Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2000/05/19

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Subject: RE: [Leica] Cold light
From: "Takeshi Hashimoto" <hashimoto.takeshi@mailcity.com>
Date: Fri, 19 May 2000 06:41:22 -1100

 
- --

On Fri, 19 May 2000 12:15:52   Austin Franklin wrote:
>>> You MUST reduceyou developing times from the "standard" Kodak times by
>>about > 25%; even better, use a compensating developer like Rodinal or
>>Acutol (better) AND > reduce your times by 25%. This will give a MUCH
>>better result with the condenser > than youcan get with cold light. Trust
>>me.
>>
>>Been there, done that.  Not even close.  I get a far better tonal range,
>>and much better definition with my cold light than any procedure I have
>>ever tried with a condenser.  The incandescent light source just can't do
>>what the cold light source can...
>>
>>I also overdevelop my negatives by %30 for cold light printing.
>>
>>----------------------------------------
>>
>
>Are you using a Leica enlarging lens?
>
>[Austin] No, I use Schneider lenses...I believe they are the Componon-S 
>series...  Have you really tried a cold light?  You are the first person I 
>have ever heard of claiming they get better results with an incandescent 
>bulb than with a cold light...  As a note, I believe most scanners are cold 
>light...someone correct me if I'm wrong on that please...
>
>--------------------------------------------
>
It has nothing to do with the light sourse PER SE, but rather with matching the negative development to it. You MUST use compensating development (something like D-76 1:1 at least) AND reduced times to get the best quality out of condensers. It helps to have a Leica Focotar-2: the contrast is superb. When your film is developed as described above, you'll get finer grain and better sharpness. Trust me.


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