Color head for Omega 4x5 enlarger

[BetterSense]

I have an ancient DII enlarger. I usually use it with an Aristo cold light. Is there a colorhead available for this thing, and if so, what is it called? I need to know what they are called so I can search for it online. My options are to either get a colorhead, or switch back to the condenser head and use CMY filters. I liked the condenser head fine; but I would have to rig up glass negative carriers because I always got negative popping on exposures over 10s.

 

[eddie]

There used to be an adapter, to use the Beseler color head on a DII. I had one, years ago, for my DII.
You may want to search for one.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I am using the Chromega Dichoic II color head for color and black & white on my Omega 5D-XL.

Steve

 

[removed account4]

harry taylor at classic-enlargers
will be able to answer your question
and offer suggestions ...

http://classic-enlargers.com/

he has been involved with omegas for a long long time
and is a great resource.

 

[Neal]

Dear BetterSense,

I have an old DII in the attic and looked into doing just the same thing years ago. I can't stress this more. Skip it and buy a D5 or D5XL. The price on these things is very low and it's a lot easier to clean one up than fool with all the little changes necessary. Trust me on this one. You will be much happier and you will probably save some cash as well.

Neal Wydra

 

[David Brown]

PM sent

 

[BetterSense]

I have an old DII in the attic and looked into doing just the same thing years ago. I can't stress this more. Skip it and buy a D5 or D5XL

Why; I thought the D5 was basically the same thing as the DII? What changes are there? They use the same lenscones and negative carriers, right? I don't have a real problem with my DII. I had a chance to buy a D5 with colorhead from a pro photographer down in Dallas, I was even there with my truck, but I think he wanted a couple hundred for it and I already had my DII.

 

[Ian C]

Why; I thought the D5 was basically the same thing as the DII? What changes are there? They use the same lenscones and negative carriers, right? I don't have a real problem with my DII. I had a chance to buy a D5 with colorhead from a pro photographer down in Dallas, I was even there with my truck, but I think he wanted a couple hundred for it and I already had my DII.

No, the DII and D2 use the same cones and so forth, but the D6 and the newer D5 are quite different and cannot accept the DII/D2 cones.

DII and D2 have the short almost straight bellows. They require the extended lens cones for longer lenses to position them far enough from the negative to focus.

The D6/D5 have the long tapered bellows that allow up to 150mm lenses with no additional cones to space the lens and can’t accept the DII/D2 cones due to completely different lens stage mounts.

 

[David Brown]

... but I think he wanted a couple hundred for it and I already had my DII.

Never mind my PMs. I'm afraid I'll need a "couple hundred" for mine, too.

 

[ic-racer]

A Super Chromega D head should fit. You may need to make two longer arms. Some round stock from the local hardware store should to the trick.

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)