A few years ago there were reports that at max contrast, the Heiland didn't produce as much contrast as using Ilford filters, both with Ilford MG. I wonder if that's the case now. (I have some negatives from decades ago taken in poor light that could do with max contrast. I used to use Brovira BEH-1 graded paper. I've thought of a couple of contrast-increasing print developers for current Ilford MG)
I remember the report from Ilford, stating the Heiland head only produced something like a grade 4.5. That was probably 7 or 8 years ago. I assume Heiland has made changes since, because I have no problem getting max contrast.
I also found the head to be a little bit more like a point-source, the prints are sharper.
The gist of Ilford's report was that the Heiland seems pretty close to the Ilford MG500 in grade placement - aka it tends to run about 1/2 grade harder than the equivalent marked Ilford filter, until about G4-4.5 where the Blue/ Green MG 500 and the Heiland run out of steam (due to limitations with the choice of a close equivalent to a #47 filter) - and the separate filters on white light deliver the correct G5. A little more macro contrast can make the apparent micro contrast higher. I'm not sure how much Heiland is making the LED panel sub assemblies themselves, or (more likely) assembling ones bought in from elsewhere (possibly made to their specifications, but unclear - especially given likely MOQ's) into suitably sized arrays - by way of an illustration, most of Heiland's production metalwork was/ is seemingly being done by Kienzle.
For whatever it's worth, the Intrepid head does seem to be able to do G5.
Well, with Fomabrom 111 I've had no difficulty hitting full black split printing with only the 0.0 and 5.0 settings.
How about making the adjustment for the Dry Down factor?
Looking over the Heiland literature but found nothing about it.
That's a different thing from it delivering the equivalent of a grade 5 Multigrade filter.
Others do. I do, for instance. While paper grades in general don't interest me, what does interest me is whether I have access to what the paper can do. And especially high-contrast performance is something really convenient to have for that odd negative with important shadow detail with little differentiation in that area.If a Heiland #5 isn't exactly an Ilford #5, I don't care.
I've conversed once, a few years ago, with a gentleman who did. He also used a dichroic head. He noted differences between both systems in terms of the final print, even if he tried to get the filtration very close. That doesn't surprise me and it also doesn't say one is inherently better than the other.Has anyone here used one of these to print color?
The Ilford report used the older MGRC paper, the current stock might produce different results.
that full black is possible
He also used a dichroic head
Others do. I do, for instance. While paper grades in general don't interest me, what does interest me is whether I have access to what the paper can do. And especially high-contrast performance is something really convenient to have for that odd negative with important shadow detail with little differentiation in that area.
If your exposure system can't hit the highest grade on the paper, no amount of split grade printing will save your posterior in the rare case you do need that hardest grade. That's what I'm saying.My only point is that you can get there several ways.
Sure, but imagine the hardest grade you can get with your light source happens to be 4 and the softest is 00. Then if you find yourself needing grade 5 and the paper in itself is capable of achieving it, you'll still be stuck with grade 4 because you can only dial in grades from 00 to 4, and not beyond.My understanding (and it may well be wrong and I'm willing to learn here) is that a given fixed grade light source/filter will set the CI for the paper. But changing the ratio of hard light to soft light exposure time will do the same things. No?
If your exposure system can't hit the highest grade on the paper, no amount of split grade printing will save your posterior in the rare case you do need that hardest grade. That's what I'm saying.
Sure, but imagine the hardest grade you can get with your light source happens to be 4 and the softest is 00. Then if you find yourself needing grade 5 and the paper in itself is capable of achieving it, you'll still be stuck with grade 4 because you can only dial in grades from 00 to 4, and not beyond.
So if your Heiland or whatever unit can only do 4.5 and you want 5 some of the time, it's in those specific instances as useful as "a cat flap in an elephant house", so to speak (you may have to google that quote).
You have this information, or just speculation?They've not altered the spectral sensitisation.
You have this information, or just speculation?
When all my light sources go belly up, I'll probably be belly up too. If I had excess money I'd buy one of these heads to play with.
The Ilford heads of yesteryear were probably the easiest to use and understand. That's what I would like to see someone build anew.
Don't count on true grade 5 on all papers. The blue is shifted quite far towards green on these.The only option might have been to buy the Intrepid LED light source, but I have no idea how well or poorly it works
But pure black can be obtained with any grade
Don't count on true grade 5 on all papers. The blue is shifted quite far towards green on these.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?