4x5 negs on Durst M805 - repro head mod

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MattiS

Member
Joined
Apr 29, 2016
Messages
218
Location
Germany
Format
Multi Format
Well, now I have a 4x5 camera and these incredible large negatives from my FT-2 (app. 110x26mm) but only a Durst M805 which ends at 6x9. To make matters worse I do not have a permanent darkroom at home and a second enlarger that copes with 4x5 is no option.

Last year the Intrepid enlarger kit was introduced. That seemed to be a compromise I could live with. So I started with the Intrepid, a Technica and a Kaiser repro dingbat.


0_test.jpg

In general things worked, but
- the column of tne Kaiser is not built for the weight of the Technica and so this setup is quite wobbly. Well, one could expect that...
- the column height does not allow prints larger than 8X10 with the standard 150mm lens.
- and, well it´s an extra part one has to store, move around, set up.

Luckily I got my hands on a spare M605 enlarger head. Well, a 605, not a 805. Mounting the Technica on the 605 head and use it on the 805 column was the basic ides. Just changing heads for larger format negatives. Well, I started measuring, sketching, calculating...

1_repro_000.jpg 1_repro_005.jpg

Both heads are fixed to the column in a similar way, only the notches that fix the head at 0-90 degrees differ in position (diameter). I´m working on this notch issue, but in general one can mount the 605 head on a 805 column. Good news - and time for action in my workshop.


1_repro_001.jpg 1_repro_002.jpg 1_repro_003.jpg


To get a distance column - lens axis similar to the original setup I hacksawed the part off the 605 head that normally supports the negative carrier. The rough cuts are smoothened on a belt sander. Next I cut a piece of multiplex board and drilled some holes to fix the plate to the head.


1_repro_006.jpg 1_repro_007.jpg


The lower two screws are equipped with washers and small o-rings. They hold the board to the head but also allow some adjustment of the board in the vertical direction.

1_repro_008.jpg 1_repro_009.jpg

Vertical adjustment is done at the two threaded rods on the upper end of the board.

1_repro_010.jpg


It´s so much more rigid than with the Kaiser. With this repro head I´m able to process different neg sizes - it´s just changing enlarger heads. Fun to use, I hope. I have to care for the notches now. Well, tomorrow...


1_repro_011.jpg 1_repro_012.jpg 1_repro_013.jpg

Regards Matti
 
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MattiS

Member
Joined
Apr 29, 2016
Messages
218
Location
Germany
Format
Multi Format
The Intrepid enlarger comes with a 4x5 negative carrier. Additional carriers for 135, 6x4.5, 6x6, 6x7 & 6x9 are available (why the heck not 612??). So I ordered a 135 carrier to machine it for 612. It arrived, it is somewhere here around in my flat, but where... .

So here is my workaround for my FT-2 negatives (110x26mm). I used an old folding passepartout for Horizon negatives cut to 110x26 and put the negative and passepartout in the carrier. I have to check if the neg is held flat, that should be better with a 612 carrier with extra support.

mask_01.jpg mask_02.jpg mask_03.jpg mask_04.jpg mask_05.jpg
 
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MattiS

Member
Joined
Apr 29, 2016
Messages
218
Location
Germany
Format
Multi Format
Ah, the different notch positions on the M605 and M805 columns. I started machining an adapter plate from 3mm thick perspex board. The plate is located between the M805 column and the M605 repro head. The three small countersunk bores represent the clickstops for the M605 head.


20200202_154129.jpg
 
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