Condenser vs Diffuser

RalphLambrecht · Jun 22, 2009

Here, I'm not interested in the difference between the two systems, but I'd like to know how many people are actually using one or the other.

Are you using a condenser, diffuser or both, and which is your main negative format?

I appreciate all answers. The results are important to guide some research of mine.

Thanks in advance.

Sirius Glass · Jun 22, 2009

Diffuser. It came with the dichoric head. [Chromega Dichroic II 5XL]

Steve

Added: PS - I use it for 135 and 120 black & white prints. I have most of what I need for color processing, but I am not doing that now.

Ken N · Jun 22, 2009

Diffuser. fingerprints and scratches are greatly diminished or eliminated in the prints. Also, I prefer the slightly softer transition in the highlights.

35mm, 6x6 and soon to be 4x5.

dpurdy · Jun 22, 2009

I use a VC cold light head which is diffused but I keep it backed off the negative stage by 2 or 3 inches and use a longer lens. Mostly printing 120 film on a 4x5 head. I think it prints a bit sharper this way. Just a theory. The light rays aren't able to wrap around the grain quite a much as having the diffusion plate sitting right on the film. Hard to say.

Keith Tapscott. · Jun 22, 2009

I use a Durst Modular 70 with a Durst Vario (Variable contrast diffuse light source).

Phillip P. Dimor · Jun 22, 2009

I use an Omega DII with mf condenser. My main format is 645/66 although I do use 4x5 a bit.

I do have the 4x5 condenser although I prefer an aristo coldlight for 4x5 as the condenser is big, large, heavy and easily scratched/chipped.

MattKing · Jun 22, 2009

Omega D5 with Ilford Multigrade 400 diffusion head.

This is a recent change. Prior to this, for the previous two or so years, I was using a Beseler 67 series enlarger with a dichroic head.

Prior to that, for many years, I used the condensor head on the Beseler 67C.

I have a mint (as in unused!) condensor head for the D5, but just have it in storage right now.

Main format - that is a tough question. I am flitting back and forth between 645, 6x6 and 6x7, with regular visits to 35mm as well.

Matt

bdial · Jun 22, 2009

Diffusion, using a color head.
Main format is 6x6, plus 4x5 and some 35mm.

Jim Edmond · Jun 22, 2009

Ilford 500 diffusion head for 35mm and 4x5.

Uhner · Jun 22, 2009

Diffuser, a VCCE head on a LPL 7450 for 6x6 and 5x4.

Dali · Jun 22, 2009

Diffuser as I use a Durst M605 Color for both 24x36 and 6x6 formats.

archphoto · Jun 22, 2009

In Holland: diffusion, a Rollei 6x7 enlarger with a colorhead.
I use it for 135, 6x6 and 6x7 B&W, in the future I might add a condensor aswell......

Peter

Eric Rose · Jun 22, 2009

I use both. Primarily the condenser, but some negs just look better enlarged with the diffusion head.

pentaxuser · Jun 22, 2009

Diffuser It's a Durst 605 dichroic head. Main neg size is 35mm but I do occasionally use 6x6( Agfa Isolette 1) which the 605 will cover

pentaxuser

Nathan Potter · Jun 22, 2009

I use both depending on the film material and subject matter. From 35mm to 4 X 5. Chromes and B&W.

Nate Potter, Washington DC.

Anscojohn · Jun 22, 2009

RalphLambrecht said:
Here, I'm not interested in the difference between the two systems, but I'd like to know how many people are actually using one or the other.

Are you using a condenser, diffuser or both, and which is your main negative format?

I appreciate all answers. The results are important to guide some research of mine.

Thanks in advance.

********
Diffusion: Dichroic color head on Beseler for 6x7 and 35mm.

Stew · Jun 22, 2009

Hi,
I use an LPL D6700 Diffuser colour head for 35mm.

aldevo · Jun 22, 2009

I use a LPL 670 VCCE - I guess that's neither condenser nor diffuser.

BradS · Jun 22, 2009

Condenser head on an ancient Omega D2.
Mainly print 4x5.

have always and only ever used a Condenser head. I have an original omega lite but haven't gotten around to trying it out.

Thomas Bertilsson · Jun 22, 2009

Condenser. Omega Pro Lab 4x5. I use it mainly to print 120 TMY-2 / TMX / TX negatives and 35mm TMX / TMY-2.

mwdake · Jun 22, 2009

Both condensor and dichroic mainly for 645 and 6x7.

Mick Fagan · Jun 22, 2009

Diffuser with a 4x5 DeVere colour head.

Formats in descending order of film used are:- 35mm, 4x5" then 120 film.

99% B&W these days and the rest colour negative

Mick.

ricksplace · Jun 22, 2009

Beseler 45 and 23 Condenser on both. Colour head on the 23 (you need the conical light integrator to use the condensers with the dichro head)

Bill Mobbs · Jun 22, 2009

Condenser. Both 135 & some 120 Format.

eli griggs · Jun 22, 2009

I use both.

First there's an Omega E6 with a Omega florescent circle-light and a Beseler 23c II with a dichro color-head. Condensers on an Omega Pro 66 I use mostly for 2¼ and a Valoy II for 35mm. Those are the two formats I'm shooting most of the time, with some 16mm and 4x5 from time to time.

I prefer the condenser most often but that's because those are the type enlargers I first learned on and used most often, including for large format work, although I did choose a 23c II with color-head for my first new enlarger almost 30 years ago and it gave very good service, especially with Cibachrome, Ilford Gallery and the Kodak RC papers I used to print pictures of ballet dancers under both stage and natural light. Then I was shooting mostly people, now-a-days it's more likely a still-life or a building.

Now I am enjoying trying out different enlargers with the several still new to me films and chemicals I'm using now.

Condenser vs Diffuser

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