4x5" enable Durst L1200

Soeren · Jan 12, 2018

Helped emptying a Darkroom today and among other stuff there was a Durst L1200 with a multigrade 500 head. Unfortunately og was in a24x35 configuration so All knowledge, links and partnumbers for stuff needed to make it 4x5" Will be appreciated.
Best regards Søren

ic-racer · Jan 12, 2018

The manual lists the condensers, mixing boxes, lensboards and negative masks that were available.
Here is a link to a 501 manual that might be similar: http://www.durst-pro-usa.com/pdf/manual/L1200_manual.pdf

Soeren · Jan 12, 2018

Thanks IC. Though the multigrade 500 light box does not look like the color head the part on negative carriers is helpfull.

ic-racer · Jan 12, 2018

The 501 multigrade head would look like this, is this what you have?

Soeren · Jan 12, 2018

No, like this.

John Koehrer · Jan 12, 2018

If the bottom of the head has a diffuser large enough to cover 4X5 you should be set. Except for lens, lens board, and carrier

MattKing · Jan 12, 2018

That head is designed for 4x5.
There are various light mixing boxes available for the head, and they are easily switched in and out. If you have the 4x5 box, it will work for that and all smaller sizes. If you have a smaller one, you may need to swap it out for a larger one.

Soeren · Jan 13, 2018

This the mixing box. Is that the 4x5" one? Measuring tape in cm

MattKing · Jan 13, 2018

Soeren said:
This the mixing box. Is that the 4x5" one?

Not quite. The surface of that mixing box closest to the camera looks like the translucent part that goes down on top of the negative holder. The dimension you have measured is shorter than the short dimension of a 4"x5" negative. How long is the other side?
I'm guessing that that is the medium format mixing box (designed for up to 6 cm x 7 cm).
Here is the operating manual: https://www.ilfordphoto.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/MG500-Operating-Manual.pdf

Soeren · Jan 13, 2018

So i need the box for 4x5" and some negative carriers. Would be nice if this could replace my current M70 as well as giving me the 4x5" ability in one unit.
Apart from eBay are there any good supliers in european for these parts?
BTW thanks for the manual Matt

mpirie · Jan 13, 2018

There aren't many places that will sell parts for the MG500.....most will only sell complete units....either with enlargers or ready to fit a specific model.

eBay is probably the best place to find the odd part that you're missing.

Depending on the age of your MG500, you will need the 5x4 mixing box and the lamp extensions that push the lamps out to align with the holes in each side of the mixing box.

The extensions can be made from some long BA screws and nuts.

There are glassless neg plates for all formats or there are glass plates for 5x4. I use the latter.

I use the L1200 with MG500 too, and it's a VERY good system.....nice find by the way !!

Mike

mpirie · Jan 13, 2018

Soeren, send me a PM with your email address and i'll send you the manual.

Mike

Lachlan Young · Jan 13, 2018

Odyssey Sales/ DeVere - http://www.deveresecondhanddarkroom.com - should be able to sell you a 4x5 mixing box for the MG500 head (probably not super cheap, but will just drop in) - that's the 6x7/6x9 box that you've got there from the looks of things. The 4x5 box is the only MG500 mixing box that doesn't use an adaptor plate. 4x5 inserts for the Durst carrier shouldn't be too hard to find, though I can't immediately recall whatever bizarre acronym they had. Otherwise, it's a first rate enlarger & head - enjoy putting it to work!

Soeren · Jan 13, 2018

mpirie said:
Soeren, send me a PM with your email address and i'll send you the manual.

Mike

Thanks for the offer. It seems links to the relevant manuals had been posted.

mpirie · Jan 13, 2018

Lachlan's right....you have the 6x7 mixing box there and you'll need a flat adapter plate to use that (or the 35mm) mixing box.

The 5x4 mixing box does not need an adapter plate. I think the neg carriers are Femomask 35/66/67/54.

Soeren · Jan 13, 2018

mpirie said:
Lachlan's right....you have the 6x7 mixing box there and you'll need a flat adapter plate to use that (or the 35mm) mixing box.

The 5x4 mixing box does not need an adapter plate. I think the neg carriers are Femomask 35/66/67/54.

Yes the mixing box sits in an adapter plate (missed that at first look and got confused) and the bulbs on either side seems to be moveable, there is some kind of rail in the back of the head.m good to know the names of the neg carriers, hopefully they'll be easier to find. A laborator 1200 as 24x36 only is such a tragic Waste.

mpirie · Jan 13, 2018

The lampholders move to the left and to the right to accommodate the different widths of mixing boxes.

However, depending on the age of the head, you may need to move the lampholders in or out to make sure they throw maximum light into the holes either side of the mixing box in use.

So long as it's being used, then you're not wasting an L1200......they're great enlargers, regardless of the neg size

ic-racer · Jan 13, 2018

Looks great!
The Ilford Multigrade head was probably more common than the Durst 501 Multigrade head, so the Ilford 4x5 mixing box for that may not be as hard to find.

Soeren · Jan 14, 2018

ic-racer said:
Looks great!
The Ilford Multigrade head was probably more common than the Durst 501 Multigrade head, so the Ilford 4x5 mixing box for that may not be as hard to find. View attachment 193464

May take some time though but i Will see if i can get the mixing box and appropiate negative carriers.

Soeren · Jan 15, 2018

Am I happy now? You bet
Maybe I should look for those Glass things for 4x5"

RalphLambrecht · Jan 15, 2018

John Koehrer said:
If the bottom of the head has a diffuser large enough to cover 4X5 you should be set. Except for lens, lens board, and carrier

there are three diffusion boxes available for 35mm.6x6 and 4x5;all optimized for max light efficiency.

Soeren · Jan 15, 2018

RalphLambrecht said:
there are three diffusion boxes available for 35mm.6x6 and 4x5;all optimized for max light efficiency.

Seems Ive got All three now Should I get the femoglass for 4x5"? And are There any tip, tricks, things good to know when setting Up this beast?
So looks like Ive got an Omega D3, Durst M70 and Durst M805 to get ready for new homes if this one Works

mpirie · Jan 15, 2018

The Femogla plates are expensive since one side uses anti-newton glass.

They pop up on eBay now and again.

Mike

Soeren · Jan 15, 2018

mpirie said:
The Femogla plates are expensive since one side uses anti-newton glass.

They pop up on eBay now and again.

Mike

Yes Ive seen some offerings. Question is whether they are worth getting og not?

mpirie · Jan 15, 2018

I'm sure others can chime in, but when you have a 5x4 sheet of film, then it'd be very easy for the film to "bow" in the middle, so yes, i would say the glass plates are worth it.

I use them and have a couple spares just in case i break one

It's an extra 4 surfaces to clean, but for flatness, they can't be beat.

Mike

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