Ilford 400 HL

[Melvin J Bramley]

Looking at an Ilford 400 HL.
Any opinions on this light source?
Anything to be concerned about?

 

[AnselMortensen]

I love mine...
It's on an Omega D5XL.
Parts & service are unobtainium, however.

 

[MattKing]

I love mine...
It's on an Omega D5XL.
Parts & service are unobtainium, however.

I had a very similar setup, although mine was a D6.
And I was very happy with it.
At one time, I was able to get a footswitch for it that KHB put together - the challenge being the old style English connector.
While I expect parts can't be particularly easy to find, the head is probably serviceable with a hammer and a chisel, and I wouldn't be surprised if the controller parts were discrete and plentiful.
And the styling reminds me of old Nanaimo .
A move to smaller premises mandated a sale of my 4x5 enlarger, or I would have happily continued with it.

 

[Lachlan Young]

It's pretty good, the grade spacings are odd on the original controller (as it matched gen 1 of modern multigrade). It can be run with the correct adapter (i.e. if you have the plugs and schematic) off an MG500 PSU & controller, if it has the voltage tap for the 500HLZ head.

Alternatively, if you are prepared to work on a split-grade methodology, you can run it off suitable power supplies directly.

 

[Melvin J Bramley]

It's pretty good, the grade spacings are odd on the original controller (as it matched gen 1 of modern multigrade). It can be run with the correct adapter (i.e. if you have the plugs and schematic) off an MG500 PSU & controller, if it has the voltage tap for the 500HLZ head.

Alternatively, if you are prepared to work on a split-grade methodology, you can run it off suitable power supplies directly.

I had not considered how the $00 would perform with more modern papers.
Is this an issue that can be overcome?

 

[MattKing]

I used split grade techniques mostly - the O and 4 settings are totally functional for that.
And if you want to just rely on the grade spacings as is, you will soon get used to it - they just differ a bit from others. It is only a problem if you regularly use other enlargers with other sources.
I kept at hand a separate under the lens 6 filter from a PolyMax filter set for the rare times when I needed maximum possible contrast - the 400 series lets a little bit off too much green through even on the 4 setting.