The Heiland Splitgrade

Gary Holliday · Jul 4, 2008

I would like some opinions on the The Heiland Splitgrade meter. At the moment I am spending too much time finding the ideal contrast and exposure for every negative and would like to reduce the test strips.

I've read the manufacturers website and although it calibrates for most of the papers through software updates, it doesn't cover every paper. So am I wasting my time using unsupported paper?

Also, if I wish to interpret my negative differently, is the Heiland worth using at all?

I assume most professional labs use this meter and wondered if is responsible for the disappointing B&W lab prints people aften complain about?

I am considering the Heiland to be used with a Focomat V35 to replace the colour head I am happy with at the moment.

jeroldharter · Jul 4, 2008

Gary Holliday said:
I would like some opinions on the The Heiland Splitgrade meter. At the moment I am spending too much time finding the ideal contrast and exposure for every negative and would like to reduce the test strips.

I've read the manufacturers website and although it calibrates for most of the papers through software updates, it doesn't cover every paper. So am I wasting my time using unsupported paper?

Also, if I wish to interpret my negative differently, is the Heiland worth using at all?

I assume most professional labs use this meter and wondered if is responsible for the disappointing B&W lab prints people aften complain about?

I am considering the Heiland to be used with a Focomat V35 to replace the colour head I am happy with at the moment.

I have never used the Heiland but have only heard positive comments and it is supposed to be a fine bit of equipment. But it is also the most expensive way to get what you want.

Before spending the money and the commitment, you might get that RH Designs Zonemaster (I think that is the name, the one with the meter) which is not cheap but could do what you want with some calibration and less money. Also, you might consider getting a Jobo Colorline 5000 or the newer one. Those analyzers have channels that can be calibrated to determine paper grade and exposure time.

hal9000 · Jul 4, 2008

With the Heiland device you get an excellent working print for calibrated papers immediately and can spend your time working out the fine point of your print, this process is supported very well by the device with its multiple channels and zone measurement (with the comfort module). For most non-calibrated papers you can find a pretty good starting point and Jürgen Heiland is very helpful with any problems or questions. I recommend the system highly.

Gary Holliday · Jul 5, 2008

I have a choice of the Heiland which looks completely automated...if I wish to change the contrast its just a matter of moving the button up or down and it will work out the exposure.

I've read that entire RH designs site and now my head is pickled! But I gather that I set the filtration on the colour head first and it will work out an exposure based on the readings...I will read about the calibration later...looks like it has to be recalibrated with every change of paper?

fred · Jul 5, 2008

hal9000 said:
With the Heiland device you get an excellent working print for calibrated papers immediately and can spend your time working out the fine point of your print, this process is supported very well by the device with its multiple channels and zone measurement (with the comfort module). For most non-calibrated papers you can find a pretty good starting point and Jürgen Heiland is very helpful with any problems or questions. I recommend the system highly.

For 100% I agree with this.
Very fine tool.
A darkroom must have more luxery than the living rome.
It's a garantee to keep darkroomworkers, darkroomworkers...

Maybe you can visit a user and have some demo?
If you are visiting Belgium, please feel free...

Mahler_one · Jul 5, 2008

For less money then all of the above, the Darkroom Innovation enlarging meter and F stop timer do virtually the same tasks.

Ed

Nicholas Lindan · Jul 5, 2008

Mahler_one said:
For less money then all of the above, the Darkroom Innovation enlarging meter and F stop timer do virtually the same tasks.

Er, "Darkroom Automation" makes the timer and meter.

"Darkroom Innovation(s)" is the old name for what is now "The View Camera Store".

Jarvman · Jul 6, 2008

There's one on eBay at the moment

ath · Jul 6, 2008

Gary Holliday said:
I've read that entire RH designs site and now my head is pickled! But I gather that I set the filtration on the colour head first and it will work out an exposure based on the readings...I will read about the calibration later...looks like it has to be recalibrated with every change of paper?

Yes, Heiland Splitgrade and RH designs rely both on calibration.
I chose the Zonemaster 2 for the following reasons:
1. cheaper than Splitgarde and usable with EVERY enlarger
2. the greyscale. This is the key to metering and previsualizing the tones of the final print.

I would say, that both systems are capable of more or less automatic work with the splitgrade beeing more automatic here. In my eyes this is the one to choose if you have to create many pictures of good quality without too much hassle. I.e. a very good automatic system.
The RH system with the grayscale is a sophisticated meter which supports you to print your vision. You meter and see where the metered values fall on the grayscale. You can alter contrast and/or exposure until the values are where you want them to have.

Both come with calibration values and both can be calibrated to new papers / developers. Never used the Heiland, but the RH is straightforward to calibrate.

The calibration done by Heiland is very good but doesn't help at all if your preferred paper is not on the list.

Gary Holliday · Jul 6, 2008

I'm assuming the Heiland on feebay is a manual version which would appear to be a very expensive Zonemaster II?

I aim to use one of the systems to produce 30-40 wedding handprints as quickly as possible. I'm maybe leaning towards a Focomat V35 Heiland for it's automation of the filter module. If a Zonemaster II says set your magenta/ yellow dials to grade 2.5...there's no such thing as 'grade 2.5' on colour systems...it's a bit of guess work???

Also you make a good point Andreas...if I want to use a paper that isn't on the list, can I calibrate this myself?

fred · Jul 6, 2008

Gary Holliday said:
I'm assuming the Heiland on feebay is a manual version which would appear to be a very expensive Zonemaster II?

I aim to use one of the systems to produce 30-40 wedding handprints as quickly as possible. I'm maybe leaning towards a Focomat V35 Heiland for it's automation of the filter module. If a Zonemaster II says set your magenta/ yellow dials to grade 2.5...there's no such thing as 'grade 2.5' on colour systems...it's a bit of guess work???

Also you make a good point Andreas...if I want to use a paper that isn't on the list, can I calibrate this myself?

1) The list with papers is very extended
2) Name me a paper that is not in the list
3) The service of Jürgen is of that quality,that, very soon ,you will find the new paper in the list

A silver gelatine print remains handcraft. Which tool you will use, it is only a tool.

ath · Jul 6, 2008

Well, lets go back some steps and get some basic understanding.

Heiland spiltgrade (my knowledge is limited here, I don't use it) consists of a (by Heiland) modified head and a controller with probe.
Because of the special head the controller knows exactly what to expose for a certain exposure and contrast. This is a complete system. This is, why it is so expensive. The controller software is updated regulary via download from Heiland and contains calibration for many papers. My understanding is that there is some way to do your own calibration and there are generic channels which you can fine tune for your paper/developer combi.
If you want to produce 30-40 wedding handprints as quickly as possible I think this is the way to go.

The RH systems (Analyzer and Zonemaster) are different. They are a kind of very sophisticated exposure meter. To be a precise meter they need to be calibrated by YOU to your equipment. Set your grade to x (with Ilford filters or colour filters), do the calibration (which is doing exposure of a grayscale), evaluate it and you end up with a sensitivity and contrast range for your specific setting. This is entered in the memory of the Analyzer/Zonemaster and when you meter a negative the LED bar under the grayscale will show where the values end up with the settings you calibrated.
This calibration has to be done for each full grade and for each paper/developer/head combination.

A final word: all systems which are calibrated in some means rely on consistent parameters. If there is significant batch to batch deviation recalibration might be necessary. If you use a calibrated system it is a good idea to use papers with known stability or at least buy batches from the same emulsion.

There are many satisfied users of both systems.

Since you are in the UK its probably a good idea to get into contact with RH designs. They sell both their own system and are the UK distributor of Heiland. Maybe you can try them for the cost of a trip?

ath · Jul 6, 2008

fred said:
2) Name me a paper that is not in the list
3) The service of Jürgen is of that quality,that, very soon ,you will find the new paper in the list

There have been quite a few complaints in german forae because for some reasons I don't care to remember a popular paper whose name I don't care to remember too (remember: I do not use Heiland splitgrade) was not included.

If you are interested in details, a search for "splitgrade" in http://www.aphog.de/forum/index.php or http://www.schwarzweiss-magazin.de/swmag_frame_forum_pg.htm or http://www.schwarzweiss-magazin.de/swmag_frame_forum.htm will turn them up. In german, of course.

ath · Jul 6, 2008

Gary,
to give you an idea what is possible with the zonemaster II after careful calibration:
In one evening session (2-3 hours) I printed 18 different negatives (sometimes up to 4 copies) with the help of the zonemaster. Only 6 sheets were wasted due to misinterpretation of the displayes values (my fault; this was my first session with the zonemaster). No test strips. The pictures were portaits.

With test strips I would have ended up with 6 to 8 negatives this evening.

Gary Holliday · Jul 10, 2008

Thanks for your comments Andreas. When I'm in a position to buy I will most likely purchase the Heiland for it's automation. Papers change often and so do my tastes, so avoiding calibration each time will allow more production.

hka · Jul 11, 2008

If you also want to use a paper that's not on the Heiland list then calibrating this yourself is a lot easier than the other one. It's a time consuming and frustrating process to get it realy done. That's my experience. In the past I owned such a analyser and after a couple of months I sold it by ebay and purchaged the Heiland system for the LPL 4*5". Recently I added an LED Coldlight source for the M805. Therefore I can use the same controller for both systems.
After installing you can go off and don't worry about calibrating papers.
I'am a more than happy user...

mono · Jul 11, 2008

So am I.

The Heiland is great,
especially the new Coldlight LED head!

Thierry · Oct 5, 2008

I use Heiland on a Laborator 138 and a M800, both equiped with an Ilford 500 head.
It is wonderful and very easy to use.

TimVermont · Oct 5, 2008

ath said:
Well, lets go back some steps and get some basic understanding.

Heiland spiltgrade (my knowledge is limited here, I don't use it) consists of a (by Heiland) modified head and a controller with probe.
Because of the special head the controller knows exactly what to expose for a certain exposure and contrast.....

The Splitgrade can be used with any head competent to put out repeatable amounts of light. I use mine with a Zone VI Model II VC head, and two Dursts on a regular basis. I've also used it with an old D2 simply by swapping 5 and 0 Ilford MC filters into the light path. Once you've done the calibration, you'll understand it. The custom heads from Heiland may offer greater ease of use, but you can certainly get on fine -and save a lot of paper- with just the controller and probe.

Mahler_one · Dec 2, 2008

How about using the Heiland WITHOUT the automation, that is, use the instrument, and set the parameters manually? Is there any advantage to the Zone Master11 ?

Also, has anyone used the Versalab "Comfort" along with the Heiland, and can you comment? The price of the Heiland and the Comfort are intimidating, and much more then the Zone Master11, and the appropriate timer from Richard. In the MANUAL mode, does the combintation of the Heiland AND the Comfort still make sense?

Ed

hka · Dec 3, 2008

As the word "Comfort" already says. You don't need this console but you can easily access the most used functions by one turn. The more sophisticated functions are on the main "controller-unit". An other advantage of the Comfort-module is the Zonedisplay on top. This works in the same way as the RH.

hal9000 · Dec 3, 2008

Hi Ed,
You can use the Heiland without automation, just change the contrast or time. If you want to do manual split grade with individually controlled yellow and magenta times, you can do that by using the 'burn in' function - set your main exposure to contrast 00 or 5 (for yellow or magenta, resp.) and then set the contrast for the first 'burn-in' to the other extreme (5 or 00). You can set the times individually. This can all be done without measuring anything.
I once suggested to Jürgen Heiland (he gives fairly regular product demonstration at monochrom in Berlin) that it would be nice to use the 'contact print' mode separately for yellow and magenta for 'device supported' manual splitgrade, but he didn't seem too keen on the idea. He likes to keep the functions simple on the device which I suppose is a very good strategy.
Best regards, Hal

The Heiland Splitgrade

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