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Best exposure meter for printing?


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Hi,

 

I have just purchased a V35 in perfect condition and I would like to add the speed of automatic exposure calculation to the mix. I have never used one of these devices and as far as I can tell they speed up the process by producing an accurate work print and burning and dodging to relative perfection can go from there.

 

What are your experiences with the various devices that do this? I scoured the internet to no real avail. I'm curious about the;

 

Heiland Splitgrade

Focotimer

Ilford Exposure Timer

 

The prices for these devices varies widely so I was wondering about the effectiveness and advantages of each.

 

Thank you

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I'm curious about how worthy those devices are.

Once you are in the ballpark, after a few quick exposure tests on small bits of paper, there should be no difference Versus what a meter will give you.

 

I think your sentence wraps it up well and is not necessarily in favor of a meter:

print and burning and dodging to relative perfection can go from there.

To me, this sentence could be said for the good old method of test strips.

 

Please note I could be wrong as I have never used those meters. Never felt the need. But I am curious!

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IMHO, they are a waste of money. After some experience, you will learn a ball-park range of exposure, and can narrow down to good exposure, dodge and burning by using the traditional step exposure.

 

I use 'F-Stop' increments for the first test strip. That is, exposures of 2, 4, 8, 16 seconds, then pick the best and do a tradional step-strip in that range. Keep in mind that many iterative exposures do not always add up to the required final exposure, but it is close enough to work from.

 

The darkroom gadgets, other than the most excellent MC heads (I use an Ilford head) with a timer that compensate exposure for chosen filter (good for split-grade work), really do not do anything you cannot do in your head.

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If you go for the RH Zonemaster I can post the calibration settings for the V35 with Ilford MG. The two work beautifully together. The way it automatically adjusts exposure time as you expand or contract paper contrast is superb. Down to 1/10 of a second, I might add!

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http://www.fotohuisrovo.nl/documentatie/Split_Grade_Manual_V23_Englisch.pdf

 

The Heiland Split Grade system is the only analyser you can immediately use without further calibration. It's also the fastest system in use. But it's not cheap, however the price for the V35 version is not too big due to the fact that you can rebuild the V35 yourself.

 

Certainly recommended!

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