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Request info on GRALAB 505 timer
Hi all,
I recently acquired a GRALAB 505 digital timer and 560 foot switch to replace my GRALAB 300 analog timer. The reason I switched was that I wanted to have the use of a foot switch (my third hand) when I am doing dodging ot burning. I can set up my burning/dodging equipement in my two hands and set the timer off with the foot switch something that I could not do with my analog 300. In short, a foot switch seemed like a good idea to solve a difficulty. Unfortunately, this has created a nuisance. On my analog 300, I could switch from focus mode (enlarger light on) to safelight mode with the use of the one toggle switch in the upper right hand corner. One switch and I could go from one mode to the other. With the digital 505, I find that I have to use two switches to go from one mode to the other. In the upper right hand corner, there are two switches: Safelight on ----- OFF----- Timer Enlarger on ------ OFF----- Timer If I want to focus, I first have to turn the Safelight OFF, then I have to turn the the Enlarger on. And of course, once I have finished my focusing, I have to set the Enlarger switch to Timer and use the other switch to turn on the Safelight so that I can place my paper etc, Then I have to set the Safelight to Timer and then use the foot switch if I am dodging/burning. Compared to the 300 with the one toggle switch for focus/safelights and push button on top to start the timer (and at the same time shutting off the safelights), the 505 seems to be overly complicated; too many switches to move around. The question is, am I doing something wrong with the 505 and creating needless actions or is there a simpler way of doing this on the 505 which would be comparable to the analog 300. I don't have a manual for the 505. If I am doing something wrong, could some kind soul set me straight and explain the correct procedure for the 505? Thanks for any help. Regards, Bogdan -- __________________________________________________ ______________ Bogdan Karasek Montréal, Québec Canada www.bogdanphoto.com "I photograph my reality" __________________________________________________ ______________ |
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Request info on GRALAB 505 timer
"Bogdan Karasek" wrote
With the digital 505, I find that I have to use two switches to go from focus mode (enlarger light on) to safelight mode [I don't like this] If, instead, you had purchased a Darkroom Automation f-Stop timer you could go from focus mode to expose mode with just the footswitch: Tap switch: start exposure Tap switch while exposing: pause exposure, enlarger off/safelight on Tap switch while paused: resume exposure Hold switch down while exposing or paused: cancel exposure Hold switch down: focus mode, turn enlarger on Tap switch while focusing: end focusing And, you would have: o f-stop timing, exposure control that makes sense o dodging, including multiple dodges - like dodging one area for 1 stop and another for 1.5 stops o burning in stops, as many as you want o progressive burning - unlimited burns within burns o burns and dodges track changes in base exposu dodges and burns are always +/- stops over/under the base exposure o Automatic test strip timing with any starting exposure and increment per strip. For a lot less money than you spent on the 505 & footswitch: $159 for the timer, $29 for the footswitch. And then there's the enlarging meter, and how it works with the timer, but that would take pages and pages of explanation. http://www.darkroomautomation.com/index.htm 505 seems to be overly complicated; too many switches to move around. Gralab timers are designed for general industrial use. You are controlling your enlarger with a timer that's really designed for controlling a baking oven. They put a different decal on it and presto: now it's an enlarging timer. Of course it doesn't work the way you want. -- Nicholas O. Lindan, Cleveland, Ohio Darkroom Automation: F-Stop Timers, Enlarging Meters http://www.darkroomautomation.com/index.htm n o lindan at ix dot netcom dot com |
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