Anybody use a Gnome II Beta?

[batwister]

Just wondering what the quality of these dinosaurs are? Any print examples?
Would you recommend this enlarger for a novice?

 

[pentaxuser]

I have one( now dissembled and in the loft). It was OK but primitive compared to my Durst 605. Mine didn't have a filter drawer so unless you can arrange for all yoir negs to print well at grade 2 then you'll need some under the lens grade filters or say two boxes of graded paper probably grades 2 and 3 will cover most negs.

I got mine free from the brother-in-law who was about to throw it out but I certainly would pay much for one. It will do 6x9 negs so comes into its own for the bigger MF negs. Check that the lens on offer with the Gnome Beta II is serviceable.

If you are a novice with a bit of money to spare then I am not sure that this enlarger is the best way to go. If you don't have much spare cash and need to go with big MF negs and can treat things as a learning experience then why not?

pentaxuser

 

[batwister]

They are capable of producing relatively 'fine' prints with a bit of fiddling and (I'm expecting) a few tweaks?
I mean, I shouldn't expect blurred edges at even the smallest f-stops and hotspots and that kind of thing, it's fairly well made I'm assuming?
All I'm concerned about at the end of the day is the quality of the prints.

It comes with a Soligar f3.5-f16 lens, can't find much info about that brand.

 

[pentaxuser]

batwister. I did prints from quite old MF(6x9) negs(1940s and 50s) that the brother-in-law had supplied and the prints were quite good. If I was going into the printing business then the Gnome Beta II wouldn't be my first choice of enlarger :as they are easier ones to use but qualitywise there was nothing wrong with the prints I did.

As I said a set of filters or at least two grades of paper is advisable. You will have fun and if you take your time then you will not be disappointed. Get a good printing book and be prepared to waste a lot of paper when learning the trade

I would use the enlarger at the middle range of apertures. The focal length is important. It needs to be at least 80mm for 6x6. I think mine is 105mm for 6x9. A Soligar lens is unlikely to be up to El Nikkor or Rodenstock quality but with big negs and moderate enlargements the prints should be fine.

pentaxuser

 

[mcgrattan]

I had an old Gnome. It worked and produced OK prints, mine came with a Wray Supar lens. I struggled to find a replacement lens as, in my case it least, it had a screw fitting that wasn't standard M39. However, even with the basic lens [which was a triplet, iirc] I had perfectly OK prints at 8x10 from 35mm and 120 negs.

 

[pentaxuser]

It sounds as if it is an e-bay purchase that you are contemplating. If it is a retailer or private sale ask to see it in action. If it is e-bay then as long as the seller is saying that it works then make a modest bid.

It might be the first step in moving to bigger and better things. Once you have got all you can out of the Beta you can always sell it for probably what you paid. Enlargers always seem to sell unless the seller has set a ridiculous reserve or BIN price.

Certainly if the focal length covers MF up to 6x9 and especially if you have 6x9 negs to print then the Beta is probably the cheapest enlarger to do it.

pentaxuser

 

[batwister]

Thanks for the info.

I won the enlarger, for £40. I received it today and I've had a couple of printing sessions already. It has a 35mm condenser and 50mm lens. I've had to use the 80mm Zeiss lens from my Hasselblad, by propping it against the mount (in a very haphazard fashion), but I've produced a couple of acceptable prints. I'm shortly going to attempt to solder some metal bars to hold the Hasselblad lens in place, rather than buying a medium format lens. I'm also using the enlarger in a diffuser type way, taking the 35mm condenser out and covering the negative holder with a piece of milky perspex (which was supplied). I'm able to get a consistently bright projection this way.

Just some info for anyone who might ever have a similar set up.