Old style Aristo cold light head: can blue be good?

[Doug Bennett]

Now that I've got a new enlarger (Beseler 23CII), I'd like to try a cold light head.

Many of the used ones found on Ebay are the older style Aristo that put out more light in the blue spectrum. Common wisdom seems to be that you need to filter the blue out with a CC40 yellow filter, otherwise the contrast on VC papers will be too high.

But: a common complaint about cold light and diffusion heads is that they tend to produce prints that are a little flat.

So: could the older "bluelight" heads actually help in producing a print with plenty of punch? Has anyone tried it?

 

[lee]

to answer. NO. For graded paper it is fine. The common complaint with putting the CC40y filter in the light path is it makes the exposure very long. IF the print is too flat you just need to increase the development time to set your negs for that light source. You can buy a new head for your enlarger from Aristogrid.com I don't know what the price is but about $150.00 You will still need to use VC filters under the lens. I don't agree that the prints turn out flat with my cold light. I would buy the newer head if I had too.

lee\c

 

[galyons]

No need to replace the head. Aristo make a V54 replacement lamp for use with VC paper. You need model BES23C-LO-V54. Look for details here:
http://www.aristogrid.com/prod02CC_BES23C.htm

Available at the usual places for about $110. Much less than a new head! But, if you do not currently have a head, the @bay cost plus V54 bulb may make the new head a better choice.

Cheers,
Geary

 

[lee]

I agree and that is what I was trying to say all be it poorly.

lee\c

 

[removed account4]

doug

you can send the older cold lights back to aristo and for something like $102
they will install the new bulb ( v54 ) and make sure the heater &C is up to snuff.

 

[papagene]

Doug,
I have an ancient Beseler 57MB that uses a custom built in Aristo cold light head. I had them install a new lamp and new heater shortly after I bough the enlarger. It was worth it.
I do have to use the 40ccy filters to smooth out the contrast and the times are a little longer, makes dodging and burning easier.
I paid $250.00 for the enlarger about 10 years ago. It is still functioning nicely to this day.
gene

 

[DrPhil]

On the topic of replacing the bulbs. Many older zone vi cold light heads are rebranded aristo heads with a zone vi sensor in them. I just purchased a new v54 aristo lamp for my zone vi head. With the older blue lamp I had no problems. Well, not until I broke the bulb while moving the enlarger!! I didn't think the times were that excessive with the yellow filter.

 

[Jim Chinn]

I have replaced the older bulbs with the new variable contrast bulbs in a pair of D2 aristo heads. Very simple, and if you have any questions they are really helpful at Aristo.