Does anyone with a Beseler Printmaker 35 know how to align the negative carrier?

rpavich · Feb 16, 2016

I had a little problem that I noticed today. It doesn't show up when printing via a crop but it does show up when printing the whole frame using a filed down negative carrier.

One corner is "cut off" because the condenser and the negative carrier aren't in precise vertical alignment. The center line of the condenser isn't going right through the middle of the negative carrier; it's slightly off to one side so that a corner is cut off if you want to print the whole frame.

I looked at the circle of light and it's position on the negative carrier as I was closing it and it certainly is slightly off to one side. (both on the filed carrier and the stock one.)

I noticed that if I pull out the negative carrier slightly from the little pegs it slides into, it centers it up more to the condenser and the problem disappears. Is that something folks have had to do or is that unusual?

Does anyone with a Beseler Printmaker 35 know how to align these different stages?

MattKing · Feb 16, 2016

Beseler can be hard to reach, but they may be able to help: http://www.beselerphoto.com/contact-us/

ic-racer · Feb 16, 2016

I have found it not uncommon that equipment has been designed to not allow the whole frame to be printed. Sometimes one needs to do little modifications to align things, even with 'pro' darkroom equipment.

Some examples I have encountered, my Phillips 35mm enlarger. With the glass carrier and adjustable masking blades and a common six-element lens. If the blades were just a millimeter or two off the image would go outside the sharp image circle. Solution, use High Magnification (big image circle) lens with this enlarger (lens cost ten times the cost of the enlarger.) Another example, the Schneider Betavaron zoom enlarging lens. It does not cover an entire 35mm full frame negative. Another example, even my late model Durst 10x10 enlarger has only a millimeter or so clearance on each side when trying to projection print an 8x10 negative and include the rebate.
The old darkroom worker's advice of always using an enlarger 'one size bigger' is often good advice.

TheFlyingCamera · Feb 16, 2016

The Printmaker was never designed or built to be precision equipment, so I wouldn't invest a whole lot of time or energy into trying to turn a pig into a racehorse. I'd seriously consider looking for at least a Beseler 67 if not a 23C. While the 67 is not as versatile as the 23C it is still a world more robust than the Printmaker 35, and both the 67 and the 23C are readily available at near-giveaway prices with just the smallest amount of patience. I'd only persist with the Printmaker if you are severely constrained for space.

John Koehrer · Feb 16, 2016

In any case, without spending $$$. Just make a spacer or wrap the pins to move the carrier position.

rpavich · Feb 17, 2016

TheFlyingCamera said:
The Printmaker was never designed or built to be precision equipment, so I wouldn't invest a whole lot of time or energy into trying to turn a pig into a racehorse. I'd seriously consider looking for at least a Beseler 67 if not a 23C. While the 67 is not as versatile as the 23C it is still a world more robust than the Printmaker 35, and both the 67 and the 23C are readily available at near-giveaway prices with just the smallest amount of patience. I'd only persist with the Printmaker if you are severely constrained for space.

I'll keep an eye out if I can find a deal, thanks.

John Koehrer said:
In any case, without spending $$$. Just make a spacer or wrap the pins to move the carrier position.

I did find that on the part above the negative carrier there were two wing nuts that moved the whole assy to the right or left and so I did that and it improved considerably.
Right now it's pretty well aligned but since it's the lowest budget model, I'll keep my eye out for any super deals on more robust enlargers.

rpavich · Feb 17, 2016

ic-racer said:
I have found it not uncommon that equipment has been designed to not allow the whole frame to be printed. Sometimes one needs to do little modifications to align things, even with 'pro' darkroom equipment.

Some examples I have encountered, my Phillips 35mm enlarger. With the glass carrier and adjustable masking blades and a common six-element lens. If the blades were just a millimeter or two off the image would go outside the sharp image circle. Solution, use High Magnification (big image circle) lens with this enlarger (lens cost ten times the cost of the enlarger.) Another example, the Schneider Betavaron zoom enlarging lens. It does not cover an entire 35mm full frame negative. Another example, even my late model Durst 10x10 enlarger has only a millimeter or so clearance on each side when trying to projection print an 8x10 negative and include the rebate.
The old darkroom worker's advice of always using an enlarger 'one size bigger' is often good advice.

Yes, it does look like a little tinkering is in order. I'll try the suggestions offered. I appreciate it.

Ronald Moravec · Feb 20, 2016

rpavich said:
Yes, it does look like a little tinkering is in order. I'll try the suggestions offered. I appreciate it.

You can`t put lipstick on a pig so the saying goes.

Plus it is a Besslar. Anything with that name on on it is defective or badly designed.

If you went into a pro lab decades back, 4x5 was used for most everything. They are robust and align able. Carriers were made for all size negs as were condensers and light boxes.

Leica enlargers are the best 35 mm only enlargers ever made. Today lack of parts and years of wear and tear can make these problematic.

rpavich · Feb 20, 2016

Thanks everyone. FYI: I got it aligned 'side to side" without difficulty. I also borrowed a Versalab alignment tool to align it in that regard (the angles) and it was just about dead-nuts and so a slight bit of shimming of the negative carrier and adjustment of the angle of the lens finished it off in that regard also.
So far it's working fine for my use. I'll upgrade eventually when a deal comes along but for now, everything is cool.

Tim Stapp · Mar 1, 2016

rpavich said:
Thanks everyone. FYI: I got it aligned 'side to side" without difficulty. I also borrowed a Versalab alignment tool to align it in that regard (the angles) and it was just about dead-nuts and so a slight bit of shimming of the negative carrier and adjustment of the angle of the lens finished it off in that regard also.
So far it's working fine for my use. I'll upgrade eventually when a deal comes along but for now, everything is cool.

Definitely keep your eyes open on Craiglist. In the last year, I have picked up a Beselar CB-7 for $10.00, a complete darkroom set up for 35mm (Beselar 23CII) for FREE, an additional 23CII with a Beselar 67 dicroich set up for 35mm, for an additional $25.00. Both 23CII's came with Beselar 8177 timers with foot switch. I used the search words "darkroom" and "enlarger."

Enlargers are like cats, they seem to follow me home

M Carter · Mar 10, 2016

I've got the remains of a printmaker 35 in my attic. I did print for years with it and then forgot about darkrooms for ages. Got a 67c when I started up again, and it's a world of difference. Uses the same neg holders and lens boards as the printmaker, but you can do 6x7 in it as well. Much sturdier piece of gear.

Shopping for a 4x5 now, but I've enjoyed the 6x7. Of course, a 23C would be even nicer for you and they turn up all the time.

Does anyone with a Beseler Printmaker 35 know how to align the negative carrier?

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