kwmullet
Member
I've got a Beseler 45MCRX enlarger with a rheostat-looking thing called a "Resistrol" that has a voltmeter on top which I can use to control the voltage to the lamp in my condenser housing. I've, uh, resisted using it so far because I suspect that if I change the voltage to the incandenscent bulb in my condenser, the color temperature would change along with it.
Even with multigrade filters in place, with a 50mm lens all the way down to f16, I get print times of 30 seconds or so at 8x10. I'd prefer they be closer to a minute to make dodging easier. What's the prescribed way to lengthen exposure time without affecting performance of VC paper? If changing the voltage to the lamp changes the color temperature, that would likely change the contrast of my print as well. I've got a hefty-size tray in my condenser for CC filters. Do I need to buy some neutral density filters and put them up there? Does anyone know for sure that changing the voltage to the lamp up to a given point will NOT change its color temperature?
It's occured to me to use a 75mm lens instead and crank the enlarger way up and get that extra time through the law of inverse squares, but I'd much rather keep my head where it is and change the intensity of the image somehow. I'd also rather not keep a dimmer bulb in the drawer for such occasions.
As a sidenote, the serial# on my enlarger is 50354. Any way to tell when it was born?
cheers,
-KwM-
Even with multigrade filters in place, with a 50mm lens all the way down to f16, I get print times of 30 seconds or so at 8x10. I'd prefer they be closer to a minute to make dodging easier. What's the prescribed way to lengthen exposure time without affecting performance of VC paper? If changing the voltage to the lamp changes the color temperature, that would likely change the contrast of my print as well. I've got a hefty-size tray in my condenser for CC filters. Do I need to buy some neutral density filters and put them up there? Does anyone know for sure that changing the voltage to the lamp up to a given point will NOT change its color temperature?
It's occured to me to use a 75mm lens instead and crank the enlarger way up and get that extra time through the law of inverse squares, but I'd much rather keep my head where it is and change the intensity of the image somehow. I'd also rather not keep a dimmer bulb in the drawer for such occasions.
As a sidenote, the serial# on my enlarger is 50354. Any way to tell when it was born?
cheers,
-KwM-