Crowdfunded darkroom timer

[MattKing]

I'm not sure what this says about me, but I dreamed about this last night.
One thing that isn't given as much prominence as I would like is its ability to use a foot-switch, and in particular details about the connection.
As far as I can see, none of the initial offerings includes a foot-switch, and I consider a foot-switch to be invaluable. Hand remotes aren't the same because, well, they don't free up your hands!
I spent significant money with KHB to buy a customized foot-switch for my 400 series Multigrade head - they matter to me.

 

[Chan Tran]

I'm not sure what this says about me, but I dreamed about this last night.
One thing that isn't given as much prominence as I would like is its ability to use a foot-switch, and in particular details about the connection.
As far as I can see, none of the initial offerings includes a foot-switch, and I consider a foot-switch to be invaluable. Hand remotes aren't the same because, well, they don't free up your hands!
I spent significant money with KHB to buy a customized foot-switch for my 400 series Multigrade head - they matter to me.

I print only color on RA-4 paper. When I do 4 4x5 prints on a sheet of 8x10, I have the timer set up for 4 different times and I have the push buttons at the base of my Beseler CB-7. Each time I push I have a different time settings.

 

[MattKing]

I print only color on RA-4 paper. When I do 4 4x5 prints on a sheet of 8x10, I have the timer set up for 4 different times and I have the push buttons at the base of my Beseler CB-7. Each time I push I have a different time settings.

It is the dodging and burning that I do that makes me foot-switch dependent - I use both hands!
One work-around function that can partially replace a foot-switch is to permit a standard delay before start - 3 seconds works well.

 

[fiddle]

Most foot pedals are fairly simple. Just a short to trip the input, Im assuming it would be something similar.I remember him saying one is in the works along with the other button triggers. Maybe as an accessory?
I actually use a guitar pedal to trip mine now.... lol
as long as the switch has a normally open and normally closed position, usually should work.

 

[MattKing]

Most foot pedals are fairly simple. Just a short to trip the input, Im assuming it would be something similar.I remember him saying one is in the works along with the other button triggers. Maybe as an accessory?
I actually use a guitar pedal to trip mine now.... lol
as long as the switch has a normally open and normally closed position, usually should work.

Yes - but the connection can be the issue. My old Ilford Multigrade controller only offered a vintage, England from the last century connection - thus the cost for the custom solution.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

I'm not sure what this says about me, but I dreamed about this last night.
One thing that isn't given as much prominence as I would like is its ability to use a foot-switch, and in particular details about the connection.
As far as I can see, none of the initial offerings includes a foot-switch, and I consider a foot-switch to be invaluable. Hand remotes aren't the same because, well, they don't free up your hands!
I spent significant money with KHB to buy a customized foot-switch for my 400 series Multigrade head - they matter to me.

Foot switch will be offered, but he says that for the time being ay of the switches can be used for same operation. I'm not actually sure it would work all that well as foot switch needs to have the real estate for comfort. At any rate it isn't offered in initial packages but is mant to be available.

 

[obican]

One of the initial remote offerings (medium sized one) can be used as a footswitch as it'll be large and sturdy enough. The reason I'm not offering a footswitch at this moment is because I haven't been able to come up with a reasonably priced and likeable footswitch so far. I'm hoping to solve this issue in a week or so and everyone will be offered to buy an additional footswitch or upgrade the free remote for one.

Why not just offer the footswitch option from the get go? I'm a bit concerned that it'd cost significantly more than the already-solved remote versions, so I thought it'd be best to wait a bit without delaying the project launch even further.

Right now I'm using my old Peavey guitar amp's footswitch on the prototype .

Will post an update with all the information I have to share about the remotes in a week or so, probably with a video. I really encourage people to think about the desk switches and hand triggers as those are actually easier to opera (in my experience) than footswitches since you don't have to search with your feet. Also, if you think a hand trigger wouldn't free you hand, I would kindly remind you that you can use clips to attach masks and various dodge/burn tools to the hand trigger so you won't need an extra hand to start the exposure.

In any case, I'm not into forcing everyone into a customized and epensive footswitch so all the details you'd need to build your own footswitch will be shared. I can already tell you I'm using an RCA connector (very common in audio equipment) and a very simple momentary switch will be enough. I can even offer firmware support for toggle switches but I'm not sure I'll offer support for existing guitar switches (even though those are very common) since the 1/4" connectors of those footswithces demand some considerable space inside the device.

 

[MattKing]

I would kindly remind you that you can use clips to attach masks and various dodge/burn tools to the hand trigger so you won't need an extra hand to start the exposure.

You clearly haven't watched me do my hand "dance" when I do 90% of my dodging and burning - interlocked hands only.
It probably is more relevant to me than others, but I only have one hand that has the required dexterity to push a button in a timely and predictable manner.
If a foot-switch offering is a challenge, incorporating a switchable delay of something like 3 seconds permits using a switch and then positioning one's hands before the light comes on.
But for a print with a dozen or more individual dodging and burning steps, a foot-switch is much, much better.

 

[Pieter12]

It looks like you should be able to add a standard Grab foot switch along with a 1/8" to RCA adapter. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod...mZSMctei6Jftk0aAtugEALw_wcB&lsft=BI:514&smp=Y

 

[obican]

It looks like you should be able to add a standard Grab foot switch along with a 1/8" to RCA adapter. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/20998-REG/GraLab_GR560_Model_560_Footswitch_for.html/?ap=y&gclid=Cj0KCQiAzKnjBRDPARIsAKxfTRCR9-TUUVE7NSBKc8jtGH7U1ywsr5UJoJBvUWZv_mZSMctei6Jftk0aAtugEALw_wcB&lsft=BI:514&smp=Y

Yes, that would work.

 

[obican]

Here's a short video explaining how the menus work. Will start experimenting with a different LCD (128x64) soon so everything may get rewritten. Enjoy.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

What is latest on shipping purchased units?

 

[ballisticone]

I still wait for mine. The delivery date is in Aug. but it almost end of the year now still not shipping.

 

[ParkerSmithPhoto]

I watched the video here and it frankly looks like a case of trying to do too much with one tool. I don't need a timer for film development. You can do that with an iPhone app, or just a GraLab timer. Temp compensation not needed either, just use a water bath.

Someone needs to start a fundraiser to get Nicholas to produce another run of these incredible timers.

 

[punkzter]

He has had some setbacks. They are detailed on the campaign page. I think that his original timeline was too optimistic, but I have every reason to believe that the final product will be worth the wait.

 

[etn]

I watched the video here and it frankly looks like a case of trying to do too much with one tool. I don't need a timer for film development. You can do that with an iPhone app, or just a GraLab timer. Temp compensation not needed either, just use a water bath.

Someone needs to start a fundraiser to get Nicholas to produce another run of these incredible timers.

Have a look at this, it’s probably similar to the timer you are mentioning :
http://www.rhdesigns.co.uk/darkroom/html/analyser_pro.html
This one has an exposure meter. There is a version without meter (i.e. timer only)

 

[Peter Schrager]

I watched the video here and it frankly looks like a case of trying to do too much with one tool. I don't need a timer for film development. You can do that with an iPhone app, or just a GraLab timer. Temp compensation not needed either, just use a water bath.

Someone needs to start a fundraiser to get Nicholas to produce another run of these incredible timers.

finished with enlarger timers... I use a foot switch and a metronome....much better in my humble opinion!

 

[fiddle]

He just updated the indigogo page today with an update. It seems as all the kinks have been ironed out, hes assembling them ready to ship out soon.

 

[ParkerSmithPhoto]

Have a look at this, it’s probably similar to the timer you are mentioning :
http://www.rhdesigns.co.uk/darkroom/html/analyser_pro.html
This one has an exposure meter. There is a version without meter (i.e. timer only)

Thanks I already own the Darkroom Automation timer, and it is utterly amazing. It's a shame they are out of production. I think every darkroom printer would get 100% better with a few hours experience with an f-stop timer.

 

[choiliefan]

For me its the deceptively simple sophistication of the Unicolor Jingle-Bell timer for film.
Time-O-Lite Master at the enlarger and wall-mounted Gralab 300 for printing.

 

[Pieter12]

For me its the deceptively simple sophistication of the Unicolor Jingle-Bell timer for film.
Time-O-Lite Master at the enlarger and wall-mounted Gralab 300 for printing.

It's about the simplicity of f-stop printing, hard to do with a traditional timer.

 

[Deleted member 88956]

One of the initial remote offerings (medium sized one) can be used as a footswitch as it'll be large and sturdy enough. The reason I'm not offering a footswitch at this moment is because I haven't been able to come up with a reasonably priced and likeable footswitch so far. I'm hoping to solve this issue in a week or so and everyone will be offered to buy an additional footswitch or upgrade the free remote for one.

Why not just offer the footswitch option from the get go? I'm a bit concerned that it'd cost significantly more than the already-solved remote versions, so I thought it'd be best to wait a bit without delaying the project launch even further.

Right now I'm using my old Peavey guitar amp's footswitch on the prototype .

Will post an update with all the information I have to share about the remotes in a week or so, probably with a video. I really encourage people to think about the desk switches and hand triggers as those are actually easier to opera (in my experience) than footswitches since you don't have to search with your feet. Also, if you think a hand trigger wouldn't free you hand, I would kindly remind you that you can use clips to attach masks and various dodge/burn tools to the hand trigger so you won't need an extra hand to start the exposure.

In any case, I'm not into forcing everyone into a customized and epensive footswitch so all the details you'd need to build your own footswitch will be shared. I can already tell you I'm using an RCA connector (very common in audio equipment) and a very simple momentary switch will be enough. I can even offer firmware support for toggle switches but I'm not sure I'll offer support for existing guitar switches (even though those are very common) since the 1/4" connectors of those footswithces demand some considerable space inside the device.

As that is last post from the initiator, I am quoting it here only to say that it is almost Christmas and the least you could do is give us an update HERE, in addition to wherever you chose. To say I am disappointed at lack of follow ups on delays is being kind and generous. I can also say that while I had not expected precise timely delivery as outlined way back then, you had been quick back then responding HERE to all questions and ideas. When things don't go right, it is the other side of a venture that really shows who stands behind it, and this silence is not good at all. Even if you have all bad news described somewhere else, you never bothered stating any on this forum, and I am sure quite a few orders were placed because of this discussion.

 

[Pieter12]

I received an update a day ago through indiegogo...

 

[Deleted member 88956]

I received an update a day ago through indiegogo...

My point is : what happened to the stamina and ferocity that so on display when orders where needed? It takes no time to come into a thread that delivered actual orders.

 

[Pieter12]

Maybe you should read the indiegogo update.