Beseler 23c and the smallest negatives

[studiocarter]

How to enlarge the most is my project. The manual says to use a 25mm lens for 8, 16, & 35mm. I could not get focus. It seems that a recessed lens board is required for that lens to achieve focus. I poked the 25mm lens up through a larger hole in a 4x4 lens board and the lens did focus. Threads on that lens are about 1 1/4 inches across. It will not fit in any of my other holders. Currently it is in a sheet of black cardboard, flat, so it doesn't work. No recessed boards have that size hole. Two things were bought so it may work after they get here, from Portigal and who knows where.
I can't believe how hard it is to get what is supposed to be a standard lens and board for the most popular 35mm film size?!
That's my rant.

 

[MattKing]

The manual says to use a 25mm lens for 8, 16, & 35mm.

I'm believe you are mis-reading the manual.

50mm is the recommended focal length for full frame 35mm film.

A 35mm lens is recommended for disc, 8mm and 16mm film, and there is a special recessed lensboard for that lens.

There is a setting on the Condenser Stage Adjustment for "8, 16, & 35mm".

 

[studiocarter]

Ahh, it says 8, 16, & 110. That is for the 25mm lens. The 50mm is for 35. The top stays all the way up for both formats.
All right. 8&16 are not common to enlarge.
Thanks.

 

[studiocarter]

What I'm doing is trying to enlarge a portion of a 6x9 negative similar to maximum dpi.
Aligning the negative was the hard part, not counting the lens difficulties. A anti newton glass carrier had to be half taken apart to do so, it works great.
70mm will be used that way, too, at least most of it will be. I don't have a 4x5 enlarger, except for a couple lenses...

 

[studiocarter]

A Bessler 8022 recessed lens board is needed to get the Rodenstock-Omegaron f4 25mm lens to focus. That also needs a 32.5 to 39mm adapter. The adapter is coming.
I really have never rotated the enlarger to the horizontal position until tonight. That will make larger sizes possible with other lenses. Brighter ones I hope.
My manual clearly states to use 25mm or 1 inch lenses for the smallest sized negatives that are 8, 16, 110mm in size.
The head is all the way up as for 35mm.