Condensor head or colour head for B/W ?

[steveinspain]

Right, I am still at the 'new here, and new to printing' stage, so please bear with me..

I am about to buy an enlarger, purely for black and white, and want to know what difference does it make having a colour head or a condenser head ?
I seem to remember that a condensor head was better for B/W as it gave a sharper light (sharper ??) and the colour heads gave a gentle light, with lower contrast.
Am I right or what - any help much appreciated !
Thanks,
Steve

[ann]

you will be able to dial in a filter pack with the color head vs. using filters.

Many people can't tell which enlarger has made which print, so i would suggest you buy what you feel more comfortable with and will get the biggest bang for your buck.

[steveinspain]

Ann - why would I want to dial in a filter pack - I thought you only needed filters for multigrade type papers - what other need is there (you can see how new I am too this..)
Colour headed enlargers seem to be cheaper (S/H) for some reason, and I am not sure why, as they must be more complex to make, though maybe there were more sold..

[ann]

if your using graded papers you will not need filters.

If your new to darkroom work and your negatives are not consistence you will find using MC papers very helpful.

with a color head you will be able to dial in "inbetween" grades, as filters come in half sizes and full grades but not 1/3rds.

[steveinspain]

I see !
Many thanks Ann !
I have done darkroom work but so many years ago, and never did I do it well..
This time, maybe...

[ann]

have fun, and just keep track of what your doing and practice, practice, practice.

[steveinspain]

Blimey - sounds a bit like marriage then....


Steve (still happily, after 14 years..)

[ann]

gosh intereting perspective. never would have crossed my mind to think along the lines of being married.

congrats on 14 years.

[vet173]

A condenser will lend itself to better detail and separation in the bottom end, while diffused will lend itself to better detail in the highlights. A condencer will want a CI of about .45 while a diffused will need .6. I have and use both.

[Solo_Racer]

I always liked my Aristo cold-light head, but I've printed plenty of stuff with condenser setups. The Aristo lamp is very bright and consistent color temperature over the course of a long printing session, so with MC filters results won't vary.