Filters?

I just printed my first few photos last night. I used a Unicolor enlarger (which I've heard is the same as a Vivitar E34). I used the Ilford guide as a reference, and they kept talking about filters. Well, I didn't use any filters and the photos looked OK. Good contrast and such.

But, it got me wondering; should I get some filters? If so, where would I get them, and what types do I need?


Also, I shoot a good bit of 120 film. I know I need an 80mm lens for the enlarger. And I also know that even if medium format negative holders were made for the Unicolor or Vivitar E34, they're hard to find. Is it possible to make your own negative carrier? Also, can I use any 80mm lens, or will I need to buy a jam nut, a lens board, etc? All I know is my current Vivitar 50mm lens just screws off.

filters are used to adjust (read change) contrast.

you mentioned this is a unicolor enlarger which would lead me to think it has a color head, if so, you just dial in the magenta or yellow dials to adjust for contrast .

if it does not have three dials, then you could get a set of ilford filters, either under the lens types which fit into a frame that attaches to the lens, or if it has a filter drawer then a set that you could cut down to fit the drawer would be the best bet.

if the lens is screwing in, then it may be the standard 39mm thread size and most modern 80 mm lens have the same thread. it is nice to just switch out the lens and it's board, but it may be hard to find a lens board for this enlarger.

if the negartive carrier is two flat pieces of metal you can make a negative carrier from mat board. If it is about 1/4 inch deep you may need to search ebay for a carrier.

have fun

It is a B&W enlarger. There is a drawer for filters.

The negative carrier is just two flat pieces of metal that hinge together. It's probably very possible to make one.

If it a condenser enlarger, then the condensers need to be big enough to cover a 120 neg. If they are only big enough to cover 35mm negs then it will not work for 120. The light is collimated in a condenser system so the condensers are usually just a tad bigger than the negative size.

since it has a filter drawer , get a set of ilford filters and cut them to fit.
without a filter the paper is in the grade 1.5-2 range.

it is very easy to take some 4 ply matt board and make a negative carrier.

however, as rob indicates, is this an enlarger that will support a 6x6 negative?

I have no idea what a condenser enlarger is. How can I tell which type my enlarger is?

brofkand said:

It is a B&W enlarger. There is a drawer for filters.
The negative carrier is just two flat pieces of metal that hinge together.

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The E34 takes, TTBOMK, up to 6x6 cm negatives. The standard lens was probably a 75mm. With luck you should be able to unscrew the 50 and screw in a 75. If there is a lens board then you may want to make your own for the 75. 80mm lenses tend to be 6-element higher quality 'Gauss' designs, as compared to 75mm 4-element Tessar designs. The performance difference is often moot, either will work in the enlarger.

I have made many negative carriers and lens boards from the chip-board that comes on the back of legal pads. They last forever. "Gold Fiber" legal pads are best as the board is the thickest. I laminate them to thickness with Elmer's glue or contact cement, crossing grain direction with each layer - like making plywood. The resulting board is very stiff and flat and doesn't warp with time.

Cut undersized holes in all layers before laminating and then file to final dimensions when laminated. I use black Kiwi shoe dressing with a few coats of Krylon lacquer to finish them off.

Duct tape makes a half-way decent hinge, librarians have better hinge tapes for repairing books and there is a special photographic hinge tape.

brofkand said:

I have no idea what a condenser enlarger is. How can I tell which type my enlarger is?

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you open it up and take a look. If there are some glass lenses in there, it will be a condenser. They will sit above the negative and should completely cover it. Usually there are two convex lenses each with a flat side and the covex sides facing each other. Sometimes there is only one lens, especially for smaller format negs.
If its a diffusion enlarger, there will be a mixing box instead, possibly with a diffusion sheet above the negative.

brofkand said:

I have no idea what a condenser enlarger is. How can I tell which type my enlarger is?

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99.99% odds it is a condenser enlarger. A filter drawer is often a dead giveaway.

Pop off the lamp housing on top or pull out the drawer. You should see a large condenser lens/lenses.

The difference between the types of enlargers, diffusion Vs condenser, is a subject of great debate and no relevance to the final photograph. Since the subject is of such little importance opinions on the matter are taken very seriously.

It is a condenser enlarger. So all I need to do in order to print medium format is buy a 75mm lens and make a negative carrier. Does anyone have a template to make a negative carrier, or any rough guidelines to go by?

Thanks for the help so far.

brofkand said:

It is a condenser enlarger. So all I need to do in order to print medium format is buy a 75mm lens and make a negative carrier. Does anyone have a template to make a negative carrier, or any rough guidelines to go by?

Thanks for the help so far.

Click to expand...

Wouldn't the one you already have be the template. Just with a bigger hole in it.

brofkand said:

It is a condenser enlarger. So all I need to do in order to print medium format is buy a 75mm lens and make a negative carrier. Does anyone have a template to make a negative carrier, or any rough guidelines to go by?

Thanks for the help so far.

Click to expand...

Providing the condensers are big enough to cover 6x6 and that the bellows can extend far enough down to focus your lens, then yes that should do it. Depending on the max bellows extension, you may need to use a cone rather than a flat lens board. You'll find out soon enough.

I doubt I'll need a cone, since I saw over on photo.net that people that have the Vivitar equivalent to the Unicolor have no trouble. It appears all I need is a lens (bidding on one now on eBay), and a negative carrier.

Firstly, welcome to the darkroom side of photography, you will have moments of great joy and moments of some despair.

You may find that your 50mm lens is sitting inside a cup type of holder, if this is the case, fitting a 75 or 80mm lens will probably be possible by simply removing the 50mm lens and turning the lens holder 180 degrees around so that it is now a bell shape, you then screw the 75/80mm lens into this.

The reason it works is simply because the 80mm lens needs to be further away from the negative so it can be focussed. Most cheaper and older B&W enlargers used this technique, cost effective and simple.

Regarding filters, currently whilst stocks last, there is a pretty good deal going around in various parts of the world with Ilford having a special box of 75 sheets of 8x10" paper with a set of Multigrade filters inserted, very, very good deal.

Special offer promo pack Very limited stock
Box of 75 sheet MG RC 8x10 in pearl ( 44m) or Glossy (1m) with a pack of 12 Multigrade filters.

This is from the Vanbar site in Melbourne (Australia) they do ship worldwide if you cannot find it anywhere near you.

The paper size you are after on this site is:- 20.3x25.4 sh We are a metric country and that is 8x10 metricated.

This special is the route two people who have been using my darkroom to learn B&W photography have taken for their own set of filters.

The site is vanbar.com.au

The actual page link is this, but it may not work.

http://www.vanbar.com.au/catalogue/index.php?id=202.61.162.1321218359474&brand=&user=&end=1&Item1=MEDIA&Item2=PAPER-B^~@W&Item3=RESIN

Mick.