Very long paper exposure times

baachitraka · Feb 18, 2013

Yesterday I tried to test my Durst M 600 with a 35mm negative to enlarge of size 20x25cm.

Enlarging lens: Schneider Kreuznach @f/8 50mm.

Paper: MCP 312

Without filter: Paper speed is ISO 400 require 20.2 sec(f-stop printing).

With Grade 3 filter: Paper speed is ISO 160 require 64 sec(approximately).

Paper: Adox Vario Classic

With Grade 3 filter: Paper speed is ISO 40 require 256 sec(approximately).

Filter was placed under the lens.

Paper Developer: ECO 4812 Moersch.

Question: Is it normal to have such a long exposure times for paper.

Stephen Frizza · Feb 18, 2013

ive had some exposure times between 15-35 minutes hehehe. Dont worry about exposure times if the times you use get you where you need to be.

MartinP · Feb 18, 2013

With a small 75W enalarger bulb these times don't seem very very long, but it depends hugely on the negative and whether you are printing full-frame or just a portion of course.

You could check the bulb to see if it is heavily blackened and almost about to blow. Also, if it is a low power bulb can the enlarger cope with a 150W or 200W bulb as a replacement? If you are using some sort of halogen colour-head then those times do seem long but, again, check the condition of the bulb envelope and filament.

PanTomasz · Feb 18, 2013

The times aren't long at all, I printed couple of pics yesterday from 35mm film on Durst 670 at f/8 - 11 on different 20x30 papers and had times between 25 and 80 seconds. I have to mention that the paper is outdated by about 6 - 7 years and still works not bad at all.

baachitraka · Feb 18, 2013

I tried to print full-frame. I have no idea whether this enlarger takes 150W bulbs.

Thomas Bertilsson · Feb 18, 2013

It depends on the negative density and the paper speed, obviously. If it helps soothe at all, I have printing times with the Leitz V35 enlarger (75W halogen) between 45 and 120 seconds usually. I like to be in that range as it makes my dodging and burning more consistent.

I think Stephen said it best. Don't worry about it. Just do. And don't be afraid of using your enlarging lens at a little bit larger apertures. While some difference can be found, if the picture is good, contrast is good, then the extra resolution you get at two to three stops down from maximum aperture isn't going to do much for how your print is appreciated, especially at the size you're currently printing. Just have fun, print a lot, and enjoy the ride. Think, in the grand scheme of things, how little time a couple of minutes is.

Worker 11811 · Feb 18, 2013

There are only two things I worry about with long exposure times:
1) Heat buckling the film.
2) Vibration.

Depending on the type of enlarger and whether your heat filters are in place, the longer the light is hitting the film, the greater the chance the film will buckle and move out of the zone of focus, causing blurry enlargements. Altering your ƒ-stop or using a glass negative carrier can counteract this tendency but you should still remember that more time might mean more heat. Certain types of cold light and/or diffusion enlargers won't have this problem so much. My Beseler does buckle the film, even with the heat filter in place. My Omega doesn't do it so much but I still have to think about it.

The other problem is that, the longer the exposure, the more chance there is for the enlarger to vibrate or get bumped, causing a blurry image.
Depending on the construction of your building, where the darkroom is located and how well your equipment is set up, even a truck driving by could cause vibration that could be noticed in a big enlargement. If you're a klutz like me, how many times have you accidentally whacked your head against the enlarger while working? Do that while you're making an exposure and it will cause a problem. I live right next to an airport runway and about a half-mile from some railroad tracks; both sources of vibration. Although my darkroom is in the basement, mostly immune from these sources of vibration, I still have noticed it when a big plane lands or when a truck drives by.

I'm not saying that you shouldn't use long exposure times. Sometimes you have to. I'm only mentioning the fact that, the longer the exposure, the greater the chance of problems. That's why I try to keep my exposure times under a minute. If I can get them down to 30 seconds, even better.

DWThomas · Feb 18, 2013

Actually I consider around 20 seconds the exposure I like to have. It allows a little dodging if needed, although that could be worked around with two exposures. When I first tried to make small prints on my return to B&W darkroom work I was getting times in the 5 to 10 second range and ended up buying a neutral density filter. With some timers it's difficult to make very small adjustments in exposure when the times are very short. Over a minute can be a test of the patience, but I wouldn't think much about it until it got up to four or five.

Now if I were trying to make a production run of 250 prints by tomorrow morning, yeah, 55 second exposures would be annoying (but if I ever agree to do that, please deliver me to the old folks home!)

Arvee · Feb 18, 2013

My M601 will take either the PH211 (75W) or the PH212 (150W) bulb. The 150 will speed up exposure times.

baachitraka · Feb 18, 2013

Nevertheless, I was underestimating Fomapan 400(EI 200) with Rodinal 1+50(25mins with 3 inversion @every fifth minute) for a while.

I was amazed by the tones when printed on MCP 312...I am curious how it will look on Adox Vario Classic.

Molli · Feb 18, 2013

I have the exact same enlarger as you but with the reverse of your problem. I was used to using a very old Meopta Axomat 1a which gave me 8 seconds for 5x7 and around 20-40 seconds for 8x10 (20x25cm). Switching to the Durst, the 5x7s were lucky to need even 3 seconds and 8x10 were around 10. At any rate, I switched out the globe last week for a 75 watt globe which has slowed things down a tad.

The M600 has a maximum ability to use 150 Watts, so it won't have any trouble if you want to up the wattage of the globe.

pentaxuser · Feb 18, 2013

Maybe the M600 is a totally different beast from the 605 which I have. When I did the old Agfa MCP( not the Adox one) at 20x25 cms using a dichroic head for dual filtration my times were nowhere near these. Probably not even as much as Molli's times. Probably around 20 secs max but more like mid teens and this was the 100W halogen bulb

You are getting about 60 secs for a 20 x 25 which is not a big print and over 4 mins with the other paper. Seems incredible compared to my experience but if the prints look right then no issue. Your dodging and burning can be relaxed

pentaxuser

henk@apug · Feb 18, 2013

Thomas Bertilsson said:
It depends on the negative density and the paper speed, obviously. If it helps soothe at all, I have printing times with the Leitz V35 enlarger (75W halogen) between 45 and 120 seconds usually. I like to be in that range as it makes my dodging and burning more consistent.

Wow, I have times with my V35 @f5.6 and a VC module between 6 and 10 sec on Ilford MGIV fiber glossy 9,5 x12 inch. The lamp is the Philips 13139. Film is TRI-X developed in Rodinal 1+50.
What could cause such a time difference ? Are you printing much bigger ? Smaller f-stop ?

baachitraka · Feb 18, 2013

Burning was fun indeed. 1/2 stop = 32 secs.

I know developer is not exhausted yet, since one print came really well after 2:30 mins which is normal for ECO 4812 developer.

I will test again with fresh developer on coming weekend and see how it goes.

Vario Classic seems slow paper @Grade 3 it is ISO 40 where as it is ISO 160 for MCC.

ac12 · Feb 18, 2013

As you are finding, it depends on the paper and chemicals.
Some times you are stuck with the long exposure because of the paper, and there is really very little or nothing that you can do about it.

On the M600 you can put in a 150 watt bulb, for more light. I use my M600 with a 75 watt bulb, because the 150 watt bulb is TOO bright, and results in very short exposure times. Then swap back the 75 watt bulb after you are done with the print using the 150 watt bulb. The smaller wattage also generates less heat.

cliveh · Feb 18, 2013

baachitraka said:
Yesterday I tried to test my Durst M 600 with a 35mm negative to enlarge of size 20x25cm.

Enlarging lens: Schneider Kreuznach @f/8 50mm.

Paper: MCP 312

Without filter: Paper speed is ISO 400 require 20.2 sec(f-stop printing).

With Grade 3 filter: Paper speed is ISO 160 require 64 sec(approximately).

Paper: Adox Vario Classic

With Grade 3 filter: Paper speed is ISO 40 require 256 sec(approximately).

Filter was placed under the lens.

Paper Developer: ECO 4812 Moersch.

Question: Is it normal to have such a long exposure times for paper.

I would suggest this neg is over exposed by at least 3 stops.

pentaxuser · Feb 18, 2013

cliveh said:
I would suggest this neg is over exposed by at least 3 stops.

I hadn't thought about this but it would certainly explain why the times are long. The key here is: are the negs really "meaty" looking and even if they are it depends on the OP's definition of this. If his negs have always been this way then my and your "meaty" is his normal.

Maybe there is no way of getting to the "why" short of seeing the negs and even comparing them with yours and mine. Clive

I know little about scanning but maybe a scan of the neg would help answer this?

pentaxuser

Thomas Bertilsson · Feb 18, 2013

Maybe 'overexposed' by some people's standards, but it could well be that OP gets exactly what they want this way.
Many photographers rely on more exposure than box speed, as well as more developing time than recommended.
Ralph Gibson comes to mind.

cliveh · Feb 18, 2013

Chacun à son goût.

Thomas Bertilsson · Feb 18, 2013

cliveh said:
Chacun à son goût.

Absolument.

Newt_on_Swings · Feb 18, 2013

I was testing some Kodaline paper the other day, and it had really really long exposures. The included data sheet stated that it was for mainly contact printing or reproduction of halftone images, though the box I had was 11x14. So it really depends on the paper, and as long as the image forms to your liking you are fine. I havent had a chance to try lith printing, but as of what I read their exposures are also very very long.

baachitraka · Feb 19, 2013

Thomas Bertilsson said:
Maybe 'overexposed' by some people's standards, but it could well be that OP gets exactly what they want this way.
Many photographers rely on more exposure than box speed, as well as more developing time than recommended.
Ralph Gibson comes to mind.

Like APX, Fomapan indeed require more exposure at-least a stop when developed in Rodinal 1+50 to get the good shadow details. For me negatives are not that dense at all.

I will test again this weekend with and without graded filter.

Very long paper exposure times

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