Enlarger Timer

poppers

Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2012
Messages
40
Location
UK North Wes
Format
35mm RF
Can someone recommend an enlarger timer to use with my Leitz Valoy II enlarger. I live in the UK so any models that are available in the UK. Also what should I look out for in a timer, are some features more desirable than others?

Kind regards
M

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4
 

miha

Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2007
Messages
2,970
Location
Slovenia
Format
Multi Format
You know who makes the best timers in your country, do you?
 

Christopher Walrath

Member
Joined
Dec 30, 2005
Messages
7,175
Location
Milton, DE USA
Format
Analog
You are gonna a lot of replies, you know. My recommendation for printing, because I use one and it is fantastic IMHO.

Gralab 300

Plug in the enlarger and the printing safelight. One switch changes from enlarger bulb to safelight. If you turn the timer knob is changes from safelight to enlarger automatically. Large glow in the dark face for easy viewing and does not fog paper in my experience.

For film processing I have four of those old red Kodak timers. And I'll buy more. My own little OCD thing.
 

miha

Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2007
Messages
2,970
Location
Slovenia
Format
Multi Format

miha

Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2007
Messages
2,970
Location
Slovenia
Format
Multi Format
Look for a Paterson or Kaiser timer then.
 
OP
OP

poppers

Member
Joined
Nov 27, 2012
Messages
40
Location
UK North Wes
Format
35mm RF
Thanks for the advice. I'll have a look around. I'm a novice trying to piece together a basic/temporary darkroom hence the RH designs is a bit expensive for my needs at the moment.
 

horacekenneth

Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2012
Messages
515
Location
MD
Format
Multi Format
I don't have any recommendations for but I would recommend against the Gralab 300 clock-face style timer. I currently use one for my enlarger.

1. It is very hard to be consistent. It doesn't click between seconds (no steps) if you know what I mean (at least mine doesn't).
2. Again, consistency & exactness is hard because the enlarger turns on while you are winding the second hand forward. Normally I just twist it as fast I can but when I need to be really exact I work the enlarger power switch and the focus/enlarge knob on the gralab and try to turn both on the exact same time.

3. I definitely like my Gralab way better than not having a timer. But if you can get something digital or with knobs rather than a clock face I think you'll have a better time.
 

MattKing

Moderator
Moderator
Joined
Apr 24, 2005
Messages
53,255
Location
Delta, BC Canada
Format
Medium Format

The Gralab 300 came in a variety of flavours. Mine has a separate switch to start and stop the timing cycle. So on mine I switch it to "stop", set the time, and then switch it to start.

At the end of the timing cycle, the power goes off (and the buzzer goes if you forget to turn it off).

Just use the switch off, set time, switch on again procedure from there.

It does definitely work better though if you use longer exposure times.
 

pstake

Subscriber
Joined
May 5, 2005
Messages
728
Format
Multi Format

If you need cheap and indestructible, go for a gralab 300. No frills but that's what I used on my Valoy II and I still have it as a backup.

Pretty much anything by Gralab is going to be good quality.
 

pdeeh

Member
Joined
Jun 8, 2012
Messages
4,765
Location
UK
Format
Multi Format
It is surprisingly difficult to find used Gralab timers in the UK - for instance, the only ones on eBay recently are from the US, which means they will be 110V of course; and shipping/insurance can add up too.

Brand new, I believe they are in the region of $200. Not "cheap"
 

pstake

Subscriber
Joined
May 5, 2005
Messages
728
Format
Multi Format

Yikes! Well, I guess we are lucky here in the US because we happen to use 110V, and there are a lot of them around, are therefore inexpensive and shipping is domestic. But they are heavy so shipping to the UK would probably be prohibitive.

If you're going to spend $200, you may as well go for an RHdesigns. Or just roll the dice with something on ebay. I did that once and got a unicolor electronic timer that works great. It cost me $30 shipped.
 

miha

Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2007
Messages
2,970
Location
Slovenia
Format
Multi Format
poppers said:
Is it advisable to get one that also switches on and off the safelight?
Click to expand...

I leave the safelights on. I see no reason to switch them off as the printing itself only represents about 10%-20% of the total exposure time under the safelight.
 

horacekenneth

Member
Joined
Aug 10, 2012
Messages
515
Location
MD
Format
Multi Format


And that switch is separate from the Focusing switch that turns the enlarger on without starting the timer? Because that would be a nice feature to have. I hope mine has it and I'm just missing it.
 

MartinP

Member
Joined
Jun 23, 2007
Messages
1,569
Location
Netherlands
Format
Medium Format
Most likely in the UK are Paterson, Philips or Kaiser timers. In general, all timers will have a switch for focus/timer -- at least I've never seen one which doesn't . . .

Forget getting anything clockwork, on grounds of precision and repeatability. They may have been tolerable when new -- but thirty years later, after decades disused in a damp shed, not so good.

There are electronic timers with one dial, for example Durst TIM, but these might be tricky to set precisely at the bottom end of the range. Ideally you want something that you can set in tenths of a stop and for small enlargements (and hence short exposure times) this will mean precision of well under a second. A useful and practical style has three dials, one each for tenths, whole seconds and tens of seconds. Other models have a switch for "x10" while using one dial, hence two time ranges on one control, which can also be an adequate solution.

The switching off of the safelight when the focus-switch (and also timer, usually) is active comes from the historic use of enlarging-meters which are sensitive to the safelight as well as the actinic light of your enlarger, therebye giving a false reading and requiring the safelight to be off during measurements. Probably you have no enlarging meter so this feature is not required at the moment. In the future use consistently made contact-prints as your enlarging meter, instead of another gizmo.

In "the olden days" many started off with a simple on/off switch in the enlarger cable and counting ticks of a metronome, or "one thousand, two thousand etc", which can also work perfectly well if you can avoid short exposure times.
 

polyglot

Member
Joined
Jun 12, 2009
Messages
3,467
Location
South Australia
Format
Medium Format
You really want an f/stop timer if at all possible. There are several to choose from including free (if you can solder) - see my signature.

Failing that, an electronic timer, not an inconsistent mechanical knob.

Failing that, a loudly ticking clock. I printed for my first year with a loud clock and a table on the wall listing 1/4 stop timing increments. I would take the ticking clock over a gralab any day.
 

baachitraka

Member
Joined
Apr 6, 2011
Messages
3,568
Location
Bremen, Germany.
Format
Multi Format
Kaiser electronic timer goes till 1/10 of a second. For a beginner it will do good job. You can learn f-stop printing with that.
 

Nige

Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2002
Messages
2,317
Format
Multi Format
another one to look out for is a Durst Labotim. Simple electonic unit that goes 0.1-9.9 secs in .1 increments then 10-99 (I think) in full seconds.
 

Rick Jones

Member
Joined
Feb 9, 2004
Messages
127
Location
Maryland
Format
Multi Format
LPL ET-500 used with my Valoy II for some 5 years. After going through about 5 timers in the last 40 years the ET-500 finally meets all my needs. Foot switch is mandatory for my way of working. LED display, brightness control, audible count down (on/off), times 0.1 to 99.9s or 1 to 999s, enlarger and safelight outlets and relatively small size for my limited space. Available as 220-240V 50/60hz. Timer can be turned off mid cycle with foot switch - handy during burns.
 

gone

Member
Joined
Jun 14, 2009
Messages
5,504
Location
gone
Format
Medium Format
I'm glad that Martin mentioned the metronome, as Ansel Adams used one of those. His stuff looks pretty good. I don't do small enlargements, so I use an old Simmon Omega Audible Repeating Timer (see blurry photo below), and it works well enough for me. I have a native distrust and dislike for all things digital, and/or electronically complicated. Of course, I also wear a wind up watch and have a TV antenna, so what do I know? The watch keeps excellent time. About every month it gains a few minutes. My TV and computer monitor are CRT too. The image quality is better.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn more…