Condenser vs Diffuser

[RalphLambrecht]

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]

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]

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]

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.]

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

 

[Phillip P. Dimor]

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]

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]

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

 

[Jim Edmond]

Ilford 500 diffusion head for 35mm and 4x5.

 

[Uhner]

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

 

[Dali]

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

 

[archphoto]

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]

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

 

[pentaxuser]

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]

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]

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]

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

 

[aldevo]

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

 

[BradS]

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]

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

 

[mwdake]

Both condensor and dichroic mainly for 645 and 6x7.

 

[Mick Fagan]

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]

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]

Condenser. Both 135 & some 120 Format.

 

[eli griggs]

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.