I'm looking for recomendations from folks about which enlarger timer to purchase. I shoot 4x5 and my enlarger is a Beseler 45MX with Zone VI cold head. I've seen the newer digital models which allow you to spot meter the enlarged image and calculate an initial expsoure as a starting point. Any of these worthwhile or should I go back to a standard timer?

-- Scott Killian (killian@fanbuzz.com), May 30, 2002

Answers

Hands down: http://www.rhdesigns.co.uk/SCPro.htm

-- Nacio Jan Brown (njb@limn.net), May 30, 2002.

Better yet, get the new "Vario" model of the above timer and use it with: http://www.rhdesigns.co.uk/zonemaster.htm. njb

-- Nacio Jan Brown (njb@limn.net), May 30, 2002.

Do you have a Zone VI Stabilizer? Does your Zone VI head have a built-in photocell for a Zone VI Enlarger Timer (from Calumet). Not all digital timers can handle the load of a cold light head without getting fried.

-- Michael Feldman (mfeldman@qwest.net), May 31, 2002.

Don't have a Zone VI Stabilizer, although I see them on eBay fairly often. RH Designs makes a unit called the Analyser Pro which I've been eyeing. It appears to work with cold heads and combines the densitometer feature with a digital timer. Would it make sense to combine this with the Zone VI Stabilizer?

-- Scott Killian (killian@fanbuzz.com), May 31, 2002.

Don't have a Zone VI Stabilizer, although I see them on eBay fairly often. RH Designs makes a unit called the Analyser Pro which I've been eyeing.

http://www.rhdesigns.co.uk/analyser.htm

It appears to work with cold heads and combines the densitometer feature with a digital timer. Would it make sense to combine this with the Zone VI Stabilizer?

-- Scott Killian (killian@fanbuzz.com), May 31, 2002.

The Stabilizer performs a different function than then timer, and is highly recommended no matter what timer you use. The purpose of the stabilizer is to keep the output of the head level. CL heads have a bad habit of fluctuating their light output depending on a number of factors, incl. voltage, temperature, time, etc. I use the stabilizer with a standard timer [I perform the calculations myself].

-- Alec (alecj@bellsouth.net), May 31, 2002.

Scott,

There is also the Metrolux timer with cell for the cold light head to keep output consistent.

The RH Designs Analyser Pro does not have a facility for a cell for the cold light source.

You should get the Stop-Clock Vario and the ZoneMaster II.

-- Erik (xx@xx.com), May 31, 2002.

You didn't say whether your Zone VI Cold Light has the built-in photocell. The older ones did not, but the newer ones did. If you have the built in photocell, I would recommend the Zone VI Compensating Enlarging Timer from Calumet. It's not cheap at $380. If you don't have the built-in photocell you can get one from Calumet for about $55, but you will have to install it yourself.

There are two main considerations with cold light heads and timers. First, many digital timers cannot handle the load, and second, you need some way to stabilize the light source (which is notorious for fluctuating). Zone VI Compensating Enlarging Timer and photocell solve both of these issues, but there may be other solutions.

-- Michael Feldman (mfeldman@qwest.net), May 31, 2002.

Thanks for the advice. How can I check the head to see if it has already has the photocell?

-- Scott Killian (killian@fanbuzz.com), June 01, 2002.

On the top of the head (where the other wires come out) there would be an unused 3 prong round outlet. On the bottom of the unit (where the light tubes are) would be a photocell.

-- Michael Feldman (mfeldman@qwest.net), June 01, 2002.

Everyone,

Thanks for your help. I talked with RH Designs and since I was able to confirm that I indeed have the photo cell in my Zone VI head, I think I'm going to spring for the Stop-Clock Vario and the ZoneMaster II. Once again, this board has been a huge help.

-- Scott Killian (killian@xx.com), June 02, 2002.

Ansel Adams used a metronome and a switch. If it was good enough for him, I see no reason to buy a timer...

-- Ole Tjugen (oftjugen@online.no), June 04, 2002.

"Ansel Adams used a metronome and a switch". Adams was a classically trained musician first. He also freely admitted that the sound of the metronome might drive many people crazy. He also was aware of the brightness fluctuations inherent with the cold light (brightness varies w/ temperature) and devised elaborate methods to find repeatablity. Without much success. When Zone VI invented the stabilizer (after Adams' death) the cold light finally became a repeatable light source. I've used a cold light with and without the stabilizer, and without it you'll make yourself insane and make the paper manufacturers rich. I'm not familiar with all the timers mentioned, I believe the Mtrolux also can control cold-light output, and that the Calumet compensating timer does the same, eliminating the need for the stabilizer. But you've got to have something to control the output. This was graphically explained in a 1980's issue of the old "Zone VI Newsletter". And they/Calumet did indeed sell a metronome, for those who like it; IIRC they called it a Tiktok".

-- Mark Sampson (MSampson45@aol.com), June 07, 2002.