Enlarger bulbs already scarce?

[ITD]

After reading the thread about filament bulbs being discontinued in the UK - (there was a url link here which no longer exists) I thought I'd better see about getting some additional spares.

Seems that due to a Philips factory closing down they are already unavailable for my Meopta enlarger, at least my searching and enquiring so far has turned up nothing.

The bulb that I'm using is a 240v 150W E27 fit type P605 E/51-P3/4. I've also tried looking for the Osram product versions, but they no longer appear on the Osram catalogue.

So, any ideas about equivalents, or do I need to start looking for a cold light head?

Thanks

 

[David H. Bebbington]

Seem to be some here:
http://www.focalpointphotographic.co.uk/darkroom_equipment.htm
Are you sure 150W is not too big?

Regards,

David

 

[Stan160]

There is another thread (there was a url link here which no longer exists).

You could try contacting Mirko at FOTOIMPEX, as I haven't seen any of these new lamps advertised by UK suppliers.

Alternatively, scour any remaining small photographic shops you can find. I picked up another couple of PF605 lamps for me stockpile a few weeks ago in this way.

Ian

 

[Stephen Frizza]

in regards to osram bulbs and other bulb types my brother in law works for osram and is like a living catalog of what is available and who makes it. if you supply me with a code for what you need i can find the information out for you.

I always get him to supply me with the bulbs I need.

Steve Frizza
The Lighthouse Lab

 

[ITD]

Seem to be some here:
http://www.focalpointphotographic.co.uk/darkroom_equipment.htm
Are you sure 150W is not too big?

Thanks, massive price increase from last time, but put against the cost of a VC head...

The manual for the enlarger (Meopta Opemus 6 B&W) recommends the 150W, and I'm getting reasonable length (15-40s) exposures, so I guess it's OK.

 

[ITD]

in regards to osram bulbs and other bulb types my brother in law works for osram and is like a living catalog of what is available and who makes it. if you supply me with a code for what you need i can find the information out for you.

Stephen, the Osram type number quoted in the manual is 4613 or 4633 - from context, I think those are the 75W and 150W respectively. I'm looking for the 150W. Thanks!

 

[pentaxuser]

Try Technical Lamps in London. I got my lamps for my Durst M605 there. I have a 100 and 75W lamps for it( the 100W was producing too short an exposure time). I found the staff there very helpful.

pentaxuser

 

[Bob F.]

I was going to ask if you tried RK as they are the Meopta distributor for the UK (http://www.thedarkroom.co.uk/) but I just checked and they seem to be out of stock too! Might be worth a call though.

Good luck, Bob.

 

[leeturner]

Thanks goodness the DeVere uses the same lamp as disco lights. The A125/9 ELC is available in a 500 hour long life version. Around £15 for a twin pack and readily available.

 

[ITD]

Seem to be some here:
http://www.focalpointphotographic.co.uk/darkroom_equipment.htm
Are you sure 150W is not too big?

Regards,

David

Reply back from them this morning - all their stock was cleared out by one of their college customers on Monday. Bit of a run on bulbs going!

Just found some 75W ones at Technical Bulbs - ordered a few just in case - rather have longer exposures than none. BTW, would you normally think that 15s exposures are too short?

 

[goros]

My local shop in Bilbao probably has some. Let me check and if you wish, I can send some to you.

Cheers

 

[Stan160]

If you really get to the point where you have no source of the correct lamp, you could try gently sanding the logo from the end of a standard opal lamp.

The Opemus 6 has a piece of glass between the lamp and filter drawer - the primary purpose is to block heat but it is ground (at least, it is on mine) so also acts as a diffuser so it will reduce any unevenness in light to some extent.

Not as good as finding the correct lamp, as all your timings will change and the light will never be quite as even, but better than nothing.

Ian

 

[ADOX Fotoimpex]

Opal enlarger bulbs

The bulbs are beeing remanufactured in Germany and are available since about three months.
The pricer went up a bit but is still within reason. We currently charge 9,90 EUR plus tax.

We can supply anyone who needs 240 V bulbs out of our stock and if need is we can distribute the 110 Version to other dealers.

110 V has a minimum order size involved though.

If you are located in the UK try our partner retrophotographic.com.

If he does not have the bulbs in stock already he can always get them from us.

Best regards,

Mirko

 

[ITD]

If you are located in the UK try our partner retrophotographic.com.

Thanks Mirko - funny I'd never noticed your link on that site before! I'll give them a go.

 

[haris]

I bought 10 bulbs (150w, E25, perfect for Meopta) from fotoimpex about 2 months ago. So, yes, they are still available and I want to say thank you Mirko and fotoimpex.

 

[rlightfoot]

I'm finding it difficult to locate any 150W enlarger bulbs in the UK... The bayonet fitting ones seem even more scarce.

Does anyone have any alternative solutions to the bulb problem?
Are any other types of bulbs are suitable?
What happens when they ban traditional lamps in the UK?

 

[haris]

I'm finding it difficult to locate any 150W enlarger bulbs in the UK... The bayonet fitting ones seem even more scarce.

Does anyone have any alternative solutions to the bulb problem?
Are any other types of bulbs are suitable?
What happens when they ban traditional lamps in the UK?

Did you read this thread at all...?! Just three posts above yours, Mirko from fotoimpex said bulbs are available either from them directly or from their partner in UK. So, try them.

Alternatives are using colour or multigrade heads for your enlarger, they use halogen bulbs which are easy to find. Next alternatives are waiting for developing of afordable and usable LED lamps for enlargers.

So, buy some 10 or 20 or... bulbs now, and be secure for future.

 

[rlightfoot]

Yeah, sorry.. I did read that post, but when I checked retrophotographic, they didn't have any. If I get desperate, I guess I'll email and ask if they can get a shipment in.

So do all modern enlargers use halogen bulbs? I've only ever used my dad's old one that's from the 60s.

 

[Fotohuis]

Next alternatives are waiting for developing of afordable and usable LED lamps for enlargers.

Don't bother it's already there:
Dead Link Removed

or (in German):
Dead Link Removed

Especially meant for the more larger formats.
Up till 6x9cm:
SPL-CL2: Eur. 1643,- (Split Grade controller included)
Without, if you already have one: Eur. 819,- cold light source only.
19% German/Dutch VAT INCLUDED, so outside EU: Eur. 688,-
4x5" head,
SPL-CL3: Eur. 1998,-
Cold light source only: Eur. 1174,- , outside EU: Eur. 986,-

The interesting part is that this cold light LED source is working on both condensor and diffuser systems. Red LEDs also included for focussing. In the program you can switch for dodging and burning via the red LED option for partial precise handling of each subject. Very sofisticated!

Big money but then you will never use any bulbs again

Best regards,

Robert

 

[rlightfoot]

That looks very nice, but the price puts me out of the market... at least for now.

 

[Fotohuis]

.... and this is how their Split Grade (TM) system is working:

Dead Link Removed

Erwin Puts wrote already for some years ago this article for that time a new system:
http://www.imx.nl/photo/film_2/heiland_splitgrade_the_endu.html

Still unique

 

[Nick Zentena]

It's only 6x9?

Does Aristo sell into Europe? Or something similar.

 

[Fotohuis]

6x9cm yes, or 4x5" or bigger (8x10") or even bigger if you have enough money to spend

Aristo? No idea.
Heiland is selling worldwide via his distributors.

http://www.heilandelectronic.de/

 

[haris]

Yeah, sorry.. I did read that post, but when I checked retrophotographic, they didn't have any. If I get desperate, I guess I'll email and ask if they can get a shipment in.

So do all modern enlargers use halogen bulbs? I've only ever used my dad's old one that's from the 60s.

If retrophotographic doesn't have them, ask fotoimpex, www.fotoimpex.de

About enlargers: For example, I use almost 30 years old Meopta Magnifax 4 (and Opemus 5) enlergers. Both enlargers for ordinary b/w head use incadescent bulbs (for example good old Philips Photocrescenta). But, when I replace b/w head on same enlargers with colour head, both colour heads use halogen bulbs. Then, some enlargers use cold cathode light sources (I never have seen any of them, not to mention not worked with them, so can't tell anything about them).

So, same enlarger can use different bulbs, depending of head type you use for that enlarger. That means, you need to see manuals for enlarger you use to know which bulb you need, or, if old bulb is already in enlarger, to buy same kind of bulb (same type or replacement type)

 

[Uncle Goose]

If you have a Meopta then you can always get an Meochrom Colorhead, it saves you the trouble with the filterdrawer and it uses common halogen bulbs. The Meochrom II comes with a densityknob but they seem to be harder to get.