616 Film Prints

Hi all, I’m very new to film negatives and needing some help.
I’m looking to get equipment to begin making prints from a large collection of film I have but the one issue I’m running into is 1/3 of the film I have is 616 or of similar size, can any enlarger be fitted with a negative carrier for these large negatives or is a special size needed when I buy one?

Any help is appreciated!

Odd sizes, worst comes to worst, use a sheet of glass instead of a carrier. Someone I trust claimed to use baby powder on the emulsion side to prevent newton rings while too fine to be seen on the print.

If the negatives are in the 2 1/2 x 4 1/4 inch size typical of 616, the most straightforward and readily-available way to enlarge them will be using a glass-sandwich negative carrier in a 4x5 inch enlarger.

Oren Grad is correct.
A 4x5 (or larger) enlarger is necessary.
I know that we have recently been starting to see internet suppliers of negative carriers who create them using 3D printers. You may be able to find someone among that group who can make a custom glassless carrier for you of the correct size.

3 1/4 x 4 1/4 or 4 x 5 negative carriers are easy to find so you could use one of those after masking to the 616 size, the first one might be easiest.
Alternatively you could get a 6 x 9 and open the hole to suit.

Lastly, you could make a carrier using Matt board; something I did once while waiting to find a carrier I needed.

MattKing said:

Oren Grad is correct.
A 4x5 (or larger) enlarger is necessary.
I know that we have recently been starting to see internet suppliers of negative carriers who create them using 3D printers. You may be able to find someone among that group who can make a custom glassless carrier for you of the correct size.

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Every enlarger I see doesn’t mention the biggest size (ex 4x5) any recommendations for one that will be able to do small and big film or at least how to figure out size of the enlarger?

Aidan C said:

Every enlarger I see doesn’t mention the biggest size (ex 4x5) any recommendations for one that will be able to do small and big film or at least how to figure out size of the enlarger?

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You need a 4x5 (or larger) enlarger.
It is really common to see 4x5 enlargers described as 4x5.
Same for 5x7 enlargers, and 8x10 enlargers. They, however, are relatively rare, usually very large, and may still be quite expensive.
Even 4x5 enlargers tend to be fairly large.
For the more common medium format film and 35mm film enlargers, you are correct in that the maximum film size isn't often in a lot of descriptions.
Until I recently sold my 4x5 enlarger - an Omega D6 - I used it to print everything from 35mm negatives to, indeed, 120 film exposed in a 616 camera. To do the latter, I needed to use a 4x5 glass carrier.

Here is a 4x5 enlarger listed on Chicago Craigslist - an Omega D2.
https://chicago.craigslist.org/chc/pho/d/chicago-omega-d2v-xl-enlarger/7508047010.html

That would be a good start, but you would need a number of additional accessories to make it work for 616 negatives. It at least has lenses for 35mm and 120 (6x6) and at least a 6x6 carrier.

Here is some info on that particular model of enlarger: http://www.khbphotografix.com/omega/Enlargers/D2.htm

I'll forego suggesting contact printing as the OP primarily seems interested enlarging their 616 negs, but will throw in the Intrepid 4x5 Enlarger kit for consideration. If you already have a 4x5 camera it provides a relatively affordable and flexible way of printing b&w or color at 4x5" or smaller.

Disclaimer: I do not own and have never used that particular piece of gear, but it seems like an excellent idea.

Aidan C said:

Hi all, I’m very new to film negatives and needing some help.
I’m looking to get equipment to begin making prints from a large collection of film I have but the one issue I’m running into is 1/3 of the film I have is 616 or of similar size, can any enlarger be fitted with a negative carrier for these large negatives or is a special size needed when I buy one?

Any help is appreciated!

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Of course, a "heretical" solution would be to "wet print" the usual size negatives - 6 x 6, 4 x 6, 35mm, etc. with your Beseler 23c or Omega B22 or whatever - and scan the 616 negatives and then print the files with a good photo-quality printer. There should be a number of providers of high quality scans and printing in Illinois.
Do note that a Beseler 23c, for example, can print many different negative sizes, but different carriers and lenses are needed to yield the best results, especially for larger prints. While a 75 or 80mm lens, the proper focal length for 6 x 6, will print 35mm negatives, the height of the enlarger coulmn will limit the enlargement size possible. However, a 50mm lens for 35mm negatives will not properly "cover" a 6 x 6 negative.

GRHazelton said:

Of course, a "heretical" solution would be to "wet print" the usual size negatives - 6 x 6, 4 x 6, 35mm, etc. with your Beseler 23c or Omega B22 or whatever - and scan the 616 negatives and then print the files with a good photo-quality printer. There should be a number of providers of high quality scans and printing in Illinois.
Do note that a Beseler 23c, for example, can print many different negative sizes, but different carriers and lenses are needed to yield the best results, especially for larger prints. While a 75 or 80mm lens, the proper focal length for 6 x 6, will print 35mm negatives, the height of the enlarger coulmn will limit the enlargement size possible. However, a 50mm lens for 35mm negatives will not properly "cover" a 6 x 6 negative.

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Is there a easier brand to find lenses for? I have a metal and wood shop so carriers are not an issue just finding the different lens is what I’m worried about.

From my research it seems the only thing that I change is the lens and carrier for different size negatives correct?

Aidan C said:

From my research it seems the only thing that I change is the lens and carrier for different size negatives correct?

Click to expand...

You may have to change condensers as well in some enlargers.
Although an enlarger whose light path is set up for 4x5 will generally work for smaller sizes, you sometimes end up with long and inconvenient print times if something like a 35mm negative is only using a relatively tiny portion of the light.

Different enlargers use different mounting systems for lenses - lens cones, lens boards, lens mounting plates, lens turrets and, in a small number of cases, fixed threaded mounting stages. Lenses tend to have threads that screw into the mounting system that the enlarger uses, and while there is a fair selection of thread sizes, 39mm is probably the most common thread size.

If you intend to print 35mm film, medium format film between 6x4.5 and 6x7, and 616/4x5 film, you would normally be looking for a 50mm lens, a lens between 75mm and 105mm, and a lens between 135mm and 150mm. For 616, a 135mm lens might be ideal.

Being in the US, you probably want to concentrate on enlarger brands that have/had a substantial footprint in the US marketplace, because you will mainly have to depend on the used market, although Beseler at least is still making new equipment. Other new options are LPL and European options like Kienzle

Aidan C said:

Is there a easier brand to find lenses for? I have a metal and wood shop so carriers are not an issue just finding the different lens is what I’m worried about.

From my research it seems the only thing that I change is the lens and carrier for different size negatives correct?

Click to expand...

Well.....it all depends. The enlarger has to be large enough to furnish even illumination for the negative. As several posts have noted 616 negs probably need a 4 x 5 enlarger. My Beseler 23c wouldn't do. Enlarger lenses - used - are readily available; see what KEH, Adorama, and BH have. Carriers for my Beseler in the usual sizes - 35mm, 4 x 6, 6 x 6 - are generally available new or used (I go to a local dealer for used carriers) and the Beseler carriers work beautifully; I imagine that the cost of a decent used carrier is less than your time in making one. But first choose your enlarger!
It seems that we all have assumed that your negatives are all BLACK AND WHITE. If you have color negatives...... Wet printing color is another matter.