Enlarger head upper bellows question

Photopathe · Mar 2, 2020

Hi!
I am under the impression that with this set up, the upper bellows are suppposed to always be completely compressed. I think I might be wrong and can't find the answer to this anywhere. As one can see it's an Ilford Multigrade 500H on a Beseler 4x5 enlarger body. I use 3 formats: 35mm, 6x6, and 4x5. If someone can tell me how I am supposed to manage the upper bellows that would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

Luis-F-S · Mar 2, 2020

Have you tried it several ways to see what works best for you?

voceumana · Mar 2, 2020

Generally, diffuse light sources such as the Ilford, cold lights, dichroic and VCCE diffusion heads are placed as close as possible to the negative to maintain the diffuse nature of the light.

ic-racer · Mar 2, 2020

Even with the bellows fully collapsed in the picture, it appears as if the diffusion plate is pretty far from the negative. How are your edges with 4x5 negatives? Do you have to do a lot of edge burn?

George Nova Scotia · Mar 2, 2020

Yes, bellows fully collapsed. Note the right mixing boxes for the Beseler 45 drop down below the bottom of the Ilford lamp house so they should be quite close to the negative stage.

Doremus Scudder · Mar 3, 2020

voceumana said:
Generally, diffuse light sources such as the Ilford, cold lights, dichroic and VCCE diffusion heads are placed as close as possible to the negative to maintain the diffuse nature of the light.

George Nova Scotia said:
Yes, bellows fully collapsed. Note the right mixing boxes for the Beseler 45 drop down below the bottom of the Ilford lamp house so they should be quite close to the negative stage.

Yes and Yes. With the Ilford adapter for the Beseler 45M, you should always keep the bellows compressed. FWIW, I've clamped my upper bellows tight with L-brackets to keep them as closed as possible.

Doremus

Photopathe · Mar 3, 2020

Thanks a lot for the answers!
ic-racer: no I don't need to do edge burn at all so far.

Kilgallb · Mar 8, 2020

The enlarger looks like my Beseler 45.

There is usually a gauge on the side that shows the upper bellows length based on negative. Mine says the bellows are fully compressed for 4x5, and fully extended for 35mm.

I notice you have clips to hold the negative stage to the diffuser. I used to do that, but be aware it causes misalignment on 4x5.

Doremus Scudder · Mar 9, 2020

Kilgallb said:
The enlarger looks like my Beseler 45.
There is usually a gauge on the side that shows the upper bellows length based on negative. Mine says the bellows are fully compressed for 4x5, and fully extended for 35mm.
I notice you have clips to hold the negative stage to the diffuser. I used to do that, but be aware it causes misalignment on 4x5.

Adjusting the upper bellows on Beseler enlargers is only done for the condenser head. When using a diffuse light source like a cold light head, color head or the Ilford Multigrade head that the OP has, the upper bellows should always be fully compressed regardless of film format.

Doremus

Kilgallb · Mar 9, 2020

Doremus Scudder said:
Adjusting the upper bellows on Beseler enlargers is only done for the condenser head. When using a diffuse light source like a cold light head, color head or the Ilford Multigrade head that the OP has, the upper bellows should always be fully compressed regardless of film format.

Doremus

Hmm, maybe that is why my 35mm use is such a pain.

Doremus Scudder · Mar 10, 2020

Kilgallb said:
Hmm, maybe that is why my 35mm use is such a pain.

Yeah, if you have a diffuse source, the opal glass or plex diffuser should be right down almost on top of the negative. It's a lot more even that way...

Doremus

Enlarger head upper bellows question

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