beseler 8x10 conversion to 4x5

claudius · May 9, 2015

i am offered an beseler 45MX with the 8x10 conversion kit installed.
my question is, will i be able to make prints out of 4x5 and smaller negatives without changing the lightsource ?
i allready have one beseler 45mx but as with many of us, my darkroom will be too cramped with two enlargers.
klaus

claudius · May 10, 2015

Bump !

ic-racer · May 10, 2015

I can't speak for first-hand experience with the Beseler conversion head, but most other 8x10 diffusion light sources work fine with smaller formats. You just need a negative carrier that masks the extra light around the negative and an appropriate lens.

rmann · May 10, 2015

4x5 and smaller negative carriers should fit in the normal location, 8x10 carriers slot would be empty, times will probably be longer as the light source will be above the negative carrier at a greater distance - you should not have a problem. If you don't need the 8x10, it should be very easy to sell.

Jon Shiu · May 10, 2015

Although not stated in the manual, I think the plexi diffusion panel, which is part of the 8x10 negative carrier is needed to even out the light.

Jon

claudius · May 11, 2015

thanks to all of you Guys, that answers my question.
my greatest concern is the light loss when using the 8x10 Cold light for 4x5 and 120 film.
as stated in the users manul, kindly shown, it is possible to switch it out with the standard 4x5 head.
the enlarger in question is however not the original beseler, and it looks not possible to make that switch without the use of tools. (i have only seen Photos of it so far
anyway i will buy the thing and see what happens, i still have the std 45 mx as back up.
thank you Again.
klaus

claudius · Jul 23, 2015

well, i looks like the 8x10 is out of hand, i think it is a too pricy.

Therfore i am in the process of converting my 4x5 into 8x10.
it looks fairly simple, but i wondered if anyone can help me with :

distance from negative stage to upper part of the original Bellows frame ??

that would probably save me a lot of fiddling around.

also, did any of you, who have done the conversion, cut the round hole in top of the Bellows into a Square hole?

Klaus

thanks

beseler 8x10 conversion to 4x5

claudius

claudius

ic-racer

rmann

Jon Shiu

claudius

claudius

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