Enlarger focusing issues

KPT · Jul 26, 2008

Sorry for such a newbie question. I Have an old Omega D enlarger and attempted to make my first print from a 4x5 negative and cant seem to focus the image on 5x7 paper. Is this normal or am i just missing something? I cant seem to focus it on 8x10 paper either! I can only print 1/4 of the negative on 5x7 paper. The bellows move freely and the head is also not restricted but still i cant focus the negative unless im printing larger than 8x10. I have the condenser in top position as the enlarger requires and im using my 135 lens as required. Thank You.

Jon Shiu · Jul 26, 2008

Hi, make sure you are using a 2.5 inch or taller cone, instead of a flat board.

Jon

Rick Jones · Jul 26, 2008

The older D's had fixed condensers in three sizes. Make sure your fixed condenser houses the 6 1/2" lenses.

KPT · Jul 26, 2008

Jon Shiu said:
Hi, make sure you are using a 2.5 inch or taller cone, instead of a flat board.

Jon

Jon, Thanky you for your reoly. Im new to this and have no idea what a 2.5 inch cone is or a flat board. This is my first try at large format and with this enlarger.

KPT · Jul 26, 2008

Rick Jones said:
The older D's had fixed condensers in three sizes. Make sure your fixed condenser houses the 6 1/2" lenses.

Rick, Thank you for your reply. I im very sorry but i have no idea what you mean. The enlarger states variable condenser and says to put it in the #1 position-slot and thats where it is now.

Jon Shiu · Jul 26, 2008

Hi, the concept is: the farther the lens is away from the negative, the closer the image will focus. Therefore there are different mounting cones/boards for the lens to attach to the enlarger. So, is the mounting board that the 135mm lens attached to cone shaped or a flat one?

Jon

KPT · Jul 26, 2008

Everyone, Im very sorry for not having knowledge on this subject and not understanding responces. Here are 2 shots of my enlarger. Also sorry to post digital images of the enlarger but i didnt want to wait to develop a roll and scan it.

KPT · Jul 26, 2008

Jon Shiu said:
Hi, the concept is: the farther the lens is away from the negative, the closer the image will focus. Therefore there are different mounting cones/boards for the lens to attach to the enlarger. So, is the mounting board that the 135mm lens attached to cone shaped or a flat one?

Jon

Its flat. When i received the enlarger the person gave my 3 Fuji and Nikkor lenses and told all i have to do is use the 50 for 35mm, 80 for 120 and 135 lens for large format. I guess there was more i needed to know than he told me.

galyons · Jul 26, 2008

Hi,
If you need a cone PM me. I'll send you one.
Cheers,
Geary

Jon Shiu · Jul 26, 2008

Yes, as you found out, you need the cone for the 135mm, or it won't focus close enough. You can look for a 2.5 inch cone on ebay if you do a search on "omega cone" or something like that. Or put a wtb (wanted to buy) ad here on the apug classifieds.

Jon

KPT · Jul 26, 2008

Everyone! Thank you for your help with my issue!! I understand what you are saying now. If i could stretch the bellows a bit more it would be in foucs so the cone is the issue. THANK YOU EVERYONE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

RobC · Jul 26, 2008

Which make and model lens are you using?

KPT · Jul 26, 2008

rob champagne said:
Which make and model lens are you using?

Its Fujinon Ep 135. Im sure its the cheapest one you can get. I received the enlarger, 3 lenses, a beesler enlarger (35mm) and a box of chemicals for free from a Craigslist ad.

RobC · Jul 26, 2008

I don't know that lens but 4x5 enlarging lenses are usually 150mm. A 135 is a wide angle which is usually used for bigger than normal enlargments or where you have limited ceiling height in the darkroom. A 135 lens requires less bellows extension than a 150 lens for the same size enlargement. Also most 4x5 enlarging lenses will be past their optimal limit doing a 5x7 as they are optimised for around a 6X enlargement factor with a working range of between 2X and 10X but it really depends on the lens as some are designed for much bigger enlargement and some are designed for duplicating at 1:1 ratio (process lenses).
When you focus, if you can see the image start to come into focus but it never quite gets there, then it is probably limited bellows extension. But if you can go past the point of best focus without it actually becoming sharp, then it could be the lens.

KPT · Jul 26, 2008

rob champagne said:
I don't know that lens but 4x5 enlarging lenses are usually 150mm. A 135 is a wide angle which is usually used for bigger than normal enlargments or where you have limited ceiling height in the darkroom. A 135 lens requires less bellows extension than a 150 lens for the same size enlargement. Also most 4x5 enlarging lenses will be past their optimal limit doing a 5x7 as they are optimised for around a 6X enlargement factor with a working range of between 2X and 10X but it really depends on the lens as some are designed for much bigger enlargement and some are designed for duplicating at 1:1 ratio (process lenses).
When you focus, if you can see the image start to come into focus but it never quite gets there, then it is probably limited bellows extension. But if you can go past the point of best focus without it actually becoming sharp, then it could be the lens.

It is limited bellows extention. A fellow Apuger (Gaylons) is sending me a cone for the enlarger. Thanks for your reply!

Arvee · Jul 26, 2008

The Fuji EP lens is a top level design (it may be a six element) only surpassed by the Fuji EX, which has multicoating for color printing. DON'T think it is not a quality lens! The 'P' stood for Professional IIRC.

-Fred

KPT · Jul 26, 2008

Fred Aspen said:
The Fuji EP lens is a top level design (it may be a six element) only surpassed by the Fuji EX, which has multicoating for color printing. DON'T think it is not a quality lens! The 'P' stood for Professional IIRC.

-Fred

Fred, Thank you for the info on the lens. I though it was a bad lens due to the fact it was all free. I got 2 free, an 80 and 135 the 50 is a nikkor.

dancqu · Jul 28, 2008

Jon Shiu said:
Yes, as you found out, you need the cone for
the 135mm, or it won't focus close enough.
You can look for a 2.5 inch cone ... Jon

That still may not due. For 5x7s from 4x5 the longest
cone and lens focal length likely will be needed. Dan

Enlarger focusing issues

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