6x6 printing witht an Omega B22

Gregheck · Oct 4, 2016

A friend gave me a B22 for my first darkroom that has a Nikon 50mm lens. Decent results with my 35mm negatives. With 120 I am getting problems at the corners of the image. Am I correct that I need a different enlarger lens to have the corners of the image sharp? Recommended lens?

MattKing · Oct 5, 2016

You are basically right. Something in the 75mm - 80mm range is normally used, although if you have something longer, and can accept fairly small enlargements, they will work to.

As APUGuser19 indicates, you also need to configure the light path in your enlarger to properly illuminate the larger negative.

Here is a copy of an old version of the manual: http://www.jollinger.com/photo/cam-coll/manuals/enlargers/omega/Enlarger Chassis B-22.pdf

Note: 3" = 75mm.

Gregheck · Oct 5, 2016

Thanks for the help guy's! I appreciate it!

Paul Howell · Oct 5, 2016

I use a 75mm Wallensake for 8X10 to 11X14 and a 90mm Kodak 5X7 as it keeps the head higher allowing me room to burn and dodge.

Jim Jones · Oct 5, 2016

Nikon made two 50mm lenses for enlargers. a six element f/2.8 and a four element f/4. The former is certainly the best of the two, but the little f/4 is better than most f/4 enlarging lenses. I've used several f/2.8 Nikkors and occasionally the f/4 Nikkor since 1968 with perfect satisfaction

darkroommike · Oct 5, 2016

Note also the B22 uses an auxiliary condenser in the lamphouse for 35mm that needs to be removed before printing 6x6 (assuming it's there at all and hassn't already been "put away" in a drawer somewhere). See this one for what it looks like http://store.khbphotografix.com/Supplementary-Condenser-Lens-for-Omega-B-22-Enlarger.html

A nice inexpensive lens for the B22 is the 75mm/4 El-Nikkor not a super stellar lens but plenty good enough.

Terrence Brennan · Oct 5, 2016

I use an 80mm Componon with a B-22XL; before I got the Componon, I used a 90mm Wollensak Raptar.

M Carter · Oct 13, 2016

The 80mm EL Nikkor is (as I understand it) one of the few 80's that will do 6x7 with no vignetting. As an RB shooter, I own one and it's a heck of a lens and widely available. Might be one to consider if you think you'll ever do 6x7?

paul ron · Oct 14, 2016

if it was set up for 35mm... look on top of the condensers n remove the small add on condenser.

6x6 printing witht an Omega B22

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