35mm neg.,11X14, 23C

Greetings,
I was attempting to enlarge 35 mm negatives to 11X14 with my 23C and 50mm lens. I found that I cannot focus the image when going that large. The bellows are compressed to the limit. If I crank the enlarger head down a bit I can focus the image though the image is roughly 10X12. Not as large as I would like them to be. Is there a way I can get larger images from 35 mm negatives using this enlarger? Regards.
Ken

Ken,

get a recessed lens mount for your enlarger.

A recessed lens board is the best solution. For occasional use of odd lenses, I've made lens boards from a couple pieces of cardboard glued together, with a hole cut for the lens. In your case, a 35mm lens from your camera kit would probably do. If the lens has a bayonet mount, the hole in the board needs to be tailored to allow the bayonets to enter and then turn a few degrees to hold the lens in place.

I've printed a lot of 11x14 stuff with my own 23C and a 50mm lens using the standard flat lens board. Of course, some "50mm" lenses are really 48mm or even shorter. The bellows will compress more with use, I find, and a spring clothespin on the rail will keep it from extending during use.

Is there room for the lens if I use a recessed lens board? There is the filter drawer between the lens and condensers. Making a lens board should not be too much of a problem and the clothespin is a great idea. It does tend to 'wander' out of focus when the bellows are compressed.
I greatly appreciate your replies.
Ken

..

There should be nothing between the recessed lens board and the negative that would interfere with the lens. I doubt that the lens would have to rise enough to touch the negative, but there's a slight chance the slider built into the lens stage above the lens would get in the way of the lens. The slider is intended to hold a dark red filter that allows projecting the image onto orthochromatic paper, such as graded paper, without exposing the paper. VC filters are meant to go in the drawer above the condenser or in a below-the-lens device.

If you are *really* desperate, set you lens at the aperture you would need to use at that height, take the lens board out and put the whole thing back in upside down. Refocus and print. Do your exposure adjustments with the timer.

You could always get a wider lens...a 35mm or so...

Then again, you could do what I did with my Omega: remove the head and bar from the baseboard, get a cheap tabletop from the local hardware store, and add bolts to the edge. Place another table top under it, but further out...gives your enlarger a new height...

Doc the wider lens would not solve his bellows problem. To do as you say you should abandon the 50 for a 75 or 90mm lens so focus can be acheived at the 11x14 and bigger sizes. Seems for some reason the enlarger was not designed to focus a 50mm lens at that height. The recessed board is actually the simplest solution.

I frequently enlarge 6X9 negatives and double-checked that it was set for the right format, though it was set for 35mm I have in the past forgotten to make the adjustment.
I have tried longer focal lenghts and that only reduced the image size. It would seem that a wider angle would work but at the expense of losing some of the image.
The recessed lens seems to be the best solution and I will give it a whirl this weekend.
Again, I thank all of you for your input.
Regards.
Ken

http://www.beselerphoto.com/Enlargers/23ch...ht2/23cht2.html

Claims 19x28 for the 23CIII-XL with the normal lensboard. Considering even my old Omega with a short column can do bigger then 11x14 you'd think the Beseler 23C could.

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Ken @ Apr 17 2003, 10:38 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> I frequently enlarge 6X9 negatives and double-checked that it was set for the right format, though it was set for 35mm I have in the past forgotten to make the adjustment.
I have tried longer focal lenghts and that only reduced the image size. It would seem that a wider angle would work but at the expense of losing some of the image.
The recessed lens seems to be the best solution and I will give it a whirl this weekend.
Again, I thank all of you for your input.
Regards.
Ken </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'>
My (old) 23C can still crank up a considerable amount, projecting an image well beyond 11X14. It even tilts in the event you want to project an image onto the wall (liquid light anyone?) The problem is getting the image (that size and/or larger) to focus. If I could just squeeze the bellows another half inch....... The reason the recessed lens might do the trick. I will see tonight. The spanking new 23CIII XL probably has all the bugs worked out. It is a 120 enlarger to begin with and handles 6X9 like a champ.
Regards,
Ken

Well......I don't know how that quote thing happened...........Must be the heat.
Ken

Ken, I have Meopta Opemus 5 (up to 6x6cm) enlarger who comes with 80mm lens as standard. Max. enlargments from 35mm negative in standard configuration is 18x24 cm(or 13x18cm, don't remember well, I didn't use standard configuration for 35mm long time...). So, if I want to make bigger enlargments from 35mm negative I use one of next three procedures: 50mm lens and turn lens into enlarger(lens goes into bellows, closer to negative)). 50mm lens and turning lens carrier upside down(lens carrier for my enlarger is conus shape, so lens comes closer to negative). Or 80mm lens and put enlarger on edge of desk, turn enlarger head 180 degrees and put paper easel on floor. Or fourth, I never used it, turn enlarger head 90 degrees for wall projection. Maybe to try something of this if your enlarger allowes you to...

Sorry, to add, with second option I do 90% of my prints, and can easilly focus for 24x30cm prints. Even bigger, but I don't do bigger prints...

Turning the lens upsidedown sounds like a great idea and there seems to be enough room for that. It might save me the hassle of constructing a lens board.
I also have a 75mm and 105mm lens and perhaps I could give the projetion option a whirl as well. I will be giving it a go this evening. I
Regards.
Ken

</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (Ken @ Apr 16 2003, 03:31 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Greetings,
I was attempting to enlarge 35 mm negatives to 11X14 with my 23C and 50mm lens. I found that I cannot focus the image when going that large. The bellows are compressed to the limit. If I crank the enlarger head down a bit I can focus the image though the image is roughly 10X12. Not as large as I would like them to be. Is there a way I can get larger images from 35 mm negatives using this enlarger? Regards.
Ken </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'>
Hi Ken:

Are you using TechPan? I know that -that film- will still look ok from 35mm film to 11x14 paper. Unless you are going for the "grainy" look, I think you are in MF territory for that paper size. Of course, I have a similar dillema, I just bought some post card paper and my favorite negs are 4x5. I am trying to figure out how to get my enlarger to print 4 7/8 x 6 7/8 prints from 4 x 5 negs with a 150mm lens. Sort of like using a Honda Civic to pull stumps, It can be done .... once maybe ..... if you have all day ..... a lot of help shoveling .... and don't mind buying a new clutch.

I will have to concede that if you are doing this in color (silver grains bleached out and no accutance) or with chromogenic film (monochrome color C-41 process film) 11x14 prints are pretty smooth - not real sharp, usually, and kind of mottled looking but no grain. I think most 35mm negatives make great 5x7 prints and sometimes really good 8x10 prints. Then .... well ..... I guess you have to like the look of the grain. I was at an art exhibit and there was a B&W 11x14 print there that won some awards - I looked at it and commented to the artist about how much I liked here composition and her use of HP5 film - I recognized every grain on it. The same could be said about the runner up done in TRI-X - instead of flat mushy looking grains it was little grain dots. Either way - what a shame! really well done compositions in dots and mush. - I recently bought a Yashica MAT on EBAY for $75. It makes great 11x14 prints - even better 8x10 prints. It is my knock about - work trip - catch as catch can camera. Not the serious Rollei or the knock them dead Tachihara/Rodenstock combo. Just - I might get lucky and catch something cool camera. My Zeiss/Contax 35mm system is now just for family snapshots. Like any race car driver will tell, there is no substitute for a bigger engine. ...... unless you like looking at the grain ....


Frank