Heiland LED Head As A Replacement For Legacy Cold Light Heads

[chuckroast]

An OT discussion began to emerge on another thread about the Heiland LED enlarging heads, so I thought I start it as a discussion in it's own right.

Backstory

My 25+ year old Zone VI VC Cold Light died of old age - well the soft light tube did, I guess. No parts available anywhere. The tubes, in particular are entirely unobtainium whether for the Zone VI heads, Aristo, and - I would assume - for any older cold light/fluorescent type system. NOS not available, used not available, new not available ..

First Effort

I tried going old school with a condenser on my Omega D-II and using above the lens filtration. It worked but was very slow and nowhere near as subtle as what a true VC head gives you. More importantly, I was not seeing the range and type of contrast I was used to with the Zone VI when I used either Ilford or Kodak filters..


Oh No! What Have I Done?

I'd been looking at the Heiland system for a while now, knowing the Zone VI was getting closer and closer to "End Of Life" aka "Death" (aren't we all). But the price held me back. But, I hate the condenser solution so hard. So ... I raided the piggy bank and ordered the Heiland from Catlabs.

What Did I Get?

I ordered the Heiland LED VC head for the generic Omega enlarger mount. This mounts into the lower lamp housing in place of the condenser because the unit is so light, it needs some weight to stay down when the lift lever is dropped down.

I ordered this with the basic B&W controller. I have no interest in- nor need for the fancy printing computer. I split VC print everything, using soft light to manage the highlights and hard light to manage the shadows, both in the overall print and during doging and burning. I have no idea what "grade" I am printing, and again, don't care.


Status

Order placed this week. I was told delivery is 3-5 weeks.


Will keep interested parties posted here. Also interested to hear from others who have this head who have insights about how it might be best used.

 

[Pieter12]

I have had the Heiland head for 3 years now. I used it to replace an older LED head but wanted the convenience of a VC head rather than using filters. Here is my experience: First, the fit was not that great, I had to modify the bracket by filing the slots. I was told that Omega D5s vary a bit in construction, and that's the way it is. Not terribly pleased after spending gobs of money on what I assumed would be a precision-engineered German product.

I bought the less expensive VC controller and it does the job quite well for me. I especially like that I can vary the intensity over 3 stops, giving me leeway for burning and dodging. I also found that the head seems to print hard, that is the #5 exposures can be quite short compared to filtering with Ilford filters.

And last, the head produces extraordinarily sharp images, maybe because the LEDs act like a bunch of pin-sources. If you're used to a cold head, that may come as a bit of a surprise. I love it. I was afraid by giving up the condensers the prints would lose their edge. Not so.

 

[chuckroast]

I have had the Heiland head for 3 years now. I used it to replace an older LED head but wanted the convenience of a VC head rather than using filters. Here is my experience: First, the fit was not that great, I had to modify the bracket by filing the slots. I was told that Omega D5s vary a bit in construction, and that's the way it is. Not terribly pleased after spending gobs of money on what I assumed would be a precision-engineered German product.

I bought the less expensive VC controller and it does the job quite well for me. I especially like that I can vary the intensity over 3 stops, giving me leeway for burning and dodging. I also found that the head seems to print hard, that is the #5 exposures can be quite short compared to filtering with Ilford filters.

And last, the head produces extraordinarily sharp images, maybe because the LEDs act like a bunch of pin-sources. If you're used to a cold head, that may come as a bit of a surprise. I love it. I was afraid by giving up the condensers the prints would lose their edge. Not so.

Thanks for the feedback. I was told the D5 was a special case. I have an original D II pushup which should take the generic Omega mount without concern - so I was told.

What surprises me is that they don't have one head with different interchangeable mounts. If I run off and buy, say, an Beseler next year, I should just be able to swap mounts - apparently not.

Then again, there is a guy not very far from me selling a pristine Durst 8x10 Labarator ...

 

[chuckroast]

I have had the Heiland head for 3 years now. I used it to replace an older LED head but wanted the convenience of a VC head rather than using filters. Here is my experience: First, the fit was not that great, I had to modify the bracket by filing the slots. I was told that Omega D5s vary a bit in construction, and that's the way it is. Not terribly pleased after spending gobs of money on what I assumed would be a precision-engineered German product.

I bought the less expensive VC controller and it does the job quite well for me. I especially like that I can vary the intensity over 3 stops, giving me leeway for burning and dodging. I also found that the head seems to print hard, that is the #5 exposures can be quite short compared to filtering with Ilford filters.

And last, the head produces extraordinarily sharp images, maybe because the LEDs act like a bunch of pin-sources. If you're used to a cold head, that may come as a bit of a surprise. I love it. I was afraid by giving up the condensers the prints would lose their edge. Not so.

How is the edge-to-edge evenness for a 4x5 negative?

 

[Pieter12]

How is the edge-to-edge evenness for a 4x5 negative?

It seems fine. I don't print much 4x5, mostly 2-1/4. The bracket on mine is just bolted on. I'm not familiar with Beseler, but I would think it shouldn't take much to retrofit it if that comes up in the future.

 

[chuckroast]

It seems fine. I don't print much 4x5, mostly 2-1/4. The bracket on mine is just bolted on. I'm not familiar with Beseler, but I would think it shouldn't take much to retrofit it if that comes up in the future.

Would a picture of your final installation of the head on the D5 be possible?

 

[Pieter12]

Sure. I didn't realize it was so dusty. I guess I need to do some major housekeeping. Haven't printed in a while.

 

[chuckroast]

Thanks!