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Vivitar VI enlarger with Dioptic head...

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bm282

Member
Joined
May 18, 2026
Messages
25
Location
Australia
Format
35mm
Hi, I'm hoping folk are still around for this thread. I am about to acquire a Vivitar VI with dichroic head and hope folk can help with questions I have (I used a BW one 40 years ago and I'm returning to darkroom joy)

1. Does the light pipe degrade - and how would I tell? Is it possible to make a replacement if it is degraded?
2. The enlarger may come with a 6x7 condenser set - can I use this for 35mm negatives (assuming I put the secondary condenser in the right slot) and is there any issue?

Hope folk can help before I commit to buy,
Regards,
bm282
 
Hi all, I am considering acquiring a Vivitar VI with Dioptic head and hope folk can help with questions I have.

I used a BW one 40 years ago and I loved it and I'm looking at returning to darkroom joy.

The BW one is not available in country (Australia) - not sure it was ever brought in, but the Dioptic head one is, so I'm wondering about a few things before making the plunge. It appears to be complete for 35mm negs, but has a 75mm lens, so at some stage I may need to replace that.

So I'm wondering -

1. Does the light pipe degrade - and how would I tell? Is it possible to make a replacement if it is degraded or do I need to raid another for parts (of course they are only available in the US, so that presents a problem checking if it is ok too and shipping is prohibitive, so would only want specific parts shipped)?
2. The enlarger may come with a 6x7 condenser set - still confirming - I assume I can I use this for 35mm negatives (assuming I put the secondary condenser in the right slot) and is there any issue?
3. Do the dichroic filters age/ fail that I should check?
4. Do I need the vivitar attenuator (don't remember on for the BW model I had)
5. IS the bellows likely to have issues or are these robust?
6. Are there mechanical issue with the stand - spring loaded - that I should check/ be aware of? Are these repairable?
7. I'm a retired engineer, so I would like to maintain/ repair over time - does anyone have a repair/ maintenance manual for the enlarger?
8. Apart from the manual on jollinger.com, are there any other manuals for use?
9. Would anyone have a BW light holder in case I want to convert it back to BW if the light tube is passed it use?

I also have found someone has created 3D printer parts for filter trays etc.

Anything else I should think about?

I was thinking of disassembling the head of the enlarger to give it full maintenance/ cleanup/ refurbishment, including washing the light pipe in soapy water. Thoughts?

Hope folk can help before I commit to buy,

Regards,
bm282
 
Last edited:
I suspect your light pipe is still fine. This is the light pipe from my Philips enlarger (probably the same decade as your Vivitar) and it looks and functions fine.

The dichroic filters can get fungus on them, which can lead to permanent marks. Depends on how the enlarger was stored all these years.


Philips PCS 150 Light Pipe.JPG
 
ic-racer said:
I suspect your light pipe is still fine. This is the light pipe from my Philips enlarger (probably the same decade as your Vivitar) and it looks and functions fine.

The dichroic filters can get fungus on them, which can lead to permanent marks. Depends on how the enlarger was stored all these years.


View attachment 425811
Click to expand...

Thank you - that is encouraging for me to take the plunge and buy it. Yes, fungus - we just love it in photography - except when it attacks our equipment!! Hopefully the filters are ok - or at least not damaged enough to be a problem with the light being converged thru the pipe..
 
I have one of those enlargers, I liked it when I was using it, No issues with it aging.
 
Welcome to Photrio,
My friends who have one of those and are happy with it still.
 
1. I dont know
2. Yes, the condenser ensures equal illumination across the frame so 6x7 should cover 35mm (If it is not adjustable)
 
MattKing said:
Welcome to Photrio,
My friends who have one of those and are happy with it still.
Click to expand...

Thanks Matt. I think they are a great enlarger - and here they are much cheaper than other brands, so for me watching a budget in retirement in great - and that it is an angled column also appeals.

Yes, I originally noted it as dichroic, but the actual name on the enlarger is Dioptic Light Source - so I changed it - very confusing as I also think dichroic is the right term.
 
  • bm282
  • Deleted
  • Reason: now redundant
It appears that the "Dioptic" name was Vivitar's attempt to create a marketing identity for their particular flavour of dichroic filtered light source.
The inclusion of the light pipe probably justifies the attempt - it offers some real benefits when it comes to protecting the negative from heat.
 
Posts moved from the other thread.
 
So, I have now confirmed it has a 6x7 condenser, but the issue is it doesn't have a 35mm negative carrier. So its useless to me as 35mm negative carriers are like hens teeth - and if available are wildly priced.

So it is off my buy list. Thank you to everyone who has given me advice.

Damn!!!
 
bm282 said:
So, I have now confirmed it has a 6x7 condenser, but the issue is it doesn't have a 35mm negative carrier. So its useless to me as 35mm negative carriers are like hens teeth - and if available are wildly priced.

So it is off my buy list. Thank you to everyone who has given me advice.

Damn!!!
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear that, I love mine and came with 35 and 6x6 carriers.
I found a few other carriers on eBay (a blank, a 110 and a slide-mounted) a few years ago.
 
bm282 said:
So, I have now confirmed it has a 6x7 condenser, but the issue is it doesn't have a 35mm negative carrier. So its useless to me as 35mm negative carriers are like hens teeth - and if available are wildly priced.

So it is off my buy list. Thank you to everyone who has given me advice.

Damn!!!
Click to expand...

@bm282 ,
So you know, you can respond to Private Conversations initiated by others, despite your post count.
Your post count only limits your ability to start new Conversations.
 
Last edited:
MattKing said:
@bm282 ,
So you know, you can respond to Private Conversations initiated by others, despite your post count.
Your post count only limits your ability to start new Conversations.
Click to expand...

I got confused - I thought it was a forum public post in my excitement!!! All solved!! Damn newbies!!!!
 
bm282 said:
I got confused - I thought it was a forum public post in my excitement!!! All solved!! Damn newbies!!!!
Click to expand...

Au contraire - newbies are great :smile:
 
You do know that 35mm is 24x36mm, don't you?
 
MattKing said:
You do know that 35mm is 24x36mm, don't you?
Click to expand...

LOL! Yes LOL!! The only one I could see was a 6x6. However, it looks like I am a day late to buy the enlarger as I have just been told it sold last night!

The universe must be telling me something!
 
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