Can someone tell me the difference of these 3 types of enlarger for printing B/W

Which one is better for VC paper. If using graded paper, would condenser enlarger better?

-- Mike (mike235@hotmail.com), March 07, 2002

Answers

I know I'm going to catch flack from the various light system religious fanatics, but in the sixties and seventies, before color, when this stuff was hot, tests carried out in various magazines of the time usually came to the conclusion that in spite of all the rabid aherence to one system or another, the entire difference between the various lighting systems, true point-source lights excluded, was a slight difference in contrast that could be compensated for in paper grade. Not more shadow detail, not more highlight gradation, not more sharpness. I know this will cause a howl from all the partisans who'll say it ain't true from their collective centuries of darkroom experience and superior expertise [shields up.]

I'd choose the system based on convenience. Cold light, as far as I know, forces you to use VC filters in the image path, so if I was doing VC I wouldn't use it. Between condenser and VC heads, it's an issue of convenience, cost, and intermediate grades of contrast. Do you REALLY need 1/4 grades enough to pay for them?

As I tried to say in another thread, the mind and hands doing the work are ultimately the limiting factor in making prints, not the equipment. Equipment can make it a bit easier one way or another, but it can't make good prints for you if you don't know how. A tin can with a piece of flashed opal glass one one end and a superb lens on the other can make a superb print, as I believe Ansel Adams essentially proved a long time ago, pre-fancy enlargers.

-- Michael Darnton (mdarnton@hotmail.com), March 07, 2002.

Most condenser enlarger users will argue that a condenser enlarger gives snappy prints compared to a diffusion enlarger. I like a diffusion enlarger because it is easier to print color with it, you can control contrast easier, and its more forgiving when it comes to dust on a negative.

Regards Steve

-- Steve Belden (otterpond@adelphia.net), March 07, 2002.

Condensor enlargers are excellent, in theory though you'll want top quality, not cheap pressed glass condensors. In the Valoy or Focomat Leitz enlarger, the direct physical contact of the condensor with your negative will also secure film flatness at the negative stage. Dust on the neg with subsequent print spotting is the main disadvantage. Filters for VC printing won't degrade your final image as long as they are placed above the lens. Placed below the lens you may lose some quality in theory. Not a very significant factor though.

A VC head with constant exposure (VCCE) or a Dichroic halogen light source are very practical: the latter could be calibrated to your choice of VC paper according to instructions as available through Paul Butzi's web site.

A more expensive but route is the Heiland Splitgrade system which consists of a VC light source linked to an analyser/timer unit. This can be installed on a condensor or non-condensor type enlarger.

-- Hans Berkhout (berkhout@cadvision.com), March 08, 2002.