Help: Durst L1200 Varipoint Condensor - ILFORD 500H Conversion

dodphotography · Aug 12, 2020

A friend gave me this Durst L1200 that sat in his storage space. For a tank a gas it was given to me. He had no previous experience with it and had never plugged it in. I’ve since loaded it in my space and faced a few hiccups right out the gate.

1.) it was loaded with a PH212 150 watt bulb. Plugging in the power adapter and everything into my timer generated nothing. I could hear the power adapter running. I later discovered this power source was a special Durst item that only outputs 12v.
2.) I then picked up w 12V RV lamp (100 watt incandescent) and alas, it fires. However, this model is the Varipoint enlarger and given then RV bulb isn’t a point source bulb it’s a little funky.

3.) I then picked up an Ilford MG 500H kit and here is where I am stuck.

I am unsure of how to go about the conversion.
I picked up the following adapter on eBay (https://www.ebay.com/itm/163901409553)

some of the language is confusing... what is the advantage of using the existing condensers vs installing the MG head directly above the carrier and using it as a diffuser?

is the Durst L1200 black and white condenser model able to use the MG500 without this adapter? Curious to hear some thoughts.

dodphotography · Aug 12, 2020

I should note: I’ve only ever used Beseler condensers and they’re child’s play compared to this Durst. Naming mechanisms are confusing , the manuals are basic and don’t really go into detail the operation of the thing.

Would it better off getting a Beseler 45XLT chasis down the road?

Lachlan Young · Aug 12, 2020

The L1200 is a good chassis - personally, unless you really want condensers, I'd go with using the MG500 as intended, set up as a diffusion unit. And then sort out the condenser head if you find yourself needing +2 grades of contrast. Quite frankly, if you want the effect of condenser head and MG filters, my own perspective is that the conventional 150w head and under-lens filtration is just as fast & more reliable long-term.

Oh, and Durst's reference system is a confusing pile of weird non-acronyms. Kienzle might be able to supply some parts (neg inserts, possibly condensers) that are hard to find - if you are prepared to pay a realistic price.

dodphotography · Aug 12, 2020

Lachlan Young said:
The L1200 is a good chassis - personally, unless you really want condensers, I'd go with using the MG500 as intended, set up as a diffusion unit. And then sort out the condenser head if you find yourself needing +2 grades of contrast. Quite frankly, if you want the effect of condenser head and MG filters, my own perspective is that the conventional 150w head and under-lens filtration is just as fast & more reliable long-term.

Oh, and Durst's reference system is a confusing pile of weird non-acronyms. Kienzle might be able to supply some parts (neg inserts, possibly condensers) that are hard to find - if you are prepared to pay a realistic price.

The issue is the power source I have won’t allow for a 150 bulb as it only outputs 12 volts. A new power source is freaking expensive as heck.

question: would installing the MG500 head on this specific L1200 be possible? I’m just not sure if there is a difference between the color head version and the condenser Varipoint model that I have.

any tips on installation? EDIT: didn’t realize you linked instructions.

Lachlan Young · Aug 12, 2020

dodphotography said:
The issue is the power source I have won’t allow for a 150 bulb as it only outputs 12 volts. A new power source is freaking expensive as heck.

question: would installing the MG500 head on this specific L1200 be possible? I’m just not sure if there is a difference between the color head version and the condenser Varipoint model that I have.

any tips on installation? EDIT: didn’t realize you linked instructions.

All L1200 chassis are the same, the heads are easily interchanged - you will need an adapter and extra counterweight for the MG500 as that Ilford document I linked shows. The parts in question could be made by many reasonably skilled people.

The main issue you have with the condenser head is that you have the point-source rather than the regular condenser - I think the main difference is the socket/ wiring - and the optical surfaces may be coated (mirror, condensers) as opposed to the regular condensers. In essence, the condenser head is a light socket that has x-y controls, a mirror and a filter tray - all wrapped up in a metal case. Equally, someone may want a point-source head and all the bits - and the CLS/ VLS/ Femokit heads do turn up from time to time.

dodphotography · Aug 12, 2020

Lachlan Young said:
All L1200 chassis are the same, the heads are easily interchanged - you will need an adapter and extra counterweight for the MG500 as that Ilford document I linked shows. The parts in question could be made by many reasonably skilled people.

The main issue you have with the condenser head is that you have the point-source rather than the regular condenser - I think the main difference is the socket/ wiring - and the optical surfaces may be coated (mirror, condensers) as opposed to the regular condensers. In essence, the condenser head is a light socket that has x-y controls, a mirror and a filter tray - all wrapped up in a metal case. Equally, someone may want a point-source head and all the bits - and the CLS/ VLS/ Femokit heads do turn up from time to time.

Woof, another dead end. I’ll have to just use the adapter I bought on eBay. I don’t see an Ilford adapter kit popping up on eBay any time soon.

I’m in a few bucks on this and don’t have much more room to spend. I’m assuming a machinist would be a long and expensive road to venture down.

mpirie · Aug 13, 2020

The correct setup for an L1200 with an MG500 head includes a chassis adapter to allow the diffusion / mixing box to sit directly above the negative carrier.

The MG setup should consist of the MG500 head, a touch-panel controller and the PSU. There is an optional foot-switch and exposure probe.

Mike

dodphotography · Aug 13, 2020

mpirie said:
The correct setup for an L1200 with an MG500 head includes a chassis adapter to allow the diffusion / mixing box to sit directly above the negative carrier.

The MG setup should consist of the MG500 head, a touch-panel controller and the PSU. There is an optional foot-switch and exposure probe.

View attachment 252280

Mike

Luckily I have the whole kit... minus the correct adapter.

the only adapter I could find is the one that allows me to print through the existing condensers. My next question is do these condensers impact the performance given these are coated as part of the Varipoint component vs the standard Femocon.

mpirie · Aug 13, 2020

Yeah, the adapter is hard to find nowadays, likewise the L1200 wall mount.

There was a member on another forum that made his own adapter from sheet aluminium based on the measurements i gave him, so if you're handy with tools, that could be a (temporary) solution for you?

Mike

dodphotography · Aug 13, 2020

mpirie said:
Yeah, the adapter is hard to find nowadays, likewise the L1200 wall mount.

There was a member on another forum that made his own adapter from sheet aluminium based on the measurements i gave him, so if you're handy with tools, that could be a (temporary) solution for you?

Mike

I’d really appreciate that... since the enlarger was free I’d at least entertain offering those specs to a local machinist to see what’s up.

Lachlan Young · Aug 13, 2020

@mpirie - make sure you check how heavy the additional counterweight under the adapter is - it's fairly essential to ensuring that the whole head doesn't go flying up the column at a rate of knots! The De Vere adaptor for the 500 head (which is the version I've encountered most often) has a big chunk of steel attached to it - the 500 head itself is pretty lightweight.

@dodphotography the adapters are barely even a machining job - they're generally folded steel with some threaded holes/ captive bolts.

ic-racer · Aug 13, 2020

An inexpensive set of Ilford multigrade filters will work with the enlarge if it has the point source lamp or a larger opal lamp or if you add a diffusion plate and make it a diffusion enlarger. I'd do that first before trying to locate a working 500 head and attempting to adapt it. How often will one need to be between grade 2 and 2.5? Even then you can split the exposure time between the two filters.

dodphotography · Aug 13, 2020

ic-racer said:
An inexpensive set of Ilford multigrade filters will work with the enlarge if it has the point source lamp or a larger opal lamp or if you add a diffusion plate and make it a diffusion enlarger. I'd do that first before trying to locate a working 500 head and attempting to adapt it. How often will one need to be between grade 2 and 2.5? Even then you can split the exposure time between the two filters.

The problem is the Durst bulb...finding that point source bulb is a pain in the ass. I found a 12v RV bulb and it will work in theory but nailing the placement of the bulb is a bear.

I already have the 500 head and the weird non Ilford adapter that uses the existing condensers is coming tonight.

like someone mentioned above, I don’t get the point of this adapter but if it will allow me to use the enlarger more efficiently then so be it. Again, using that RV bulb allows me to print but it’s a weak source of light and the falloff and uneven light from using a light not intended for this system is evident.

it’s weird because it was a free enlarger but with the addition of a restored 500 MG system and this adapter, the bill is running up a bit.

MattKing · Aug 13, 2020

An Ilford 500 Multigrade light source is really, really nice to work with, and the halogen bulbs it uses are readily available.
Paired with a good Durst chassis (with the necessary accessories like carriers) - that is a nice enlarger!

mpirie · Aug 14, 2020

As the OP mentions, the point-source lamp is the difficult part to source, otherwise most of this thread could have been negated.

You raise a good point Lachlan. The head height adjustment relies on spring-loaded drag to avoid the head creeping up (or down), so the counterweight will need to be correct.

Mike

AgX · Aug 25, 2020

What is a "12V RV lamp" ?

MattKing · Aug 25, 2020

AgX said:
What is a "12V RV lamp" ?

I'm guessing a 12V bulb designed to be used in a recreational vehicle with 12V lighting.

Help: Durst L1200 Varipoint Condensor - ILFORD 500H Conversion

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