DeVere 504 Varicontrast/Multigrade Head

emerson531 · Mar 18, 2014

I print 35mm and 6X7 with a DeVere 504 and a 250 watt "Brown & Cream " Dichromat Head (80's vintage Mk??)
fitted with a 6X7 light mixing box.

I'm considering a used 250 watt DeVere 504 Varicontrast/Multigrade Head which only has a 4X5 light box.

Should I expect significantly longer exposure times (X2 or more) because of the larger mixing box.

Does the DeVere Multigrade head have CONSTANT exposure across ALL grades?
(Unlike the Ilford Filters which need twice the exposure time for grades 4-5!)

What mixing box to you use and what exposure times do you need for 35mm for 11X14 full frame enlargements?

Based on your experience what are the Pro's and Con's

Thanks In Advance

Emerson (Ottawa Canada)

Mick Fagan · Mar 19, 2014

In another life I used the late seventies through to late eighties DeVere enlargers in a commercial environment, pretty much all of them kitted out with what your model is, the cream brown version.

Within reason we never used anything else except the 4x5" mixing box, the exception was usually when enlarging 35mm over about 1m on the long side, which is a pretty big print if printed whole.

In my own current darkroom I have exactly what you have and I keep the 4x5" mixer box in always for 4x5", 35mm, 6x7 and 6x9 negatives.

From memory, the difference is about ¼ of a stop in light gain by switching to the middle sized light box and about 1/3 of a stop in light gain for the 35mm mixer box over the 4x5" mixer box. The 35mm mixer box was (I think) a special order in Australia.

Mick.

emerson531 · Mar 19, 2014

Mick Fagan said:
In another life I used the late seventies through to late eighties DeVere enlargers in a commercial environment, pretty much all of them kitted out with what your model is, the cream brown version.

Within reason we never used anything else except the 4x5" mixing box, the exception was usually when enlarging 35mm over about 1m on the long side, which is a pretty big print if printed whole.

In my own current darkroom I have exactly what you have and I keep the 4x5" mixer box in always for 4x5", 35mm, 6x7 and 6x9 negatives.

From memory, the difference is about ¼ of a stop in light gain by switching to the middle sized light box and about 1/3 of a stop in light gain for the 35mm mixer box over the 4x5" mixer box. The 35mm mixer box was (I think) a special order in Australia.

Mick.

Mick

Thanks for your input

Emerson

DeVere 504 Varicontrast/Multigrade Head

emerson531

Mick Fagan

emerson531

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