Zone VI Enlarger

[nsurit]

I have an opportunity to buy a "complete" darkroom set up including a Zone VI enlarger. Now I know "complete" may or may not be that, however having no experience with Zone VI enlargers, I'd appreciate any advice folks on this forum might offer about what to look for and what to look out for with this equipment. The person from whom I would be buying the gear is not a stranger to me and I know how they take care of their gear. I expect it will be near new. Are there any problems getting parts for these enlargers or are they available from Calumet? Thanks in advance for any help with this. Bill Barber

 

[mmcclellan]

Although I do not own a Zone VI enlarger, I have lots of other Zone VI darkroom tools, camera, etc., and I have found them all, without exception, to be very well made, well designed, and pure pleasure to use. I have also heard plenty of others who do have the enlarger rave about it, so if the price is good, I would recommend you go for it!

The nice thing about Zone VI stuff is that it was all designed by a working photographer who actually put the products through real life tests, used it himself, and had it well made to high standards. Most of it was also designed by Paul Horowitz, a leading physicist at Harvard (google the guy and you'll see what I mean!) who really knew his electronics.

I would feel VERY comfortable buying this set-up as long as it's in good condition, the price is right, and you get to test it out in his darkroom before paying.

Good luck! )

 

[Peter Schrager]

Zone VI

While I own and use many of the ZoneVI products the enlarger was the one thing that I got rid of as soon as possible. Never liked it-never will. Did not live up to it's claims. Found an old Burke+James 5x7 enlarger and adapted the VC light to it. Works like a charm....
Peter
.

 

[Donald Miller]

The Zone VI type I enlarger was acknowledged as being lacking in it's design and stability. The type II was recognized as being better. I would determine which type is included in this darkroom.

 

[clay]

Hey Bill,

I just sold my Zone VI via ebay! I liked the enlarger, but in my opinion it had one significant shortcoming, and that was in the area of negative flatness. I ended up having a custom glass carrier made by Richard Ritter that solved that problem. I just hated looking at a enlargement from an 35mm negative that had sharp grain in the center and mushy grain in the corners. When I got the glass carrier made, it solved all those issues. But as far as stability and ease of use goes, it was a fantastic enlarger.

BTW, I saw you stopped in at DeSantos gallery and looked at some of the work from my recent show. I hope you liked it!

c

 

[blansky]

I have a Zone VI Type Two enlarger and use is a few times a week. One of the reasons I got it was because I snagged it from an old gentleman who didn't use it anymore and it had a great price. I can print up to 5x7, although I only go to 4x5.

One great thing about cold light heads is that you don't get negative pop from the heat. That always seemed to give me problems with "hot" enlargers.

They are handled by Calumet now and are presently in the process of coming out with a LED head which should be pretty neat.(if it ever gets here)

The Type 1 had a single chrome rod that focus plane rides up and down. If it has that it is not a great deal because there are not a lot of replacement parts and accessories available. Also there were issues with the light or lack of it, I believe.

If it has two chrome rods that the focus plane rides on it is a Type 2 and I'd get it if the price is right.

Remember, that people will give you 100 different answers on which type of enlarger to buy, but with most of us, it is really just picking one and getting used to it.

Hope this helps.


Michael

 

[nsurit]

Hey Bill,

BTW, I saw you stopped in at DeSantos gallery and looked at some of the work from my recent show. I hope you liked it!

c

Yes, I did. Both stop by and enjoyed it. I didn't get there until after the show closed however the owner most graciously took me upstairs and shared a great deal of what had been in the show. I was at First Tuesday at Houston Center for Photography last night and there was an image hanging which certainly looked like one of yours. Thanks for the info on the enlarger. I don't currently have a place for it, however in the next couple of years will and it could happen sooner. I'll take a harder look at it to see what all is included. They did say that it had a 63" rail, if that might give a clue as to if it a series I or II enlarger. I would want something that would carry me to 4X5 as I shoot 35mm, 120 (6X9) and 4X5 and I think this one will get me there. Bill Barber

 

[photobackpacker]

Just to echo the above - If it is a type I, stay away. Calumet admitted to me that even with the stabilizer, the type I enlarger delivered up to 60% variation from one exposure to the next. Talk about insanity in the darkroom. The type one I owned kept Kodak in the paper business. The only good thing was I didn't need much space to store well-printed finished prints!

 

[blansky]

This is the chassis from a Calumet picture. Notice the two chrome rods. This is the Type 2. If it doesn't have them, but has a single one, it is the old kind and probably not a good idea.


Michael

 

[resummerfield]

I used to have a Type 2 enlarger, and I liked it. My only minor complaint was it’s printing speed… most enlargements in the 6-8x range were close to 60 seconds at f 11-16. Clay is right about the negative flatness, but that applies to all “glassless” carriers. A glass carrier can easily be fabricated for the Zone VI. Before I had one made up, I used two pieces of glass with masking. Calumet continues to stock most parts for the enlarger, including neg carriers and lensboards.

 

[photobackpacker]

The two issues are linked - because the brightness of the light source was on the low side of normal, I found myself working far closer to wide open aperatures that ever before. This brought negative flatness (or lack thereof) into play as another problem.

Even after calumet finally took my type I unit back in exchange for a type II, I sold the whole thing and bought a Saunders 4550VCCE. It was a very happy day when I put that unit into use - a radical difference in both repeatability and brightness.

 

[resummerfield]

.....I sold the whole thing and bought a Saunders 4550VCCE. It was a very happy day when I put that unit into use - a radical difference in both repeatability and brightness.

I should have put that comment in my post. I do like coldlight, but I was much happier with a tungsten light source, if for no other reason than the printing speed and repeatability.

 

[blansky]

As you may know, Zone VI is coming out with a LED head that is reported to be 3 1/2 times brighter.

Of course it is at least a year late showing up on the market and sells for 1300 dollars.


Michael

 

[Mike-D]

I picked up a Zone VI type I a few month ago for a good price. Frankly I have had very few of the problems others have had. Film flatness and stability are both fine. Exposures are consistent with the compensating timer. You need that. Exposures run 5-10 'beeps' at F11.

Here's the problem. The blue (high contrast) light is quite strong. The green (soft contrast) light is quite weak so VC paper is out for now. Works fine with graded paper. Have to get that fixed.

Mike D

 

[clay]

But wasn't the new head limited to 4x5 and smaller? I seem to remember reading that in the specs.

As you may know, Zone VI is coming out with a LED head that is reported to be 3 1/2 times brighter.

Of course it is at least a year late showing up on the market and sells for 1300 dollars.


Michael

 

[Les McLean]

I have both type 1 and 2 versions of the Zone VI enlarger and whilst I would agree that type 2 is of better construction I have yet to have instability problems with my type 1. After all, once the height is set and the enlarger is focussed you are not going to be swinging on the head during the exposure.

I did have some problems with unsharness in the corners of prints and experimented with a home made glass carrier but found the problem was caused by the head being slightly out of alignment. I invested in a laser alignment tool and have not had the problem since and have returned to using my original Zone VI carriers. I check the head alignment at the beginning of a printing session and when I change the enlarging lens during a session. My only criticism is that enlarging times are longer than they would be with a condensor or diffusion enlarger but for me that is a very small price to pay.

I have seen the prototype LED ZoneVI enlarger and cannot wait until Calumet launch it for it is considerably brighter than the current Zone VI VC enlarger.

 

[TimVermont]

I have a type 2 with a glass carrier I made out of Denglas. My lighthead appears to be brighter than some others who have written in. It is extremely easy to align, which I appreciate. The wall-mount kit is a rip off. I used eyebolts, turnbuckles and plastic coated steel cable and am pleased with the result. Metal legs from IKEA that are screw-thread adjustable have allowed me to mount the baseboard as a table that can go up or down -and be leveled- to increase my capacity.

 

[blansky]

But wasn't the new head limited to 4x5 and smaller? I seem to remember reading that in the specs.

You are right. It fits in the same space as the 5x7 but can only handle 4x5.

I've had it on order for a year and it still isn't ready for prime time.



Michael

 

[Neil Poulsen]

I have both right now. I just upgraded to and recently installed the Type II with both the 5x7 and 8x10 VC heads. Until I have a chance to use it, all my experience is with the Type I. I'll probbly sell the Type I.

Under any circumstances, you need a compensating timer with the Type I. Even with this timer, there's only a single sensor, versus each color having it's own sensor. So, while you will always have consistent "overall" exposure, the contrast can vary as the individual green and blue colors vary.

The solution is to print each color separately, first one and then the other. This gives you one sensor, one light for each color. Assuming your timer is working correctly, this should give you consistency. I communicated with Richard Ritter by email, and he confirmed that this is the case. He also has the Type I.

As to sufficient light, I've had more than enough light with the Type I. The controller is so much heavier than the Type II controller, because the power sources are in the controller, and they are beefy. I've never had a problem printing 35mm to 8x10 in less than 30 seconds, and that's with the settings for both green and blue in the B to C range. That's in the low range.

The main problem with the Type I is that it's no longer possible to obtain replacement lamps with. That's why I took the opportunity to purchase a Type II. Another problem is that it won't print 5x7. It was originally designed as an oversized 4x5. It's vague as to how it obtained the 5x7 label.

I don't know if the one you're looking at has the Beseler adaptor, but that's an good accessory to have with this enlarger. For example, I easily adapted my D2v condensor head to the Type I. It was trivial. I placed a 1/4"x1/2" piece of rubber around the circumference of the condensor head at the correct height.

There are no replacement lensboards and negative carriers available, except perhaps the 9cmx12cm, and maybe one other obscure sized carrier.

Another thing to keep in mind about the Type I is that it's easy to adapt the Type II 8x10 head to this enlarger. Takes three small screws that I purchased from a hardward store. I also used three small rubber washers. But, using the 8x10 head with this enlarger places limitations on the enlarging lens that cn be used. About the only one I found that would fit is a an older 240 Schneider Componon.