Buying a Super Chromega D dichroic II...Need Advice

I'm considering buying a Super Chromega D dichroic II for b/w use in 4x5 format. What pitfalls should I look out for when I'm checking out this color head? I don't want to buy a lemon...

The head is pretty robust but as with anything, once some with a screwdriver decides to open it all bets are off. You need to know what you are doing to re-assemble the mechanism. Usually one can tell if someone clumsy has opened it as the screw heads show it.

There are two different power supplies. The older one is just a box with the transformer in it. Simple and reliable. The newer one is the Chromegatrol, with a built-in digital timer. Whichever one you get, make sure it works. To mount the head in place of a condenser head, you need two longer rods you can get from the hardware shop. The rest of the mounting hardware from the condenser head can be re-used.

First, make sure the filters are in good shape. Then make sure that move in to and out of position properly. Finally, confirm it has the mixing boxes you need. I believe there is one for 4x5 and one for MF. The MF one is brighter, but with less coverage.

I have the Chromega Dichroic II 5D-EL with the digital timer. I have had not problems with it. It is the same enlarger that Kodak used in the after hours labs it had set up for its employees. If there were problems with those enlargers, Kodak would have never bought, installed and service all those enlargers.

Dear clineco,

The only thing I can add to the above is that about 20 years ago I purchased an absolute beater from a college for very little money. As all enlargers are so simple, once it was cleaned up and made to work smoothly it has been trouble free. Mine came without a power supply but a nice transformer from Newark and a stabilized power supply from ebay did the trick.

Good luck,

Neal Wydra

Great suggestions everybody. I feel more comfortable about the purchase. Appreciate your time!

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