I have always used a Saunders 4 bladed easel, but I am considering a small easel for proof work.

Do those speed-type easels, where you slide the paper into a slot, hold the paper flat enough?

Just from looking at them, there would seem to be a good bit of room for the paper to flex, and not lay flat.

Anyone have any experiences with them?

Thanks in advance for your help.

-- KL Vance (kmdrum@netzero.net), May 30, 2002

Answers

They will generally hold the paper flat enough. If you have concerns about this, you can alway use another piece of photo paper the same size to double the thickness and make the fit tighter.

-- Jim Rock (jameswrock@aol.com), May 30, 2002.

It should not be a problem, as depth of field will likely be about a half-inch at the baseboard (as opposed to depth of focus at the neg, which is in fractions of a millimetre). So, even if the paper does bow up a bit, the image will still be sharp.

-- Don Wilkes (don.wilkes@gems9.gov.bc.ca), May 30, 2002.

The only thing that you really have to worry about with a Speed Easel is keeping it centered for a consistent border. Other than that, they are great!

-- Scott Walton (walton@ll.mit.edu), May 31, 2002.

I use those at work occasionally when i have to make humdreds of prints of one neg...I usually tape the speed-ez to something heavy & flat like another easel, or a big box of paper....the Saunders one-size easels are the best of the type, just my opinion here...they make a couple of really nice ones, like a 5x7 single that has a movable inner bar. This gives you either a fixed 5x7 with a little than 1/4inch type border or a 5x5 inch square (offset) or a 4x5. It's hinged though, so you don't slide the paper in like those other easels....the only problems I have ever had with the classic speed ez's are that they can get warped, or bowed a bit...I've seen new in the box like this, so shop carefully. I guess you could bend them flat....the bigger they are, the more this seems to be a problem...the little guys work great though.

btw, that Saunders multiprinter, the $400 one, is great for proof printing....I use a lower tech version of that to print 4--- 3.5 x 5 prints up on an 8x10 sheet....I can do a roll of film pretty fast this way (with processor & a small exposure meter...EM10)

-- dk thompson (kthompson@moh.dcr.state.nc.us), June 01, 2002.