Darkroom Automation f-Stop Timer is available again.

[Nicholas Lindan]

The Darkroom Automation f-Stop Timer is available again, see - http://www.darkroomautomation.com/da-main.htm

 

[MattKing]

Congratulations Nicholas.
And just in time for Christmas!

 

[brian steinberger]

I have one of these timers I’ve been using for years. Such a great tool!

 

[radiant]

Well done Nicholas, f-stop printing is so good.

Idea: release EU-version (230V) and hook up with Kamerastore + Fotoimpex for European distribution.

 

[awty]

Nice work.
X 2 on 230vlt version

 

[Marco Buonocore]

Just want to chime in to say that I bought one of these in 2009, and not a day goes by in the darkroom where I don't appreciate it. In fact, in 2017 I bought a used one off ebay as a backup because I realized how much I relied on it for my printing. I've used plenty of timers in my life, including the RH Designs ones, and the Darkroom Automation fstop timer is in a different class. I couldn't rate it higher - it's perfect.

 

[logan2z]

I've used plenty of timers in my life, including the RH Designs ones, and the Darkroom Automation fstop timer is in a different class.

Could you elaborate on what makes the Darkroom Automation timer outclass the RH Designs timers?

 

[mshchem]

Looks great, congratulations, I'm sure there's a robust market for such a device!

 

[Marco Buonocore]

Could you elaborate on what makes the Darkroom Automation timer outclass the RH Designs timers?

Hey, that's a good question: for me, the elegance in the design of the DA timer was the big difference. 4 buttons, and you could do everything you need. It's ease of use in the dark was second to none - I found it to be very intuitive, my fingers can just fly around the "keyboard" without even looking at them. You can make moves fast, if that makes sense. I borrowed an Analyzer Pro for a few weeks and thought it was clunky to use in practice. There's no denying that the RH Designs is nice and solid, and the buttons have a good feel to them. Both timers are made very well.

I also very much appreciate that the DA timer is a "pure" fstop timer, in that the exposures are measured strictly in stops. I don't care about seconds when I'm printing; not one bit. If I want to burn the sky in half a stop, I quickly click through to +0.5 - easy. Once I started thinking in this manner, my prints came quicker and better. The RH Designs timer still wanted to tell me the seconds value, and that slowed everything down to me.

My best prints are made when I'm not even thinking about the equipment; just balancing the light, and reacting to a negative. I know everyone prints differently - I've worked with a lot of printers over the years. But it boils down to the fact that with the DA Timer, I don't even know I'm using it. With the RH Designs I was getting held up.

I'm really happy Mr. Lindan is making them again. I've got no affiliation with him, it's just super nice equipment.

 

[craigclu]

I'm rather comfortable with the timers I have (Wallner, Metrolux, GraLab) but have been intrigued with these over the years. I have one of their enlarging meters so I'm already in their camp a bit. My enlarging lenses are optimized for wider apertures. Has anyone used one of these timers with APO optics and did it prove to be a challenge to use in the manner it was designed for?

 

[Pieter12]

Wish this had been available when I bought the RH timer. Although the previous post about reading out in seconds doesn't really apply because the adjustments are made in 1/12, 1/6, 1/3, 1/4 and 1/2 stops, not in seconds. There is just not the readout in stops. But I have found my RH timer to be finicky inasmuch as the exposure button, which also serves as a channel switch for split-grade printing, does not reliably switch channels and often starts the timer instead. Frustrating to say the least and I don't want to go to the expense of sending it back to the possible black hole of having it repaired by the manufacturer in England, so I live with it. If I hadn't funded the MAYA timer (still waiting), I would be all over buying Mr Lindan's timer.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

... I have found my RH timer to be finicky inasmuch as the exposure button, which also serves as a channel switch for split-grade printing, does not reliably switch channels and often starts the timer instead.

Have you tried prying the button cap off and spritzing in some contact cleaner? Keep the button plunger depressed so you can get the cleaner inside the button mechanism. I confess, I don't know how pryable the button caps are (or even if they are pryable) - so if the cap does come off easily I wouldn't force things.

 

[Pieter12]

Have you tried prying the button cap off and spritzing in some contact cleaner? Keep the button plunger depressed so you can get the cleaner inside the button mechanism. I confess, I don't know how pryable the button caps are (or even if they are pryable) - so if the cap does come off easily I wouldn't force things.

I will try right now. Thanks.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

Has anyone used one of these timers with APO optics and did it prove to be a challenge to use in the manner it was designed for?

Well, yes, I have - not much of a surprise, I imagine. I don't know why an APO lens would have any bearing; the exposure times are shorter but no different than when you are making small prints.

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

X 2 on 230vlt version

The timer is available in 230V/50Hz. It does come with US style outlets though, so you will need to use plug adapters.

If demand is high enough I will make a version with IEC outlets.

 

[craigclu]

Well, yes, I have - not much of a surprise, I imagine. I don't know why an APO lens would have any bearing; the exposure times are shorter but no different than when you are making small prints.

Only that their sweet spot is so wide open and I couldn't picture whether the timer would have incremental issues in that part of the lens controls. It might work fine and I'm just curious about anyone dealing with the issue. My small brain can deal with 0.1 second intervals but was concerned about that sort of ƒ stop control in the narrow range that I like to function in. Some of my hesitation/question is from my comfort level with how I've done things, I imagine. I'm one of the odd guys that got a handle on the Wallner gear, where each batch of paper would develop an index for max black and one could work backwards from that by measuring the contrast range of the negative and with minimal practice, get a solid print on the first try. I don't tend to do quantity printing anymore and the gear is getting dated so I was looking for some replacement ideas. I lost my darkroom for a couple of years and am just getting re-set so I was following my curiosity for possible new gear. I'm 70 and find I'm not so adaptable these days! BTW, I've got your enlarging meter and that will be following me back into the dark and it looks the trick so far.

 

[Pieter12]

Only that their sweet spot is so wide open and I couldn't picture whether the timer would have incremental issues in that part of the lens controls. It might work fine and I'm just curious about anyone dealing with the issue. My small brain can deal with 0.1 second intervals but was concerned about that sort of ƒ stop control in the narrow range that I like to function in. Some of my hesitation/question is from my comfort level with how I've done things, I imagine. I'm one of the odd guys that got a handle on the Wallner gear, where each batch of paper would develop an index for max black and one could work backwards from that by measuring the contrast range of the negative and with minimal practice, get a solid print on the first try. I don't tend to do quantity printing anymore and the gear is getting dated so I was looking for some replacement ideas. I lost my darkroom for a couple of years and am just getting re-set so I was following my curiosity for possible new gear. I'm 70 and find I'm not so adaptable these days! BTW, I've got your enlarging meter and that will be following me back into the dark and it looks the trick so far.

Maybe you are confused about f-stop timing. The time steps are in f-stop increments. The f-stop on the lens has nothing to do with it.

 

[craigclu]

Maybe you are confused about f-stop timing. The time steps are in f-stop increments. The f-stop on the lens has nothing to do with it.

Yes, I'm easily confused! Especially from stepping away a bit. I'll order one as I'm always about $300 away from true happiness!

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

(I) can deal with 0.1 second intervals but was concerned about that sort of ƒ stop control in the narrow range that I like to function in.

Well the timer controls to 8.3333 milliseconds - 1/2 the period of a 60Hz power sine wave. The maximum error is four 1/1000's of a second.

An f-stop timer works with the logarithm of the time and so the 'fine-ness' of the setting is constant. The setting precision in going from 0.0 stops of time (1.0 seconds) to 0.1 stops (1.07 seconds) is 7%; when going from 4.0 stops of time (16.0 seconds) to 4.1 stops of time (17.15 seconds) the setting precision is same 7%.

 

[awty]

The timer is available in 230V/50Hz. It does come with US style outlets though, so you will need to use plug adapters.

If demand is high enough I will make a version with IEC outlets.

Thats great to know.
If Im in the market for another timer in the future it will need to come with IEC outlets or be easy to convert. Adaptors are a pain.

 

[mshchem]

I've got Zone VI VC lights on a couple of my enlargers. I use Metrolux II units with the sensor. If I want to use f stop timing I have a chart or a phone app. A pain!! If I get involved with an LED source I will definitely be looking into real F stop timer. I may just buy one to have. So good to see this happening.
Best Regards Mike

 

[logan2z]

Hey, that's a good question: for me, the elegance in the design of the DA timer was the big difference. 4 buttons, and you could do everything you need. It's ease of use in the dark was second to none - I found it to be very intuitive, my fingers can just fly around the "keyboard" without even looking at them. You can make moves fast, if that makes sense. I borrowed an Analyzer Pro for a few weeks and thought it was clunky to use in practice. There's no denying that the RH Designs is nice and solid, and the buttons have a good feel to them. Both timers are made very well.

I also very much appreciate that the DA timer is a "pure" fstop timer, in that the exposures are measured strictly in stops. I don't care about seconds when I'm printing; not one bit. If I want to burn the sky in half a stop, I quickly click through to +0.5 - easy. Once I started thinking in this manner, my prints came quicker and better. The RH Designs timer still wanted to tell me the seconds value, and that slowed everything down to me.

My best prints are made when I'm not even thinking about the equipment; just balancing the light, and reacting to a negative. I know everyone prints differently - I've worked with a lot of printers over the years. But it boils down to the fact that with the DA Timer, I don't even know I'm using it. With the RH Designs I was getting held up.

I'm really happy Mr. Lindan is making them again. I've got no affiliation with him, it's just super nice equipment.

Thanks for the response. I've got an RH Designs Analyzer Pro which I really like, but the DA timer looks really nice as well. Always good to see more darkroom-related equipment being manufactured.

 

[MattKing]

I wonder if my wife is trying to figure out what to get me for Christmas .....?

 

[Nicholas Lindan]

Free Footswitch The Darkroom Automation f-stop timer now comes with a free footswitch as part of the reintroduction campaign. This offer expires when I run out of footswitches...

Don't forget - f-stop timers make dandy Halloween and Thanksgiving gifts, along with being ideal gifts to leave under the tree.

 

[craigclu]

I rec'd my timer yesterday and it seems very well made and is quite substantial. I'm anxious to get some command of it. The manual seems clear and well organized. I hope others commit and reward those folks innovating and producing into our special interests! He even included a foot switch that was not part of the offerings when I ordered. Thank you, Nicholas!