Zone VI 8x10 enlarger vs Beseler 8x10 enlarger

Need help in deciding on which enlarger is best for me. I now use the

Beseler 8x10 cold lite, which was fine until I started shooting 5x7

film. Found that Beseler does not make a 5x7 glassless negative

carrier and dispite what everyone has told me I am getting Newton

rings when I sandwich the 5x7 negative between frosted plexiglass and

the normal clear glass supplied by Beseler, that and dust spots have

driven me up the wall. Beseler was no help in trying to find a 5X7

glassless negative carrier. I found a Zone VI 8X10 cold light enlarger

(non-VC)that also includes a 5x7 variable-contrast cold light head and

4x5 color head, it also includes timers and transformers. The 5x7 cold

light head contrast control box is rather big and the owner tells me

that the newer smaller one now sold by Calumet is not as good as the

one he has and that was sold to him by Fred Picker. He has also hooked

up a fine focus switch that is on the base board (so no reaching for

the sky). Here are some of my sticking points. 1. the 8x10 negative

carrier is made so that the negative just lays on top of the frame (he

says he keeps it in place with some type of mylar, he also recommends

painter's blue tape. 2. Because the 8x10 head is a Non-VC type, he

puts Dupoint filters under the lens. The Zone VI 8x10 unlike the

Beseler 8x10 does not have a slot to put filters above the negative.

3. His is the single post Zone VI and seems somewhat light weight

compared to my older Beseler 45MXT blue model. Am not sure how stable

it will be when I am making 16x20 or 20x24 prints. As I understand it

Fred Picker himself designed the Zone VI and I feel somewhat at odds

with my doubts about the design and how well it will work. Would like

to hear from one and all. I have until 9/24/2005 to let him know if I

want to buy his Zone VI system for $1800.00 Thanks, John

NA/NA,

 

As you so adroitly pointed out in your question/discussion, one enlarger does not do everything you want, they are all compromises. I have both enlargers, Zone VI & Beseler, and the Zone VI is not any better at projection printing, just a little different. It sounds like the ZONE VI is a Type I enlarger since you mention a single post. The Type II series has two posts in the chassis (see Zone VI Enlarger Chassis on Calumet's on-line catalogue). Calumet does not support the Type I and Beseler has supported their enlargers for decades. Presently Calumet is not offering the traditional cold light VC head, but is going to offer a LED VC head for their enlarger, BUT it will only cover a 4X5 negative. A 5X7 enlarger that will not print 5X7 negatives. I worry about the commitment of Calumet toward the Zone VI product line and question their ability to service these expensive pieces of equipment in the years to come. Beseler has been around for a long time and most changes to their enlargers have not made the older models obsolete. Usually the improvements can be retrofitted to older models or are practically insignificant. $1800.00 is a lot of money for very little improvement, if any, to your present set up. I am sure you can overcome your negative carrier problems for a lot less than 18 big ones.

 

Paul

I don't know enough about the Zone VI enlargers to be able to follow all the variations on a theme of 4x5/5x7/8x10/VC/non-VC etc. but you began by saying you were unable to find a 5x7 glassless negative carrier. Can't you make your own carrier since you presumably have a negative carrier of some size that you use with your Beseler enlarger and from which a template could be created? I used to teach a Beginning Photography course and my students made their own negative carriers for the lab's Beseler and Omega 4x5 enlargers out of cardboard. It took them maybe a half hour or so using an Exacto knife and a template I provided.

There are two slots in the Beseler head. Remove the opal plastic from the glass and put it in the upper slot. Make a glass sandwich with tape at the back edges for the lower slot-I get mine from the local glass store. Now cut a mask fom a pice of cardboard for 5x7.

I have found this works admirably for all sizes of film from 116 up. I also lets me lay Rosco acetates on top of the plastic and not disturb them when changing negs. I found the original sandwich had some minute scratches on the plastic and discovered them in printing- the blemishes were within the depth of focus for the neg. Moving the diffuser up to the top notch solved that. The image seems brighter when the (4x5 or smaller) neg is closer to the light source, compared to using a 4x5 carrier below. I regularly print 16X20 and 10X40, mostly from 120, 116 and postcard size, and an occaisional 5x7 and 8x10.

I have a Zone VI type enlarger with the variable contrast module and cold light head. I also have an 8X10 cold light and adaptor which I have not used. The photographer I purchased it from did mostly 8X10 architectural work; very precise work related to restoration of building fascades. I saw his prints and they were stunning and large. 20X24 was his small size. I've used the enlarger for some 4X5 work only. Honestly, I'm not enthralled by the double exposure system, one for low contrast, one for high contrast. If I were doing only fine art, I might get into it, but I'm a professional photographer and need to 'crank' out good prints. I think $1800 is high for this set-up. I'd consider selling mine for about half that with carriers and lenses. I apologize if its inapropriate to make that offer on this site. Contact me if interested.

I meant to include that I have the type 1 version.

<p>So, I decided to stick with Beseler blue model 4X5 W/8X10 cold light head. Over the past three or four years, have tired using 5X7 glassless negative carriers made for 5X7 Beseler & Omega enlargers. Beseler 5X7 carrier is to large. Omega 5X7 carrier is sto small. This past weekend at photographer's estate sale. I found a glassless 5X7 negative carrier. Model #NC-2 With the name "The Kriser Corp" stamped on the carrier. Think it was made for an Elwood 5X7 enlarger. Some idiot bought the enlarger before I got there, & left negative carriers, & other parts of the enlarger behind. I hate it when parts get separated by people who have no or very little idea of what they are doing. I cannot find any information about the negative carrier. It is almost a perfect fit, when I put it on top of the 8X10 negative carrier made for the Beseler 8X10 cold light head. If I either file down two sides of the Kriser 5X7 carrier or remove the four positioning pins on the 8X10 Beseler negative carrier. IT will lay flat. Does anyone know anything about the 5X7 Kriser Corp (Elwood 5X7 enlarger)glassless negative carrier/holder? I can be reached at moye44@aol.com</p>

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