condenser lenses?

[kayakerguy]

I was wondering if the condenser lenses from an Omega D2V will also work on an Omega D5XL. Does anyone know for sure? Thanks

 

[Donald Qualls]

I don't know, but if you have a set of D2V condenser glass (2 lenses the same, one thinner) and find they won't work with your D5XL, I'd certainly appreciate the chance to make a bid on them. I have a D2V that has a Zone VI cold light, but I don't have a stabilizer or integrating timer and want to use multi-grade, which I'm told doesn't work well with non-VC cold light; I also have the original tungsten lamp house and variable condenser housing with corrugated roll spacer, but not the condenser glass. I'm short on cash, but might be able to offer a trade (perhaps a nicely working Zone VI cold light without integrating timer?)...

 

[MikeS]

I just bought a D2 (I believe it's just a D2, no V in there) on ebay. I've only used either a cold light (a Graflarger attached to my camera), or a diffusion enlarger (an old Elwood 5x7) in recent history, and I'm wondering what to expect when I start using a condenser enlarger?

Would I be correct that the difference between the D2 & D2V is having adjustable condensers? If so, as the enlarger is coming with a 4x5 carrier I would assume the condensers in it are setup for 4x5, which is what I'll be doing most of the time, but will occasionally be doing 6x7 & 35mm, what would happen if I don't change the condensers when doing the smaller formats?

I know that generally film development times are different for use in a condenser enlarger, rather than a diffusion enlarger (I don't recall off hand if they're longer or shorter), so does this mean I'll have trouble printing my old negatives that worked in the Elwood? My Elwood has a glass type negative carrier, and the Omega has a glassless type, I've always had trouble with dust, something that is less of a problem with a glassless carrier, but then I've also heard that dust is more of a problem with a condenser enlarger than a diffusion one, so will the 2 changes (condenser v diffusion & glass v glassless) void each other out?

I really wish I had room for more than one enlarger, if I did I would have gotten a smaller B series Omega for doing 6x7 & 35mm and kept my Elwood for 4x5 (also leaving the opportunity for 5x7 open), but I don't, so I'll have to replace the Elwood with the Omega.

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

-Mike

 

[Nick Zentena]

If you don't adjust the condensors for the smaller formats you'll have longer printing times. That's it I think.

The condensors will show grain more then a diffusion enlarger will. The condensors will also print with a little higher contrast. You're old negatives might need a little softer paper.

For the orginal question. You can try comparing Omega part numbers.

http://www.khbphotografix.com/omega/

472-023 6½" Double Condenser set for 135-150mm lenses

D2

472-023 6½" Double Condenser Lens set (replacement for DV Lamphouse)

D5. So those match. I can't find your exact enlargers.

 

[MikeS]

Ok, now that I've gone to that website, I learn that what I just bought is a REALLY old enlarger, it's a DII not a D-2! Oh well, I guess it's still probably newer than my Elwood, so it's still sort of an upgrade! Heck, I paid less than $125.00 including shipping, so I guess I can't complain too much!

-Mike

 

[argus]

Ok, now that I've gone to that website, I learn that what I just bought is a REALLY old enlarger, it's a DII not a D-2! Oh well, I guess it's still probably newer than my Elwood, so it's still sort of an upgrade! Heck, I paid less than $125.00 including shipping, so I guess I can't complain too much!-Mike

[grin] I bought a DII this year for only 35 Euro. It came with all 3 condenser sets for 35mm, 6x6cm and 4x5" and negative holders but with only a lousy 50mm lens. I completely unmanteled the beast, cleaned the rails and did a paint job on the black parts.

I just obtained a mint Schneider-Kreuznach G-Claron 9/150 for the same price as the enlarger... so, lucky me!

[question]
I noticed that the largest condenser does not cover the full size of a 4x5 negative. the corners are a lot darker than the rest of the projected negative. (no, it is not the fault of the negative...)
Is that normal for a DII or are te condenser lenses in the wrong order and/or flipped?

Mike, you might take a look at Classic Enlargers for parts.

G

 

[Ronald Moravec]

Some thing is wrong Argus. Things to check are:

1- 6 1/4 diameter condensers convex sides together, flat sides top and bottom. Should sit right on the neg carrier.

2- A regular enlarging bulb installed which is longer than a household bulb thus being at a different distance from the condensers. Use PH 211

3- Nothing in a filter drawer if you have one or other obstructions in the light path.

4- The lens belongs on the long five or six in cone. A home made one not wide enough will not allow the lens to see the corners of the neg. Look backwards thru the lens at the neg to be sure it sees the whole neg.

5- If I print a 8x10 to a light grey with no neg in the carrier, it is uniformly grey with a slightly dark area in the center about 2" in dia that I have never seen on a print. Edge darkening of a print is not necessary except for artistic reasons.

6- There might be a problem with the lens as it is for large reproductions, but i doubt it.

 

[ronlamarsh]

Don, check out Steve Anchells book "The Variable Contrast Printing Manual" you may find the solution to your coldlite issues.

 

[kayakerguy]

Nick, is what your saying is that as long as the condenser lenses are 6 1/2" they shoud work on the D5? I know there are several sizes on some of the other enlargers, incl. 6 1/4", and 5" condensers, and I want to make sure I get the right replacment condensers. Nick thanks for responding, and actually addressing my question.
Mark

For the orginal question. You can try comparing Omega part numbers.

http://www.khbphotografix.com/omega/

472-023 6½" Double Condenser set for 135-150mm lenses

D2

472-023 6½" Double Condenser Lens set (replacement for DV Lamphouse)

D5. So those match. I can't find your exact enlargers.

 

[removed account4]

i don't know the answers, but i can tell you that if you call the folks at khbphotografix they will be able to help you with all of your questions regarding omega enlargers. they know everything

 

[Nick Zentena]

Nick, is what your saying is that as long as the condenser lenses are 6 1/2" they shoud work on the D5? I know there are several sizes on some of the other enlargers, incl. 6 1/4", and 5" condensers, and I want to make sure I get the right replacment condensers. Nick thanks for responding, and actually addressing my question.
Mark

All I know is the same condensor is used on both according to the part list. It seems the 6 1/2 is used in place of the DV set. Best bet would be to ask KHB but Monday is holiday.

Which enlarger needs the spare parts?

 

[argus]

Some thing is wrong Argus. Things to check are:

1- 6 1/4 diameter condensers convex sides together, flat sides top and bottom. Should sit right on the neg carrier.

Thanks a lot Ronald, that solved the problem!

Mike, sorry for hijacking your thread ;-)

G

 

[Donald Qualls]

Don, check out Steve Anchells book "The Variable Contrast Printing Manual" you may find the solution to your coldlite issues.

Does the illustrious Mr. Anchell suggest how to stabilize the cold light, or compensate its fluctuations, for the price of a case of beer (which is about what I can afford to spend -- I'm betting the book is out of that budget)? I learned to print (35 years ago) with diffuser and condenser, tungsten-lit enlargers. Ten seconds was ten seconds, unless you changed the lens aperture or (once I started to use multi-contrast paper around 1975) the printing filter. Now, with cold light, I'm finding that ten seconds may require fifteen or twenty, and unless my eyes are calibrated as accurately as my Gossen Sixtomat (and accurate in much lower light), I won't know where I stand for any given print until it's developed -- which is a bit late.

Does he also suggest how to get very soft grades from the bluish light of the cold light tube?

 

[Nick Zentena]

You could spilt print. Get something like this:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/con...ls&Q=&sku=44326&is=REG&addedTroughType=search

But that assumes the light source has some green in it. If it doesn't then I don't know. I'm not sure that's the best filter. You might want to spend some time looking at the Rosco website to see which of the greens would work best for you. You could add a blue filter for the high grades.

http://www.rosco.com/us/filters/roscolux.asp#Colors


The coldlight needs to warm up. A packard shutter added to the enlarger would let you keep the light on.

 

[Donald Qualls]

The light from my Zone VI looks white to my eye -- at least as white as a "white" LED flashlight, so there probably is *some* green. I haven't got a convenient means of testing how much or what wavelengths, however, so what looks white to my eye could have blues and greens, then orange to red and a good strong yellow emission line, without having anything that would expose the green-sensitive halide grains in paper. The closest I can come to a spectral analysis is to use a CD as a diffraction grating and examine the spectrum produced by eye. I won't know for certain until I print with it. A yellow filter would work as well as green, however, and leave more light to focus with; same for magenta in place of blue, and I'm strongly considering getting one of each color maximum strength CC filters to do exactly that.

However, those same filters would work just as well with a condenser light, and not require me to find and kludge in a Packard shutter or print through a shutter-mounted camera lens if I find the heater for the head isn't adequate to smooth out the fluctuations. I already know I need to preheat with both light and heater on for about fifteen minutes before printing anything, but don't know what will happen if I take fifteen minutes with the light off (and heater on) to evaluate a work print before returning to the enlarger for the next attempt.

Oh, and if I could afford a new Packard shutter, I could afford a condenser glass set and then I'd be fine.