Diffusion plate? Kaiser condenser enlargers ...

Juan Valdenebro · Mar 8, 2018

Hello,

Today I received my Kaiser VP 6005 condenser enlarger, and I like it…

Inside it has a 220 volts bulb, and as here we have 110 volts, I’ll need to order a few bulbs online, so I won’t be able to use the enlarger right now…

In the meantime I’ll try to clear things up by asking about two different subjects… Thanks!

1 I don’t know if ordering the original Kaiser bulbs would be the only/best option… Are they optically superior in any way to the ones sold by Freestyle? (That’s where I order my materials…), and which model/brand would be my best option if I don´t order Kaiser bulbs? (Medium format enlarger, 6x6, condenser...)

2 My enlarger is 6x6, and I read the close 6x9 model has a condenser too, but it has a diffusion plate also… I would enjoy trying that idea on my enlarger: lowering contrast a bit would be great, so I’d like to know: can that plate be adapted in any way to a 6005? How does it look like? What is it made of? Where is it placed? What would you do if you wanted an optional diffusion plate to slightly soften light on a condenser enlarger? What about a piece of opal/textured glass inside the filter drawer, just above the filter?

I think I remember reading a photrio member on that subject some time ago, but I haven´t found the thread again…

Thank you.

AgX · Mar 8, 2018

Without knowing the Freestyle bulbs I do not expect any difference. There is only one bulb munufacturer left anyway.

I do not know of any diffusion plate related to the condensor, but Kaiser offer a diffusionplate for their below-the-lens filter-holder, designated for ingegral metering.

Svenedin · Mar 8, 2018

AgX said:
Without knowing the Freestyle bulbs I do not expect any difference. There is only one bulb munufacturer left anyway.

I do not know of any diffusion plate related to the condensor, but Kaiser offer a diffusionplate for their below-the-lens filter-holder, designated for ingegral metering.

I have seen the below lens diffusion plate in spares catalogues but what is it actually for? I don't know what they mean by "integral metering".

http://www.thedarkroom.co.uk/tradit...ccessories/4495-below-lens-filter-holder.html

Juan Valdenebro · Mar 8, 2018

I guess the diffusion plate I'm talking about is another one, and it should be below the lamp head, maybe? I haven´t seen any online image of it... Last year someone talked to me (in a trip) about the Kaiser enlargers with both condenser and diffuser... That was the first time I heard of it...

Svenedin · Mar 8, 2018

Juan Valdenebro said:
I guess the diffusion plate I'm talking about is another one, and it should be below the lamp head, maybe? I haven´t seen any online image of it... Last year someone talked to me (in a trip) about the Kaiser enlargers with both condenser and diffuser... That was the first time I heard of it...

I will have a look at my enlarger which is a Kaiser System V 6x9. Actually I have 2 Kaiser enlargers but they have halogen heads (one colour, the other multigrade).

Svenedin · Mar 8, 2018

Juan. I have looked at my Kaiser Multigrade head (halogen) and it does have a diffusor plate. This is white, made of plastic and has a tab secured with a screw. The plate is not flat but is shaped like a pyramid (with a very shallow slope). If you have a look at your head you should be able to work out whether a diffusor plate like mine is designed to fit.

So a partial answer to your question is that the diffusor plate goes between the light source and the condenser. It is plastic but it is not a flat plate. Kaiser are very good about spare parts so if you e-mail them my photo they should be able to tell you the part number so you can order one.

Diffusor plate (view of the underside of enlarger head when removed from enlarger)

6x9 Condenser

AgX · Mar 8, 2018

Yours is part of the head. The OP is inquiring about a diffuser that (to his belief) makes part of a substitute-condensor kit.
The Kaiser V-enlargers are modular and one can change assemblies. Changing them in format or lighting system
etc.

"Integral metering" means metering the average luminosity or colour hue of the negative/positive, instead of spot-metering (a face, a patch or tarmac).

Aside of this diffuser plate there also is a heat-absorber filter to be placed in the filter drawer above the film carrier.

I advise the OP to look in the current Kaiser catalog. It lists all available parts and kits.

AgX · Mar 8, 2018

Juan Valdenebro said:
Last year someone talked to me (in a trip) about the Kaiser enlargers with both condenser and diffuser... That was the first time I heard of it...

Basically there are 3 types of enlarger heads

-) point-light condensor head (rare)
-) opalized-bulb condensor head (common)
-) color head with point light, dichroitic filter, mixing chamber and condensor (common)

You got the second type.
But you were talking on your trip likely about the third type. As posted above the Kaiser version of such head has an additional diffusor plate.

AgX · Mar 8, 2018

Or you were talking about enlargers from Dunco. Another german manufacturer, their enlargers are also modular.
Here together with the condensor the mixing chamber has to be changed too.

Svenedin · Mar 8, 2018

AgX said:
Yours is part of the head. The OP is inquiring about a diffuser that (to his belief) makes part of a substitute-condensor kit.
The Kaiser V-enlargers are modular and one can change assemblies. Changing them in format or lighting system
etc.

"Integral metering" means metering the average luminosity or colour hue of the negative/positive, instead of spot-metering (a face, a patch or tarmac).

Aside of this diffuser plate there also is a heat-absorber filter to be placed in the filter drawer above the film carrier.

I advise the OP to look in the current Kaiser catalog. It lists all available parts and kits.

OK thanks! I looked through the current Kaiser catalogue and I cannot see any mention of the part the OP refers to

Juan Valdenebro · Mar 8, 2018

I have the Kaiser catalog and they don´t mention that part...
Svenedin, thank you very much! It's great to see the plate exists...
I'll ask them..
What about light bulbs? Kaiser's
https://www.kaiserfotous.com/products/replacement-lamps/enlarger-lamps/kaiser-opal-lamp-75w.html
has a shape that's different from Freestyle's options... Does it matter? Someone getting even illumination on a Kaiser with any non-Kaiser bulb?
(EDIT: looks like specifications and/or image are wrong in the link...)

Svenedin · Mar 8, 2018

I don't know about the bulbs but you can adjust the bulb to get even illumination. See these instructions (page 36): http://www.kaiser-fototechnik.de/pdf/anleitungen/4420_4.pdf

AgX · Mar 8, 2018

Juan Valdenebro said:
I have the Kaiser catalog and they don´t mention that part...
Kaiser's
https://www.kaiserfotous.com/products/replacement-lamps/enlarger-lamps/kaiser-opal-lamp-75w.html
has a shape that's different from Freestyle's options... Does it matter? Someone getting even illumination on a Kaiser with any non-Kaiser bulb?

The bulb you show is not the one from the Kaiser catalog. But a version offered from their US distributor.
But as it is opalized and overrated it should work. (I never saw such bulb/filament combination.)
In the worst case you would have to adjust its position a little bit. In any case it should deliver an even output on the baseboard.

Juan Valdenebro · Mar 8, 2018

I see 2 versions of 75w PH140 (page says recommended for medium format?):

https://www.freestylephoto.biz/2343220-Eiko-Wiko-Enlarger-Bulb-PH140-120V-75W

and

https://www.freestylephoto.biz/1001266-Ushio-Enlarger-Bulb-PH140-75W

and 2 versions of 75w PH211 (page says recommended for 4x5?):

https://www.freestylephoto.biz/2340569-Eiko-Wiko-Enlarger-Bulb-PH211-75W

and

https://www.freestylephoto.biz/405691-Ushio-Enlarger-Bulb-PH211-75W

So, what’s the difference between the first 2 and the last 2…?
Anyone using them on Kaiser enlargers?

AgX · Mar 8, 2018

You say you had a look into the Kaiser catalog. It shows a bulb shape similar to that of the PH211.
As such shape is used in german enlargers.

AgX · Mar 8, 2018

The difference between the first two lamps from Freestyle is that the first one is rated for 120V, wheras no voltage is given for the second lamp.
For the second and third lamp no voltage is given at all.

Juan Valdenebro · Mar 8, 2018

Anyone agreeing with Freestyle's site? They say PH140 for medium format, and PH211 for 4x5... My previous 6x6 enlarger had a bulb with the shape of 211 (common shape, and not the shape of 140...) Can their site be wrong?

Juan Valdenebro · Mar 8, 2018

By the way, I asked Freestyle about this a week ago (email) and I got no answer.

AgX · Mar 8, 2018

Juan Valdenebro said:
Anyone agreeing with Freestyle's site? They say PH140 for medium format, and PH211 for 4x5... My previous 6x6 enlarger had a bulb with the shape of 211 (common shape, and not the shape of 140...) Can their site be wrong?

As I said in Germany only one shape was used and produced. The pear shape.
However the models for 150W and 250W are larger in diameter and length.
Thus a enlarger using bulbs of that higher output was designed for their different filament position. BUT the necessary light output is not dependant on format, but enlarging scale.
Furthermore enlargers taking opalized bulbs typically allow a lot of movement of the fixture.

Svenedin · Mar 8, 2018

I think you are worrying too much about this. Buy the bulb of the same wattage and the closest in shape/size (and for the voltage of your local supply).

Mark77 · Mar 8, 2018

For what it's worth I have a Kaiser VPM 9005 with the halogen cold light mirror lamp (12V), and the goods folks at Kaiser were kind enough to give me the spec and name of a manufacturer that produces a much less expensive but equivalent bulb (who knows, maybe it's the same manufacturer, without the Kaiser markup). Anyway, the point being that I don't think it matters too much in your case provided the replacement bulb is 75W, approximately the same shape, at the correct voltage and has a color temperature of 3000K (as specified by Kaiser).

Juan Valdenebro · Mar 9, 2018

I guess I'll order PH211 ones... Any idea why PH140 are recommended for medium format while PH211 are recommended for 4x5?

Svenedin · Mar 9, 2018

Mark77 said:
For what it's worth I have a Kaiser VPM 9005 with the halogen cold light mirror lamp (12V), and the goods folks at Kaiser were kind enough to give me the spec and name of a manufacturer that produces a much less expensive but equivalent bulb (who knows, maybe it's the same manufacturer, without the Kaiser markup). Anyway, the point being that I don't think it matters too much in your case provided the replacement bulb is 75W, approximately the same shape, at the correct voltage and has a color temperature of 3000K (as specified by Kaiser).

Yes. I use Osram Xenophot bulbs in mine. I didn’t even know there was a Kaiser branded bulb for the cold, mirror light enlargers.

AgX · Mar 9, 2018

Juan Valdenebro said:
I guess I'll order PH211 ones... Any idea why PH140 are recommended for medium format while PH211 are recommended for 4x5?

AgX said:
Thus a enlarger using bulbs of that higher output was designed for their different filament position. BUT the necessary light output is not dependant on format, but enlarging scale.

On the other hand the bulb as such must have a certain size in relation to the format to illuminate evenly without needing huge condnsors. See for instance the large bulbs required for Durst 8x10 enlargers.

AgX · Mar 9, 2018

The mushroom diameter of the model offered by the Kaiser distributor is 51mm.
The PH140 (shape unknown here) diameter is 44mm.
The diameter of the smallest enlarger lamp used in Germany is 61mm.

Diffusion plate? Kaiser condenser enlargers ...

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