Below are some links to places that say what others think of our products.

Erwin Puts (a very notable person in Europe) wrote a review of the Heiland Splitgrade.

Paul Butzi wrote a review of the Print Washer (look for it part way down the page under the Cascade washer.

Try asking questions on this forum regarding us and our products. There are already a few threads about us.

Also try the newsgroup called rec.photo.darkroom

Also try a Google Groups search on anything - this picks up what people have said about us or our products in forums.

The following notes were collected over the past year or so from email and things I noticed on rec.photo.darkroom (a very good newsgroup that you should know about).

" Like many others, I have used a number of print washers over the years, most of them made of heavy plexiglass sheets 'welded' together. All of them were fine, some even beautiful, but they pale in comparison with the Versalab! The solid, one-piece construction, of medium weight, is a superb design that is efficient, easy to put together and easy to take apart. As a diplomat who travels around the world, moving frequently, this ruggedness is vital because the Versalab can stand up to an amazing amount of abuse and work anywhere, with any level of water pressure, and still do the job. Other washers have not survived international moves, but the Versalab goes everywhere. I test every batch for residual fixer after washing -- after 30 minutes, there is almost no fixer left; after one hour, the test always comes up with no trace. The Versalab is quite simply the best washer I have ever had and I do not expect to buy one ever again -- unless it's a larger Versalab!"

-- Michael McClellan, U.S. Foreign Service, KOSOVO

I really appreciate the awesome customer service you folks give (I bought the print washer before).

Michael McClellan

Out of the blue 2/14/07 we received this via email.

"I want to compliment you on the clarity of the instructions. I am really enjoying putting it together, I can see the thought process of the design as I assemble it."
B. Curti

Out of the blue we received this...

Dear Versalab, I just wanted to drop a line to thank you for such a simple and effective product. I maintain a university photo lab with 23 active enlargers. I was dreading the task of aligning all of them. The job I expected to take at least two days was reduces to about three hours with the Parallel laser device. I am very impressed with its simplicity and ease of operation. Thank you again.
 
Joe Brickler
Photo Technician
Visual and Performing Arts
XXXXX University

Mr. Wills sent this email one day...

I bought a splitgrade-controller last year for my Leitz V-35 after reading an article in Leica Photographie magazine. I was very sceptical, but this piece of equipment is everything you say it is, even for the most creative printer. The Heiland controller has saved me many hours in the darkroom already, not to mention the cost of paper and chemicals. I'm making the best prints ever and having lots of fun. Hope you sell a bunch of 'em.

Sincerely Ronald Wills

email sent out of the blue:

It has been a little over a year now since I purchased your (now my) 16x20 print washer. I just wanted to let you know that I feel this is one of the best purchases on the market today. It has done everything that you claimed it would. I have accidentally dropped the empty washer from the sink to the floor, and there is not a mark on the washer. I have, however, had to patch the sheet vinyl flooring.

I can still remember the day it arrived. When I looked in the box, peeked at the instructions and saw all those rods, plastic sheets, and spacers, just bowed my head and thought -- ugh!!!! However, I found the instructions were easy to follow, and I had the washer together in little time. It is now a cherished item in my darkroom and one which I feel I had a hand in making. I do a test of every print which comes out of the washer. I have yet to find one that has not been washed properly.

Thank you for making such a useful and well made product. I have often wondered why someone would need a clear acrylic print washer. The only explanation I can offer is for the photographer to watch their prints wash or to see the bubbles dance, which is akin to watching water boil. Aside from that I see no need to watch them in the washer as they are best viewed when dry. Excuse the attempt at dry humor.

Doyle Sanders

When asked permission to use this note, Mr. Sanders responded:

Sir:

I could have paid another $200 to $300 for a washer that does exactly what your washer does. Please feel free to use my note.

in rec.photo.darkroom a person enquired about our PARALLEL and got the following response from William Laven: (I just discovered that I had mis-spelled Mr. Laven's last name when I put this here years ago. My apologies.)

Does anyone have any experience with the Versalab Parallel laser enlarger alignment device? I'd like some user feedback before buying one.

It's a gem and worth its price. It is far more accurate than levels and Zig-Aligns and anything inbetween. I have three enlargers for workshops I teach from my studio and with the Versalab I can align them quickly and absolutely on the money. What you'll find is that they give a level of accuracy which probably surpasses the finesse with which you can align the enlarger. With the laser tool registering alignment, for example, just tightening the hold down bolts on my Beseler 45 MX (granted not an alignment friendly enlarger) show me the planes are going out of parallel. The Zig-Align is far less accurate, but is still a good instrument (though one can make homemade zig-align-like set up with a couple of mirrors and glass for a couple of bucks.

As a part of an email order for a PRINT WASHER, Ed Spence wrote:

I learned of this product (the washer) through your Photo Techniques ad, and I have seen the View Camera ad also. I bought your PARALLEL unit a couple of years ago. The guy (or gal) who invented that thing is right up there on my list of heros alongside the guy who invented rollfilm, possibly as high as the guy who invented beer! It has changed the process of aligning my enlarger from a half-hour white-knuckle ordeal to a two-minute snap.

From: Laura Dearborn [mailto:laura@versalab.com]
Sent: Thursday, August 01, 2002 3:49 PM
To: John Webb
Subject: Re: V35Good afternoon. So glad the problem got resolved. And thank you so much for your kind words.
In fact, may we quote your last paragraph on our website?
And thank you again. You are a pleasure to have as a customer.

Regards,
Laura

Laura,
Please use whatever you desire. The pleasure was all mine and I cannot
overstate how strongly both my wife and I feel about the rock-solid comfort
we have in dealing with Versalab.
Our congratulations on work, integrity and business being done as it should
be!
John L. Webb

Dear John:

I know that this note comes rather late after the delivery, but I just
need to express how pleased we are with your PARALLEL laser device. It
makes a noticeable difference in our work of capturing artwork for
reproduction.

Thank you too for the terrific dust cloth; an unexpected but great
personal touch!

Best regards from Vancouver, Canada,Ernst Vegt