LPL 7451/7452 VCCE

Darkroom check

Light, carriers, bellows and lens

Light source and lamp

The VCCE module sits in the 4x5 diffusion box over an 82V quartz-halogen lamp, 200W in the 7450 and 7451 and 250W in the 7452 and 7452L. KHB still lists both, plus 24V versions for units with 24V supplies, though the 250W 82V lamp was out of stock when we checked in October 2026. Ask which lamp is fitted and for a photo of the head lit with the white-light lever moved.

Carriers and condensers

It takes LPL's 4x5 carriers: glassless ones for 35mm, Xpan, 6x4.5, 6x6, 6x7, 6x9 and 4x5, and a 4x5 glass carrier. The 4x5 diffusion box covers every format, and LPL's smaller 6x7 and 35mm boxes are discontinued, so they're a bonus if included. Make sure the 4x5 carrier is there if you shoot sheet film.

Column and bellows

The 7451 and 7452 share a 120 cm box-girder column with a fully counterbalanced carriage that reverses for floor projection, and focus knobs on both sides with fine focus on the right. The counterbalance uses two 30mm negator springs, and some later units have 40mm ones. Ask whether the head holds its height with the lock off and whether focus runs smoothly end to end.

Lens

Lensboards are LPL's reversible, rotating threaded type with 39mm standard, and KHB lists boards from 25mm to 55mm threads. LPL's Japanese 4x5 kit came with a 39mm board and a 4x5 carrier but no lens. You'll want a 150mm for 4x5 and a shorter lens for roll film.

Timer and power

The lamp runs from LPL's stabilized power supply, 120V in and 82V out in North America, which LPL's Japanese spec holds within 1%. Early Saunders/LPL heads have a square plug, later LPL and Omega/LPL heads a round 4-pin plug, and 220V units a 3-pin plug, and KHB says these supplies don't cross over. Check that the supply in the listing matches the head's plug.

Shipping and pickup

KHB lists the 7451 at about 26 kg and the 7452 at about 27 kg, on a 60x60 cm baseboard, and it stands about 1.35 m tall with the carriage up. That's a heavy, awkward shipment. Ask how the column, head and baseboard will be packed, or plan to collect it.

Should come with it

• VCCE module in the 4x5 diffusion box
• Stabilized power supply with a plug that matches the head
• A 39mm lensboard
• The 4x5 carrier, plus smaller carriers for roll film
• Baseboard and column

Hard to find if missing

• A power supply with the right plug (square on early Saunders/LPL, round 4-pin later)
• The 6x7 and 35mm diffusion boxes
• The 250W 82V lamp for the 7452
• Replacement diffuser panels for the mixing box

Check the listing photos against these lists, and ask the seller about anything you can’t see. A missing carrier, condenser or lens board should come off the price.