Re: Re: [Leica] Doing it manually- Heiland Splitgrade

["Dan Post" <dpost@triad.rr.com>]

Richard-
The expense is that they include a database and you can automatically set it
for quite a few different papers. Me, I have an old Beseler PM2M I got for
about $125 ( on eBay!), and since I only use a couple of different papers, I
only had to set up 'programs' for them, snd while it might not be as
convenient, it is sort of like riding a bicycle- once you get it down, it is
easy.
Maybe I should put the explanation of the system on my website, and let some
of the LUG try it at least. Even a fine art photographer friend was
impressed when I showed her that by programming the meter for various tones,
that she could print any portion of her negatives to the tone she wanted-
first time, everytime, and that she could make her dodging and burning
efforts from that point- she loved it in that it gave her a starting point
that was repeatable, and by making notes on the printing changes, she could
reproduce 2 or 20 prints and they would all be perfect!
Using fresh chemicals, and standardizing on one development time, and temp-
you remove or reduce the intervening variables that make reproducing that
'killer' print all the more possible.
In fact- I have used the enlarging attachment on my Gossen Luna-Pro, and
gotten nearly as good results. I suppose it is like the Leica camera- it is
a tool, and the results depend on how and when you use it!
Dan
- ----- Original Message -----
From: <Disfromage@aol.com>
To: <leica-users@mejac.palo-alto.ca.us>
Sent: Thursday, June 15, 2000 8:33 PM
Subject: Re: [Leica] Doing it manually- Heiland Splitgrade


>
> In a message dated 06/15/2000 3:26:14 PM, you wrote:
>
> <<I found
>
> that metering, at least with the system I use, I can get a relatively
decent
>
> print with the first or second time- and it at least puts me in the
>
> 'ballpark' for any further dodging or burning.>>
>
> Hi Dan,
>
> Since I'm the one who started this thread when I asked about the Heiland
> Splitgrade, I thought that I should follow up.  I spoke to John Bicht at
> Versalab-the US distributers for the Heiland (phone-970/622-0240,
> john@versalab.com)  He made a point of asking me what I wanted it to do,
and
> he agreed with my thinking that it is a good way to make work prints
> efficiently, but is not designed for fine printing.  That still takes
> judgement and experience, although the Heiland can be a good starting
point.
> John sent me a pdf of the users manual, and it looks to be a simple tool
to
> use, and can easily be customized for personal preferences.  The downside
is
> that it costs $1325.00 for my enlarger, and can't be returned if I don't
like
> it.  On the other hand that's less than a new Leica lens, so we'll see....
>
> Richard Wasserman