Closed Loop Heads: Pros and Cons?

[DanielStone]

hey all,

I've been watching out for this setup for a while, but with no current space for it in my parents house :angry:, it would be in storage for a while.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Devere-504-Enla...emQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3ca71cda4e

I don't print much color, but when I do, I really want the best quality that I can get. I've been shooting quite a bit of 4x5 400nc lately(got a good deal from a photog leaving LF) and have been enjoying it thoroughly.

being though that it supposedly can be used for both b/w and color, that was my main idea, eventually getting a small tabletop ra-4 processor. I usually don't print big, 11x14 is usally my biggest paper size. Sometimes I cut a 12 or 24" roll down for panoramics. This is rare though.

What are some of the pros and cons of a closed loop system, I've read on numerous sites that CL systems are brighter, generally a stop or two more than conventional heads, and they are more accurate, and repeatable color. This is what led me to wait for this. Well, the DeVere 504 isn't a bad platform anyhow in any regard .

thoughts and ideas? I'd have to arrange to get a southwest flight up to montana from So. Cal, and truck it back, but I think it might be worth it.

Any ideas?

What about these vs. a standard diffusion enlarger(beseler 45v-xl?)
Remember, this would probably be put into storage for a while, so I can't really work with it right now .

thanks

Dan

 

[Chan Tran]

CL has nothing to do with brightness. It has sensors to measure the light output and automatically adjust the filter to keep the value of the light constant.

 

[DanielStone]

ok, so it was probably designed with large-throughput, commercial labs in mind?

 

[AgX]

To my understanding it is about repeatabilty.
However, a halogen lamp should merely alter its output and colour over its lifetime. And feed voltage variations should already be compensated for a part by the transformer-unit.
I guess this is an issue of darkroom power supply and its consistency.

 

[ic-racer]

I have 2 closed loop 4x5 enlargers and 4 heads total. They are overkill for MG printing but are very nice.

Cons: I can't think of any... (but one of my other pastimes is "(there was a url link here which no longer exists)" )

 

[Peter De Smidt]

The downside is the complexity.

 

[Martin Aislabie]

The DeVere shown is B&W only

For colour work you would need to different head.

When I bought my 5x4 Enlarger I steered clear of anything complex and went for the KISS approach

Martin

 

[perkeleellinen]

KISS?

 

[Peter De Smidt]

Keep It Simple Silly. I agree with Martin, unless your other hobby is repairing electronics

 

[DanielStone]

peter,

definitely not . but I'm willing to learn, as long as replacement parts are dirt cheap and plentiful .

I'm passing on it though. my money has to go to something better right now especially since my finances are super tight

-Dan

 

[ic-racer]

Your best bet for a mechanical 4x5 head is a Chromega. I just overhauled one. They are built very well and in the USA they are very plentiful.
You can get a chassis to put it on for free if you look enough.
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

 

[DanielStone]

sorry ic-racer,

I'm going to end up having to wait.

1. don't have the space to store an enlarger right now, can't even think of using one at home right now ;(
2. I'll consider that. I have some saved searches on the bay for devere and durst 4x5 enlargers. So one day the right one might come about. I'll use it for b/w only though.

thanks

Dan