Enlarger Bulb Brightness

[jmal]

I'm currently printing on a cheap (as in free) Omega C700 enlarger that was given to me in the box (never used). When I started using the enlarger I noticed that the exposure times required to get a decent print are quite short. Usually, around 5-7 seconds on 8x10 paper, so roughly 6x9 image size. This was not a problem initially because I was not doing much dodging and burning. Now that I want to start fine tuning my process, the short exposure times do not allow much latitude. The enlarger is equipped with the bulb supplied by the manufacturer. If I just replace the bulb with a lower wattage bulb, will this have any effect on the prints other than allowing for longer exposure times? Any other suggestion are welcome.

Jmal

 

[David A. Goldfarb]

This is possible with some enlargers, as long as you are using an enlarger bulb of the same size and shape with the filament in the same place. If not, and if you would rather not stop down the lens too far, then just add a ND gel between the bulb and the condensors.

 

[Nick Zentena]

Condensor head? I can't imagine the 700 is using a very big bulb. I think even my 4x5 condensor head only uses a 150 watt bulb.

How far have you stopped down?

Is the negative thin?

Which paper are you using? Some are slower then others.

 

[John Bartley]

When I experimented with bulb wattages on my old diffuser 5x7 Elwood, I found that a lower power bulb made a muddier print. I assume this was because the lower power bulbs operate at a lower light temperature (longer wavelength) and because I was using MG paper, it also affected the exposure. The tone of the print was not really recoverable with filters, but changed right away by using a hot enough (light temperature) bulb.

cheers

 

[jmal]

No, the negatives are fine. If anything, the negatives are probably on the thicker side of the spectrum. Anyhow, I have printed them on Besslers, other higher end Omegas, and Leica/Leitz enlargers without the same problem. Ilford MGIV RC paper. I'm already stopped down to f11 or f16 for almost everything.

Jmal

 

[jovo]

Borrow a longer focal length enlarger lens. (If you're using a 50, borrow a 75; if you're using a 75, try a 105 etc.) As long as there's enough coverage, you'll have to raise the enlarger head which will increase the distance to the paper, and thus increase the exposure time as well.

 

[jstraw]

Are you stopping down at all or using your lens wide open?

 

[Bob F.]

Are you using filtration for the VC paper? If not, using it will lose you a stop or so of speed which might be handy. Other than that, perhaps fit an ND filter to the lens?

Cheers, Bob.

 

[Curt]

This one is easy for me. I still have the first enlarger, well the second enlarger, I bought. It's the Omega 600 same as yours, earlier model. I couldn't print a decent print with it so I did some research and had to change a couple of things.

First was the el omegar (sp) lens. Replaced it with an El Nikkor 75mm.
Second was to replace the condensers with an Aristo cold light, 23 model.

Now days on eBay these are inexpensive and readily available items.

Curt

 

[jmal]

Curt,

Did you have the same problem with short exposure times or were you just unable to get a good print? I'm getting prints that are pretty good in terms of focus, sharpness, etc. I would certainly like to see how a better lens would affect the prints, but I'm broke at the moment. A friend is supposed to give me a better enlarger with a good lens, but so far it hasn't happened. We'll see.

Jmal