Anyone tried a LED-bulb in his enlarger?

PKR said:
The 60 hertz phase (pulse) rate gives some headaches when reading under CFL lamps.
Click to expand...
You shouldn't see a 60 Hertz pulse with CFLs since they work with an electronic "high frequency" (about 100kHz) converter to save weight and space. The traditional FLs with inductive ballast have 60 Hertz.
 
Hey - old thread - reviving:)
Did anyone truy to use a philips HUE or similar color-controllable LED bulb in an enlarger (for variable contrast printing, or even for color printing)?

i think of a test:) but would not mind reading experiences.
 
Haven't but I see several different manufacturer offering different color temperature "bulbs" even some with some level of adjustability via a smart phone.

As LEDs have evolved a LOT over the past 10 years this is a great thread to bring back up.

B2 (;->
 
Pherdinand said:
Hey - old thread - reviving:)
Did anyone truy to use a philips HUE or similar color-controllable LED bulb in an enlarger (for variable contrast printing, or even for color printing)?

i think of a test:) but would not mind reading experiences.
Click to expand...


I want to do it but I haven't for two reasons: I do not have a HUE lamp (but will try to get one soon) and the enlarging paper is too expensive for extensive testing.


Erik.
 
In one of the other forums, Photrio (Apug before) there's a nice thread last year. Search for Led bulb there.
 
Erik, I used CFL bulb in South Africa, as I couldn't find standard enlarger bulb.
I used Durst 606, reqd. the opal diffuser, due to bulb configuration.
A way brighter bulb without heat..so leaving it on, not a problem..
The red filter OK as safety for loading paper onto easel.
I had to really stop down, to be able to dodge or burn in..
Paper grade was Multi, no filter similar to Grade 2, looked like a beefed up Grade 6!
It was many years ago, now in Canada, enlarger bulbs avaialble but pricey..
The Durst was cool to touch, a new found pleasure..
 
I ment more like: use a real color-tuneable led bulb, turn it red when loading paper, turn it blue for high contrast or green for low contrast on multigrade paper. Combine for split grade. Etcetera.

If i get some old multigrade paper i will just go n try it. No idea about exposure times though:))
 
Well i tried it borrowing my wife's 3rd gen hue bulb.
It worked for multigrade contrast changing by changing green to blue.
BUT
Very impractical. If you use an nlarger timer it doesnt work as interrupting the power to the bulb makes it start up bright yellw-white next time, meaning you have to manually time it from on to off on a cell phone.
The app does not have a timer option (not on seconds level anyway), AND even more annoyingly it doesnt always immediately switch off or on when touching the touch button. So its a hit n miss action. Not to mention it is annoying to do it voa a ouchscreen.
Also, the colors do hot have a numeric value attached so everytime it's a guess. It is possible to save color settings for later use-thats about the only advantage.

Finally, the bulb phases out when switching off so for short exp times of a few seconds that means inaccuracy.

If there was a better app, maybe made for this purpose, it could work very well.
 
Might be an issue in a dichro head but i seriously doubt you'd have any issues in all but the most exotic B&W heads. Plus no film curl in the heat, no adjustments for the age of the bulb, super low energy usage, what's not to like? I thought that Heiland was specifically making an LED head? I would switch to one in a heartbeat.
 
Pherdinand, thanks for the real-life test, very useful. An interesting concept that didn't quite pan out!
 
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