Info needed on Omega E6 cold light enlarger

[reimerron]

I bought a used omega E6 cold enlarger, but there were no instructions or specs included. How do I determine what kind of lamp I am dealing with here so I can decide how to filter it for use with multigrade papers? This head is shaped like a flattened sphere and I presume it is equiped with the original lamp. Anybody know where I can get an operation manual? Any advice for upgrading the head to a dichroic head? What lens do I need to print 5 x 7 negs? Thanks for any help you can give. I am burnt out on digital and am coming home to B&W film! I hope to be an active member of this forum in the future.

 

[Nick Zentena]

KHB is likely the best source for manual. They should be able to help you figure out how to fit a dichroic head also. Are you printing colour? If not have you considered an Aristo head? Isn't going to be that easy to find a colour head to fit.

Lens. 180mm or longer?

http://www.khbphotografix.com/

 

[MarkS]

If it's the flying-saucer shaped lamphouse, it has a circline fluorescent tube in it. Spectrally impractical for multigrade papers, and no fun for graded papers either. Your best bet would be a Super-Chromega color head; an Aristo cold-light head would work too. For the Aristo to work best you'll want one with the (I think) V54 lamp- most older Aristos have a blue lamp better suited for graded paper (although I use one for MG paper). With any Aristo cold-light, you will need a Zone VI stabilizer or a Metrolux timer- these compensate for the lamp brightness, which varies with temperature. If you find one, the original "Chromega" color head, which uses two tungsten lamps and gel filters, will work too. Harry Taylor at Classic Enlargers will also be able to help.

 

[reimerron]

Thanks Nick for the reply'

KHB is likely the best source for manual. They should be able to help you figure out how to fit a dichroic head also. Are you printing colour? If not have you considered an Aristo head? Isn't going to be that easy to find a colour head to fit.

Lens. 180mm or longer?

http://www.khbphotografix.com/

I don't need a color head, although the filtration would be nice for use with MG papers. Any way of incorporating a filter drawer in the light path?

I have a 210mm lens but at 11 x 14 for a 4 x 5, I am already cranked all the way up. Seems like 180 would be a bit too long.

Ron Reimer

 

[reimerron]

Thanks, Mark, for your reply.

If it's the flying-saucer shaped lamphouse, it has a circline fluorescent tube in it. Spectrally impractical for multigrade papers, and no fun for graded papers either. Your best bet would be a Super-Chromega color head; an Aristo cold-light head would work too. For the Aristo to work best you'll want one with the (I think) V54 lamp- most older Aristos have a blue lamp better suited for graded paper (although I use one for MG paper). With any Aristo cold-light, you will need a Zone VI stabilizer or a Metrolux timer- these compensate for the lamp brightness, which varies with temperature. If you find one, the original "Chromega" color head, which uses two tungsten lamps and gel filters, will work too. Harry Taylor at Classic Enlargers will also be able to help.

Can you just replace the circular tube? The tube is a GE (#FC12T10-CW) Rapid Start Cool White. What other bulbs would work? I suspect that finding heads that would cover a 5 x 7 neg aren't going to be easy to find and will probably be out of my price range, so I'd like to just convert the bulb if possible. I'll google Classic.

Ron Reimer

 

[Nick Zentena]

Depending on magnification you'll need that 180mm or longer. I guess small prints might okay with a shorter lens. At least if I'm remember what happens with coverage. Or you could look for a wide angle lens. Some thing like a 150mm G-Claron maybe?

You could use under lens filters.

The Aristo 5x7 I don't remember being that expensive.

 

[Rolleiflexible]

The Aristo 5x7 is about $400.

For a 4x5 negative, you probably want a 150 lens. A 135 will cover but you may get some light falloff at the corners. A 180 will do as well, but it will limit the size of your print.

Sanders

 

[MikeK]

I have an E-Series enlarger with an Aristo Variable Contrast Head/Unit. This is my workhorse enlarger and is used for 35mm all the way to 5x7.

For 35mm (50mm lens), 120 (80mm lens) and 4x5 (135 or 150mm lens) I use a plain/flat lensboard; for 5x7 I use either a 180mm or 210mm lens - you will need an extension cone for whatever focal length you are using.

The real issue with this series of enlarger is getting the negative carriers for each negative size. I really lucked out and found a the Omega Converter carrier that lets me use D-series negative carriers on the E-series.

I love my variable contrast head and being able to dial-in 0.1 steps of contrast makes fine tuning a print a pleasure.

Mike

 

[reimerron]

I have an E-Series enlarger with an Aristo Variable Contrast Head/Unit. This is my workhorse enlarger and is used for 35mm all the way to 5x7.

For 35mm (50mm lens), 120 (80mm lens) and 4x5 (135 or 150mm lens) I use a plain/flat lensboard; for 5x7 I use either a 180mm or 210mm lens - you will need an extension cone for whatever focal length you are using.

The real issue with this series of enlarger is getting the negative carriers for each negative size. I really lucked out and found a the Omega Converter carrier that lets me use D-series negative carriers on the E-series.

I love my variable contrast head and being able to dial-in 0.1 steps of contrast makes fine tuning a print a pleasure.

Mike

Thanks for your reply Mike,

I don't suppose there are any used 5 x 7 Arista VC heads lying around.

The enlarger came with a black metal extender about 4 x 4 x 5 that I mounted my 210 lens directly to. I suppose I could mount the lens to a square lensboard, raising the lens about 5 inches and allowing me to make larger prints. I'll have to look around for Omega lensboards. Are they the same as for other series enlargers?

The cone extenders you're talking about--do they come in different sizes for each lens?

As far as neg holders, my enlarger came with a 5 x 7 holder and I found I could use a 4 x 5 holder from a different series Omega enlarger inside the 5 x 7 holder.

Ron Reimer

 

[MikeK]

Thanks for your reply Mike,

I don't suppose there are any used 5 x 7 Arista VC heads lying around.

The enlarger came with a black metal extender about 4 x 4 x 5 that I mounted my 210 lens directly to. I suppose I could mount the lens to a square lensboard, raising the lens about 5 inches and allowing me to make larger prints. I'll have to look around for Omega lensboards. Are they the same as for other series enlargers?

The cone extenders you're talking about--do they come in different sizes for each lens?

As far as neg holders, my enlarger came with a 5 x 7 holder and I found I could use a 4 x 5 holder from a different series Omega enlarger inside the 5 x 7 holder.

Ron Reimer

The 5x7 head is actually a modified 4x5 head; amd uses the 4x5 control box. Try contacting Aristo - I have found them very helpful and they have the instruction manual posted on their site.

Yes the cone extenders are for different focal length lenses. i only know of two extenders one for a 210mm lens the other for a 180mmlens. Lenses of shorter focal length you are best using a flat board. I got mine from Midwest Photo, had to file out two slots for it to fit but they work just fine.

Looks like you got the 4x5 to 5x7 converter holder. I cannot use a 5x7 negative in mine and have to use the regular 5x7 holder.

Just a thought for making big enlargements - you can always swing the column through 180 degrees and project toward the floor. I use a short legged table to place the easel on. That way yoy do not have to crank the head all the way to the top. In fact I can easily make a 20x24 print this way with my 210mm lens.

Feel free to PM me if you have more questions.

Have fun

Mike