Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 1996/10/16
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]>Ah, but there's more. The mixing chamber on the V35 gives it a fall-off of >only 1/10 stop from center to edge, and according to reports I've read, >that's about the best there is. Plus autofocus once calibrated makes the >darkroom experience much more pleasurable. No more futzing with raise the >head, refocus, lower the head, refocus, raise less, focus, lower less, >focus. That's a major problem if you ask me, and using the Beseler 23C at >work is a major pain after using the V35. Hmm. I have measured densities on test prints of 18% gray test negs several times to calibrate my equipment ... seems to me the print density gradient was more dependent upon which lens I was using than which enlarger it was fitted to. I have a cold light head for the Beseler (as well as the condenser and dichroic diffusion heads) and you get different values on those as well. While autofocus is a nice convenience, it presupposes that you are going to be using one lens all the time since it requires calibration. I used to switch between my lenses all the time ... each of them gives a different quality to the print ... which would make calibration a tedious job. Yes, the Beseler I always found a bit clumsy in operation, but it is versatile and handles all formats up to 6x9cm. I bought the Durst because it was faster and easier to work with when I was doing exclusively 35mm. Also takes up far less room in the darkroom. I guess this is all somewhat academic as I have not used either one in over a decade. :( Godfrey