4x5 Beseler/Omega/LPL negative carrier compatibility

[BTC]

I thought I recalled that omega D carriers could be used in Beseler 45 enlargers but that certainly doesn’t seem to be common knowledge. Maybe it’s LPL and Omega?

Anyone have any light to shed on this topic? Specifically wondering if I might be able to use a negaflat carrier in a different enlarger.

B

 

[Rick A]

I have an Omega D5 and Beseler MXT sitting side by side on my bench, the answer is not compatible. The Omega carrier will fit in the Beseler with much slop, not possible the other way around.

 

[DREW WILEY]

They're different. You'd have to make a special adapter.

 

[darkroommike]

1. Omega 4x5 carriers come in two main types, the older "silver" carriers (unpainted) and with no centering rings (spiders), and the later painted types that almost all came with spiders. This is an oversimplification, some of the Omega literature has three or four different "families" of carriers for the D-series.
2. The new Omega carriers with spiders will fit the older Omega enlargers, D-II, D-2, D-3, D-4 Just fine.
3. The old Omega carriers fit the new Omega enlargers but will not automatically "center" in the throat of the film stage. You can fit "spiders" to the old carriers and you're then just fine. Spiders can be made with a 3D printer or purchased.
4. The new Omega carriers will fit the 4x5 LPL enlargers aka Saunders-Omega.
5. Beseler carriers will not fit Omega enlargers unless you remove the centering pins and make a centering device. I have both a Negatrans and a Negaflat to modify.
6. Omega carriers will fit Beseler enlargers but will not center unless you make an adapter.

Making adapters is simple if you have metal or woodworking tools or a 3D printer.

 

[Patrick Robert James]

You could probably modify a Beseler neg carrier to fit Omega/LPL/Saunders but if you are concerned about flat negs, and you should be, then get a glass carrier.

If you have an LPL/Saunders 4x5 then get the glass carrier specifically for it. The older D type plain Omega carriers will fit but sometimes the screws protrude too much. The speed carriers and the older glass carriers won't fit. The speed carriers are way too large and the glass carrier is too thick.

I haven't tried the newer square Omega carriers that I believe were made for the D5.

That has been my experience with my Saunders 4550 XL.