Black and White Enlarging Meter / Timer with Grey Scale Display and built-in Densitometer function

Banish the Test Strip!

This highly-acclaimed enlarging meter-timer combo features our patented grey scale print tone indicator which shows you the tonal range of the print, so you can place important tones and preview the look of the print without the need for endless test strips. Includes a spot-metering probe with densitometer function, a wide range (1 - 240 secs) heavy-duty (750W) timer which can work in intervals of 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/6 or 1/12 f-stops, storage for the characteristics of eight different papers, and a clever burn-in feature which takes the guesswork out of printing. The perfect all-in-one solution for making the highest quality black and white prints - and it can be used for colour too!

Our tests (and customers’ experience) with Pyro and other staining developers indicate that the Analyser can be used with stained negatives in just the same way as with conventional developers. The meter will automatically account for the density of the stain.

The latest version features a sensor and measurement subsystem which provides fast response, especially at low light levels, and high stability with changes in temperature and over time. In addition, a Calibration Kit (included) makes calibration faster and easier, and we’ve re-written the User Manual to make it clearer and easier to read. There’s never been a better time to choose an Analyser Pro!

Why the Analyser Pro is different

Enlarging exposure meters often suffer from a number of shortcomings. In many cases, a single reading is taken from a mid-tone area of the negative (or from a diffused image) and exposure based on that reading. This can work quite well but it won’t advise you which paper grade to use.

Enlarging exposure meters which indicate a suggested paper grade do so assuming you want your shadows to be at maximum black and your highlights at paper base white. This isn't always the case, particularly in portraiture work. And if it isn’t the case, then you’re on your own - back to the test strip!

The Analyser Pro is different because it tells you exactly the shade of grey that you will get on a print for any spot measured area of the negative. You can see the effects of changing the paper grade without making a print - the Analyser's display indicates the changes in print tone for each measured spot as you alter the grade setting. You can manually override the Analyser's suggested exposure time in order to produce a lower or higher key print, and see the expected results before committing a piece of paper. You can even make your own grey scale for use with the Analyser using your favourite materials and processing, so that the Analyser's indications will be as close as possible to the final print.

You no longer need to worry about compensating for dry down (the increase in density of a dry print as compared to a wet one) because the display indicates the tone on the final, dry, print. For special cases, fine tuning may be accomplished with the built in automatic test strip generator.

All this adds up to a significant saving of both time and materials, and with paper prices rising this can only be an advantage. Darkroom work is much more enjoyable when your success rate is high!

In common with our acclaimed StopClock range, we have designed the Analyser using industrial grade components for maximum reliability. Gold plated switch contacts, fibreglass printed circuit boards and heavy duty relays mean that it should last a lifetime, so we confidently offer a two year parts and labour guarantee. In addition, the Analyser comes with a fourteen day money back guarantee of satisfaction, so why not try one for yourself?

Analyser Pro Features

• Up to eight spot readings of a negative can be taken and the corresponding tonal value of each on the final print will be displayed on the 15 step grey scale.
• Simple controls (harder, softer, brighter, darker) allow print contrast and brightness to be previewed without the use of test strips or prints - saves time and paper.
• Over and under exposure warnings. 12-stop measurement range.
• Exposure times of 1.0 to 240 seconds are calculated automatically by the Analyser Pro using the metering probe in conjunction with paper grade and built-in calibration settings. Exposure times can be adjusted manually.
• Basic and burn-in exposures are accurate to 1/12th stop maximum resolution and microprocessor controlled to within a hundredth of a second.
• Clever burn-in feature computes and times the difference between an increased exposure time and the basic print exposure. Makes burning-in a breeze! Simply make the basic exposure, increase the exposure time by the desired amount, then press and hold the Print key - the Analyser Pro subtracts the base exposure from the new time and times the result automatically!
• Adjustable calibration caters for your preferences of paper, processing, and enlarger characteristics for every grade of paper from 00 to 5, including half-grades.
• Automatic reciprocity failure compensation.
• Densitometer mode to help refine your film development.
• Eight individual calibration sets for different papers, surfaces, etc. Adjustable calibration caters for your preferences of paper, processing, and enlarger characteristics for every grade of paper from 00 to 5, including half-grades.
• Automatic test strip generation for fine tuning of print exposure; test strips can be generated either as incremental or full exposures.
• Switching capacity of 750 W (500W for 115v versions) handles most enlargers, including cold-cathode types.
• Industrial grade components throughout, including gold-contact switches and heavy duty relays, for maximum reliability.

Video Presentations

Watch these QuickTime videos to learn more about the Analyser. Alternatively, visit Beyond Monochrome to see videos about all our products and explanatory notes.

Analyser Basic Control

Exposure Control

Metering and the Grey Scale

Metering and Manipulation

Changing Paper Type

Darkroom Demonstration

Darkroom Demonstration 2

Making Test Stripe

Introduction to Calibration

User Calibration

Calibration Service

Please note that in these movies, the video recording of the displays gives an appearance of flickering. This is not visible to the naked eye.

Analyser Pro Specification

• Timing accuracy: Better than 1%. Timing repeatability: Better than 0.1%
• Internal measurement resolution: 1/60 stop
• Timing range: 1.0 to 240 seconds per exposure. Timing resolution: 0.01 sec
• Time setting intervals: 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/6 or 1/12 stop; user selectable at any time.
• Automatic Test Strips can be made using the currently set time interval.
• Optional audible seconds tick ("metronome")
• Measurement spot size: 2mm (0.05 inch) approx. Measurement range: twelve stops, with over and under exposure indication. Up to eight spot measurements per exposure
• Calibration: built-in, user adjustable exposure and contrast settings for all grades from 00 to 5 in half grade steps. Eight individual calibration sets.
• Optional delay to accommodate slow-starting enlargers (e.g some Durst and Kaiser stabilised transformers)
• Switching capacity: (230v versions) 750W per outlet, 750W total. (115v versions) 500W per outlet, 500W total
• Display type: Yellow LED, 4 digits for time and paper grade: 15 segment bar graph for grey scale
• Size: Main unit: WHD 200mm x 65mm x 160mm (7.8 x 2.5 x 6.3 inches), Sensor: WHD 80x56x24mm (3.1 x 2.1 x 1 inches) approx. Weight: 2200g approx as shipped
• Accessories supplied: Mains lead,enlarger/safelight connectors, calibration kit, instructions.
• A footswitch is available as an optional extra for hands-free operation - see the accessories page.
• Full two year guarantee, plus 14 day refund if you are not completely satisfied.

Please Note: The Analyser Pro is designed to control enlargers in which the lamp can be switched on and off simply by applying mains power - this covers the great majority of enlargers but excludes some which have closed-loop control systems such as the Durst Autocolor, Fujimoto, etc. A special version is available for the Ilford Multigrade 500 system. We do not support the Ilford Multigrade 400 or 600 systems. If your enlarger is not suitable but you would like the exposure metering functions, consider our ZoneMaster II baseboard exposure meter.

Our policy is one of continuous development, therefore specifications are subject to change without prior notice. E & OE. June 2010

"The built in calibrations may suffice but the wide variety of materials and processes may require additional calibration. While user calibration is possible for some products, Chris Woodhouse also offers a dedicated calibration service for your particular needs. This is available upon request from chris@beyondmonochrome.co.uk for a fee of £20 per paper. This uses the same techniques that were used to develop the original calibrations; in this case it measures a test print that you make with your materials and techniques."

Analyser 500: a version of the Analyser Pro dedicated to the Ilford Multigrade 500 enlarger system and including some unique features

Black and White Enlarging Meter / Timer with Grey Scale Display and built-in Densitometer function
- dedicated to the Ilford Multigrade 500 System

Banish the test strip!

The Analyser 500 is a version of our acclaimed Analyser Pro enlarging meter/timer designed especially to replace the standard control pad of the Ilford Multigrade 500 enlarger head. Connected to the Ilford light source it directly controls exposure time and contrast grade to produce high quality prints without wasting time and paper on making test strips. Please read the Analyser Pro page for a general description of the features and benefits of the Analyser and our unique, patented grey scale display.

Our tests (and customers’ experience) with Pyro and other staining developers indicate that the Analyser can be used with stained negatives in just the same way as with conventional developers. The meter will automatically account for the density of the stain.

The latest version features a new sensor and measurement subsystem which provides much faster response, especially at low light levels, and greater stability with changes in temperature and over time. There’s never been a better time to choose an Analyser 500!

Split-grade printing

The Analyser 500 controls the Ilford light source in a different way to the standard Ilford controller. Instead of varying the relative intensity of the green and blue bulbs to establish contrast grade, two exposures are made, one using the green bulb only and one using the blue bulb only. The relative lengths of each exposure together determine both the total exposure and the contrast grade. Because the characteristics of the Ilford light source are known and consistent, the Analyser 500 requires no initial calibration - you can use it "straight out of the box" - although of course a calibration feature is available for fine tuning and to accommodate different papers and working techniques.

Absolute contrast settings - "Grade 2" is grade 2, whatever paper you use!

A special feature of the Analyser 500 is the contrast grade calibration. Instead of an arbitrary "grade" setting which can give different results with different papers, the Analyser 500's contrast settings are in ISO(R) units. This means that if you change to a different paper, the Analyser adjusts the blue/green exposure ratio so maintaining the same contrast on the new paper. So you can proof on an inexpensive resin-coated paper, confident in the knowledge that when you switch to a high quality paper for the final print the exposure and contrast will be maintained.

Video Presentations

Watch these QuickTime videos to learn more about the Analyser.  Alternatively, visit Beyond Monochrome to see videos about all our products and explanatory notes.

Note that the links below refer to videos about the standard Analyser Pro, these are mostly applicable to the Analyser 500; the final link is specific to the Analyser 500.

• Analyser Basic Controls
• Exposure Control
• Metering and the Grey Scale
• Metering and Manipulation
• Changing Paper Types
• Darkroom Demonstration 1
• Darkroom Demonstration 2
• Analyser 500
• Calibrating the Analyser 500

Please note that in these movies, the video recording of the displays gives an appearance of flickering. This is not visible to the naked eye.

Analyser 500 Features and Specifications

• Timer: 0.1 to 248 seconds, resolution 10ms, f-stop increments of 1/2, 1/3, 1/4, 1/6, 1/12 stop.
• Bulb warm-up delay and paper reciprocity corrections for long exposure times.
• Print, pause, resume functions.
• Burn-in function after initial exposure.
• Test strips: Incremental and separate test strips centred on displayed exposure time.
• Meter: 2mm diameter spot meter with 12 stop measuring range.
• Meter internal resolution is 1/60th stop with exposures calculated to the nearest 1/12th stop.
• Meter probe can be used as a baseboard densitometer with densities up to log.D 2.5.
• Display: 4 digit amber display shows time and grade. Grades are shown in half grade steps (except when adjusting the grade setting which is in 0.1 grade steps), times below 10 seconds are to 0.01sec resolution.
• Greyscale shows 15 print tones from near-white to near-black, effectively covering the ISO(R) range. Up to 8 readings can be shown at the same time.
• Grade Control: Grade selection in steps of 2 ISO(R), equivalent to 1/10th Grade.
• Grade setting alters ratio of blue and green light exposures. Exposure is made by sequential blue and green exposures for maximum creative control. Paper calibrations are in ISO units, enabling fixed grade selection between different papers.
• User Options: Incremental and separate test strips, beeper on/off, display brightness, default paper, default f-stop step-size.
• Calibration: precalibrated for Ilford Multigrade IV RC and FB, Agfa Multicontrast Premium and Classic, and Kodak Polymax V FB papers, more to come. The characteristics of eight different papers can be stored.
• A footswitch is available as an optional extra for hands-free operation - see the accessories page.
• Power requirements: the Analyser 500 derives its power from the Ilford Multigrade 500 Transformer unit, no other power supply is required. Hence the same version can be used on both 115v and 230v systems.
• Power Handling: Solid State switching of Ilford 500S transformer; green and blue lamps plus safelight
• Size: Main unit: WHD 200mm x 65mm x 160mm (7.8 x 2.5 x 6.3 inches), Sensor: WHD 80x56x24mm (3.1 x 2.1 x 1 inches) approx. Weight as shipped 1.9kg approx.
• Full two year guarantee, plus 14 day refund if you are not completely satisfied.

Please note:
This version of the Analyser works only with the Ilford Multigrade 500 enlarger system, it cannot be used with other enlarger types including other Ilford Multigrade systems. Our timers cannot be used with Ilford Multigrade 400 or 600 systems. For “conventional” enlargers, choose an Analyser Pro.

Our policy is one of continuous development, therefore specifications are subject to change without prior notice. E & OE. June 2010.

"The built in calibrations may suffice but the wide variety of materials and processes may require additional calibration. While user calibration is possible for some products, Chris Woodhouse also offers a dedicated calibration service for your particular needs. This is available upon request from chris@beyondmonochrome.co.uk for a fee of £20 per paper. This uses the same techniques that were used to develop the original calibrations; in this case it measures a test print that you make with your materials and techniques."