Durst L1200 Condenser Help

[nomoreroger]

I have a Durst L1200 EM (also called the vairpoint). I recently switched it over to use the Opal Bulb rather than the point light source. It came with 3 condensers:

151T
152T
50T

They are the coated condensers for use with the point light source. I also have both the newer manual from Durst as well as an old manual that was specific for the point light source. In the new manual that is specific for the B&W condenser, it says you must use the femocon 50 and 80 together to use a 50mm lens. It doesn't look like another condenser would fit, though. The 50T is kinda like a stacked set with two larger pieces of glass on the bottom and a smaller one on the top, all together in a metal frame. The smaller one can be removed by moving little tabs.

Is is possible that it is different for the varipoint source than the opal source? I'm a bit confused. When I first tried to center the bulb using the 50T and the 50mm lens, I could actually see the outline of the opal bulb on the baseboard pretty clearly. I looked at the manual again and switched over to the 151T/152T combo with the 135mm lens. That seems to be ok.

Also, I think it is aligned, but is there alignment (front to back...I know I can adjust side to side) for the L1200 or is it just made so well that it doesn't need font to back alignment?

Thanks!!

Chuck

 

[Donald Miller]

Chuck,

In order to gain the most accurate information, I would recommend contacting Jensen Optical/Durst Pro. These are the United States distributors of Durst products located in Hillsboro, Oregon.

I have the 138S and in my manual it calls for different condensors from point light to opal bulb. They are the same focal length condensors but have a different suffix. I am presently using a 240 point light condensor in conjunction with a 200 opal condensor with 4X5 with no ill effects noted.

If I am understanding your configuration, I would think that you would need the 80 installed in place of the other two that you have installed. The most probable effect of the longer length condensors that you are using is less available magnification (print enlargement) coupled with indeterminant effects on light collimation. Good luck.

 

[efikim]

Your description of the 50T sounds very similar to a combination of the Femocon80 and Femocon50. The 80 is the dual lens set on the bottom, the 50 is one extra lens to sit on top.

 

[nomoreroger]

I looked at the picture of the 50T on the JOBO website and sure enough it does look like the Femocon 50 and Femocon 80 put together. Strange that it is sold that way. I still wonder why I could see the bulb outline? Does the bulb have to be all the way back away from the mirror or really close to the mirror when using the 50mm lens/50T combo? I can't imagine that it matters that it was for the point light source. I bought the opal lampholder from Jens along with an opal bulb. The lampholder seems to be a little longer than the one for the point light source.

 

[efikim]

did you have the lens properly focused - focus a negative to the base board and then take the negative out.

If you just replaced the 135mm lens with the 50mm lens then that may have been the problem!

 

[nomoreroger]

I didn't put a 35mm negative into the enlarger at the time.. I have to admit that it is less likely I will use 35mm anyway as I shoot mostly medium format. I did have the componon-s 50mm lens on the enlarger when I installed the 50T condenser. I'm going to have to try it again and reinstall that combination.

I just put a 6x6 negative into the enlarger with the 135mm componon-s and the other condensers (151T and 152T) and it looks great. I think I need to mess with the side-to-side adjustment just a bit since it looked like the edges were a bit out of focus through the peak focuser when compared to the center. This was with the lens wide open. The negative was in the femoneg glass negative carrier.

I just wanted to make sure I had everything working. I got the enlarger for free from my company when they shut down the EM lab.

I now need to build a darkroom around this beast. I plan on building it in the basement by making temporary walls...maybe 6x7 or 6x8 or something...but that will be after several other house projects! Does anyone have some good pointers on building a small darkroom in a small basement?!


chuck

 

[Peter Hadjimichael]

Dear Chuck

I'm sorry if you have already recieved this message ( I'm new to this forum). I believe that you may be able to pass on to me an operators manual for a Durst L1200 condenser enlarger.

Any help would be appreciated.

Peter