Well after years and years of looking at this enlarger I finally bought one. I have dreamed of owning one of these Fred Picker Zone VI jobs for upwards of 20 years, today I bought a used one online. The enlarger is a Type 2 with the compensationg timer and variable contrast head. The cost was reasonable for this originally very expensive machien, $1100 USD plus $300 USD (shipping). The enlarger looks to be in mint shape and has been owned by only one dedicated person.
These machines are cold light, a type of light I have never printed under before. They have a reputation as being a bit touchy, the cold light can heat up and cool down altering exposure times. From what I read online thou the Type 2 has solved this problem with their compensating enlarger timer (included in auction) with photocell. The timer adjusts the exposure time depending on the heat level of the head. Another cool thing about the timer is they have a dry down setting allowing the darkroom worker to print more accurately, anticipating the dry down of the fiber papers whites.
This whole thing fits under the "Do I really need it category?" I have lots of enlargers, no cold light enlarger but still have lots of different types. Do I really need it? I probably have one of the best equiped darkrooms in Western Canada, most likely the best darkroom in my city of Edmonton. I felt having access to cold light and having a second 5x7 enlarger was a benefit, it would add to the depth and ability of my special room. The price was right, so why not? I am getting older and running out of time. If I was ever going to get one of these things, now is the time. So, fuck it, I went for it! I will need to remove one my existing enlargers (have 2 I never use) and place my new Zone VI beauty there.
My life plan (assuming I live till 82 like my dad) has always been to keep in as good a shape as I can and to shoot photographs until I am at least 70 years old. When I reach 70, am more feeble and cannot be in the field (locations in Asia with heavy gear) as much I want to devote the rest of my life to the darkroom, printing my lifetime negatives. In the darkroom it does not really matter how slow I move, as long as my eyesight holds I should be ok. This wonderful Zone VI machine will give me another creative option in that last 10+ years of important darkroom printing.
Will up date you all with prints I make and the general use of this machine later on. Finally one of my dream tools is coming to my darkroom. I am very excited. You got to love digital photography, it is allowing me to chase down all the best equipment I always dreamed of owning and could never afford on a security guards salary. I am now using, Leica, Blad, Linfhoff, Deardorff, ULF. Durst, Saunders and now Zone VI.
Update* I will need to get 4x5 and 5x7 neg carriers for this machine. The seller only included 35mm, 645, 6x6 and 6x7 carriers. The enlarger also has a foot switch for the timer which I feel is essential in my printing process.
Update* I believe this enlarger can also be upgraded to 8x10. I doubt I will go there as I already have an 8x10 enlarger but it is nice to have that possible option.
These machines are cold light, a type of light I have never printed under before. They have a reputation as being a bit touchy, the cold light can heat up and cool down altering exposure times. From what I read online thou the Type 2 has solved this problem with their compensating enlarger timer (included in auction) with photocell. The timer adjusts the exposure time depending on the heat level of the head. Another cool thing about the timer is they have a dry down setting allowing the darkroom worker to print more accurately, anticipating the dry down of the fiber papers whites.
This whole thing fits under the "Do I really need it category?" I have lots of enlargers, no cold light enlarger but still have lots of different types. Do I really need it? I probably have one of the best equiped darkrooms in Western Canada, most likely the best darkroom in my city of Edmonton. I felt having access to cold light and having a second 5x7 enlarger was a benefit, it would add to the depth and ability of my special room. The price was right, so why not? I am getting older and running out of time. If I was ever going to get one of these things, now is the time. So, fuck it, I went for it! I will need to remove one my existing enlargers (have 2 I never use) and place my new Zone VI beauty there.
My life plan (assuming I live till 82 like my dad) has always been to keep in as good a shape as I can and to shoot photographs until I am at least 70 years old. When I reach 70, am more feeble and cannot be in the field (locations in Asia with heavy gear) as much I want to devote the rest of my life to the darkroom, printing my lifetime negatives. In the darkroom it does not really matter how slow I move, as long as my eyesight holds I should be ok. This wonderful Zone VI machine will give me another creative option in that last 10+ years of important darkroom printing.
Will up date you all with prints I make and the general use of this machine later on. Finally one of my dream tools is coming to my darkroom. I am very excited. You got to love digital photography, it is allowing me to chase down all the best equipment I always dreamed of owning and could never afford on a security guards salary. I am now using, Leica, Blad, Linfhoff, Deardorff, ULF. Durst, Saunders and now Zone VI.
Update* I will need to get 4x5 and 5x7 neg carriers for this machine. The seller only included 35mm, 645, 6x6 and 6x7 carriers. The enlarger also has a foot switch for the timer which I feel is essential in my printing process.
Update* I believe this enlarger can also be upgraded to 8x10. I doubt I will go there as I already have an 8x10 enlarger but it is nice to have that possible option.
