:
I use the Universal heads for color and VC, Yes these are buggy. I have no problems with the ones that work
The Zone VI VC heads, the latest version work fine with a proper timer.

Basically you need to buy a chassis, I've been using the Beseler 45 MT machines forever. Then select a lighthouse.

The 23c is less expensive if you're not planning to go to 4x5.

The only absolutely foolproof lighthouse is the original condenser head, which work great with everything.

Would it be a good way to go to just find a good condition condenser head?

xkaes · Wednesday at 9:36 PM

Beseler gives you a lot to choose from. The bottom of this page lists details on all of their heads, but it can't tell you if you should use a condenser or diffusion or cold light or LED or....

https://www.subclub.org/fujinon/enlargers.htm

mshchem · Wednesday at 9:45 PM

slodat said:
Would it be a good way to go to just find a good condition condenser head?

This is a foolproof solution. Any condenser head made for the 4x5 MCRX, MXT , V-XL will fit. You'll need the little scale (metal ruler thing that attaches to the frame) if you want to adjust the condensers, or do the smart thing and put in the 4x5 position for everything, this is what I've done since 1973.

mshchem · Wednesday at 10:01 PM

xkaes said:
Beseler gives you a lot to choose from. The bottom of this page lists details on all of their heads, but it can't tell you if you should use a condenser or diffusion or cold light or LED or....

https://www.subclub.org/fujinon/enlargers.htm

Beseler currently sells the condenser lamp house, everything else isn't available. I absolutely love my Zone VI heads but I have all the supporting Metrolux II and Stopclock Vario timers. I wouldn't recommend this approach.

If you're patient a condenser head with the TWO glass condensers and the lamphouse will show up on Ebay for anywhere from 50 to a couple hundred dollars. Doesn't matter if the color is black or blue, the castings haven't changed in 70 years.

I would be careful about buying really old (pre 80's) enlargers unless you plan to do some basic electrical work.

You can use an ordinary 75 or 150 W light bulb (or a proper PH 111 or 212) in the condenser head, simple Ilford multigrade filters and you're in business. Buy a nice little timer (there's an advertiser/subscriber here who makes a great timer)

All you'll need is a thermometer and some trays. Go dumpster dive for bottles

mshchem · Wednesday at 10:02 PM

GregY said:
I have a Beseler 45MXT with a Zone VI variable contrast head. It's been a gem, but if/when it fails, Aristo is no longer in business so cold light tubes will be pretty much impossible to get.

I've got these as well, but if something happens I would be out of business.

xkaes · Thursday at 12:42 PM

mshchem said:
If you're patient a condenser head with the TWO glass condensers and the lamphouse will show up on Ebay for anywhere from 50 to a couple hundred dollars. Doesn't matter if the color is black or blue, the castings haven't changed in 70 years.

While the paint (gray, blue or black) doesn't matter, not all Beseler condenser heads are the same -- as pointed out in the link above. For example, some have a filter draw, some don't.

mshchem · Thursday at 12:50 PM

xkaes said:
While the paint (gray, blue or black) doesn't matter, not all Beseler condenser heads are the same -- as pointed out in the link above. For example, some have a filter draw, some don't.

Link doesn't work. Everything but a CB7 head will work with the enlarger mentioned

mshchem · Thursday at 1:18 PM

THE UNIVERSAL HEADS THAT I USE 90% OF THE TIME. ONE SETUP FOR VC, ONE FOR COLOR. THESE THINGS ARE NOTORIOUS FOR SOFTWARE AND HARDWARE GLITCHES. MINE WORK, BUT I HAVE BACKUPS. THE CONDESER HEAD SHOWN IS ON A BACKUP UNIT. I HAVE 5 OF THESE ENLARGERS. THE DICHRO S HEADS CAN BE MADE TO WORK FINE, BUT THESE (ALMOST) ALWAYS REQUIRE AN OPTOISOLATOR BE REPLACED. ALL THIS STUFF IS DECIDEDLY 20TH CENTURY TECHNOLOGY. THERE'S COMPANIES THAT MAKE LED LIGHT SOURCES, BUT THAT A WHOLE NEW KETTLE OF FISH

ntenny · Thursday at 1:57 PM

xkaes said:
While the paint (gray, blue or black) doesn't matter, not all Beseler condenser heads are the same -- as pointed out in the link above. For example, some have a filter draw, some don't.

But the condenser sections with and without the filter drawer are interchangeable. I’m pretty sure the original statement is right in the sense that all 45-series condenser heads are cross-compatible.

-NT

xkaes · Thursday at 2:29 PM

mshchem said:
Link doesn't work. Everything but a CB7 head will work with the enlarger mentioned

The CB7 heads can be used on any other Beseler 4x5 enlarger -- with their smaller condenser, of course. All that is needed are three 1/4" thick rubber gaskets to fit over the three 1/4" locking bolts. These were supplied with the Beseler Point Light Source, but are easy to replace with similar-sized household faucet gaskets.

As to the link, try a different browser or security settings.

xkaes · Thursday at 2:38 PM

ntenny said:
But the condenser sections with and without the filter drawer are interchangeable. I’m pretty sure the original statement is right in the sense that all 45-series condenser heads are cross-compatible.

They are interchangeable, but they are not the same. The #4508 condenser lacks the filter draw that is in between the two condenser elements on other condensers. That may or may not matter in this case -- I'm just correcting an earlier statement that "they are all the same". Interchangeable? Yes. The same? No.

mshchem · Thursday at 6:16 PM

xkaes said:
They are interchangeable, but they are not the same. The #4508 condenser lacks the filter draw that is in between the two condenser elements on other condensers. That may or may not matter in this case -- I'm just correcting an earlier statement that "they are all the same". Interchangeable? Yes. The same? No.

Well sure, but no one uses the filter drawer except maybe me ,back in the old days when I told my Dad that my girlfriend Becky and I were "printing". Lovely girl, after me her mother found her a nice fellow. She married the man, been married for over 40 years.

I seem to have strayed from the original topic.

If you're going to use the Ilford under the lens contrast filters any old crusty head will work.

MattKing · Thursday at 6:29 PM

mshchem said:
I seem to have strayed from the original topic.

Moderator hat on:
"You Think?
Hat off.
Does anyone know whether Beseler has ceased production of the new LED based head - still listed on the Beseler website - or whether they are just between production runs?

cjbecker · Thursday at 7:43 PM

My main enlarger is now a 45v-xl with an adapter bracket too fit an Omega Super Chromega D Dichroic II head. It was the head I was already using on a omega d2 chassis but when I got the 45v-xl it came with the standard condenser lamp house, I already was use too the omega head so I bought the adaptor. I much prefer diffusion over condenser heads.

mshchem · Thursday at 8:25 PM

MattKing said:
Moderator hat on:
"You Think?
Hat off.
Does anyone know whether Beseler has ceased production of the new LED based head - still listed on the Beseler website - or whether they are just between production runs?

I've seen the LED head listed as discontinued. Not sure.

mshchem · Thursday at 8:31 PM

This is on my wish list

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1762597-REG/catlabs_45mxled_heiland_beseler_4_x.html

xkaes · Thursday at 9:19 PM

mshchem said:
Well sure, but no one uses the filter drawer except maybe me

I doubt that you and I are the only ones that put VC, and other, "filters" in the filter draw.

mshchem · Thursday at 9:29 PM

xkaes said:
I doubt that you and I are the only ones that put VC, and other, "filters" in the filter draw.

I haven't for 30 years. But I used a lot of Kodak graded paper, Ektalure, one grade and good old Medalist F-2 DW.

My first dichroic head was a used Beseler monster with the external blower with a flexible vinyl hose for cooling. That was an awesome colorhead!

Nothing wrong with acetate filters if they're in good shape and trustworthy.

The modern Foma and Ilford papers are fantastic!!!! Nothing better. MHOFWIW YMMV

xkaes · Friday at 9:54 AM

Some prefer VC filters above the lens instead of below it -- but that's an entirely different discussion/debate/thread.

aoresteen · Friday at 10:00 AM

I have a Beseler 57MOT enlarger and 3 Beseler 23C enlargers One 23C is a "parts" enlarger in case I ever need parts.

The 5x7 Beseler came from the factory with a cold light head made by Aristo.

My main 23C is an original model with the motor lift and the extension base. It had Aristo cold light head but 20 years ago I purchased a Beseler VC III head. It is my main B&W enlarger. I have been using this enlarger since 1981.

The second 23CXL has the the 23C III Dichro Color head.

I do not like condenser heads. Neither did Ansel Adams/Fred Picker/et al. For B&W cold light produces better prints IMHO. It is well worth the effort to track down a cold light head for your enlarger,

The history of the Beseler 23C is on my site:

https://www.oresteen.com/bess23c.htm

To upgrade an older 23C to use the new(er) III heads here is the parts list needed:

https://www.oresteen.com/Bess23C_conv%20parts.htm

Here's a list of the Beseler 45 negative carriers:

https://www.oresteen.com/bes%2045%20carriers.htm

My website security certificate has expired so you might get a "danger" warning. It something I will have to fix when I get back to the USA (we are on an Iceland/Greenland/Canada cruise right now. The site is safe - ignore the warning.

xkaes · Friday at 10:19 AM

I'll add a link to your webpage about Beseler 45 negative carriers on my webpage about Beseler 4x5 enlargers & heads (above).

Beseler 45V-XL - Head options for B&W

Moderator

Moderator

Attachments

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency