Just purchased Omega D-2, need info on lensboards and negcarriers..

[harlequin]

Dear APUG,

I just purchased a D-2 in good condition, however the enlarger did not come with any lens mount or
cones??? Where could they be purchased?

I would be printing the following formats.

6x6
6x7
6x9 if possible
4"x5"

I see it has variable position for condenser, and is well constructed, but I don't know much about it, my last enlarger was a vivitar e-34 and this is a big step up.... Also any sources for negative carriers, I wonder if even they have 6x9 or 645 carriers....Someone said that they have 6 digit part numbers with a hyphen ANY help would be appreciated and is a cold lamp absolutely necessary for basic printing...??

Many Thanks!!

harlequin

 

[photog_ed]

I have a D-2V that I purchased new in about 1970. You can find lens cones, lens mounting disks, and negative carriers on the big auction site. Neg. carriers can be had for about $25. They made 645, 6x6, 6x7, and 6x9 carriers. I made my own 6x12 by buying a 6x9 and enlarging the opening. Older ones are bare aluminum, newer ones are painted white on top and black on the bottom. As usual, some sellers don't know what they have, so check photos carefully.

Also, I have a spare heat-absorbing glass. PM me if interested.

Ed

 

[MattKing]

KHB are a great source for info: http://www.khbphotografix.com/omega/Enlargers/D2.htm
Enjoy your new enlarger!

 

[Hans Mulders]

I had a D2 for some years, used it with pleasure.
I shoot 6x12 cm but had no carrier for this format so copied an other format and made the correct hole size in it. Used 2 mm sheet aluminium for this.
For the short lenses you need a lens board. I placed cheap 39mm Leica adapter plate, used for the so called mirror less digital cameras, in mine so was able swap lenses quick and easy.
For 135 mm and 150 mm lenses you need a cone. Here in Europe these are hard to find so build one myself. More difficult than the negative carrier but succeeded finally.
Of course it depends how well you are able to do this yourself.

If you are located in the US or Canada I suppose these are more easy to get.

Replaced the D2 for a Beseler 45MXT a few weeks ago and made a negative carrier again for 6x12 cm.
No need for a cone anymore as the bellows is long enough to handle lenses from 50 - 150 mm

 

[jvo]

harry taylor in CT (search "classic enlargers") used to be the go to guy, but recently passed away. don't know whether his daughter passed his stuff on, sent it to the big dust bin in the sky, or someone else has stepped in... he knew all about omega's and had anything you needed. enjoy.

 

[Classic daughter]

Thanks for the call-out about my dad.

Yes, Harry was the man who knew everything about Omegas, may he rest in peace. We did not toss out his amazing collection of Omega parts and equipment - not to mention lenses, antique cameras, etc. In fact we are looking for a buyer, so all this good stuff goes to the right place.

If you know of anyone who might be interested in taking over the inventory of Classic Enlargers, please contact me. Thanks!

 

[jimjm]

Harlequin -

If you don't happen to have a copy of the User Manual, I'd be happy to email you a PDF. Just send me a PM (start a conversation). This will answer most any question that comes up.

 

[jvo]

Thanks for the call-out about my dad.

Yes, Harry was the man who knew everything about Omegas, may he rest in peace. We did not toss out his amazing collection of Omega parts and equipment - not to mention lenses, antique cameras, etc. In fact we are looking for a buyer, so all this good stuff goes to the right place.

If you know of anyone who might be interested in taking over the inventory of Classic Enlargers, please contact me. Thanks!

now that's an interesting possibility... hope someone takes it up! if only there was a way to capture the wealth of knowledge harry was so generous with! good luck with the sale and yes, may he rest in peace!

 

[mgb74]

[QUOTE="photog_ed, post: 1886068, member: 62859"Neg. carriers can be had for about $25. They made 645, 6x6, 6x7, and 6x9 carriers. I made my own 6x12 by buying a 6x9 and enlarging the opening. Older ones are bare aluminum, newer ones are painted white on top and black on the bottom. [/QUOTE]

Omega made carriers for virtually every film format from Minox (8x11) to 4x5. In addition to what Ed said, newer ones have a metal frame on the bottom to align in the negative stage.

Also, there were 2 slightly different 6x9 carriers. One for roll film and one for sheet film. One has a slightly larger opening (can't remember which). I would say that, in the US, you can get the newer ones for slightly less than $25 if your patient and the older ones for much less. At least in the more common 35mm, 6x6, and 4x5 sizes.

 

[darkroommike]

There are also clone carriers, in the old days Columbus Camera Group made some carriers and lens plates. Used ones are easy to find. It's convenient to leave your lenses mounted to cones so plan on one cone for each lens.

 

[ac12]

It's convenient to leave your lenses mounted to cones so plan on one cone for each lens.

+1
You do NOT want to be unscrewing the lens from the cones or lens boards to switch lens. Just get a lensboard/cone for each lens you use. One less hassle when you change lenses on the enlarger. Just means that the box to store the lenses in has to be BIGGER to accommodate the cones for each of the long lenses.

 

[Ronald Moravec]

D2 requires lens cones for different focal lengths, Flat board for 50 mm lens, around a 3" cone for medium format, and a 5 or 6" for 4x5 There is no work around,

Also condensers 6" dia for 4x5, maybe 4 for medium format, 3" for 35 mm film and 50 mm lens. You can use bigger ones than required, but you lose efficiency and maybe dark corners. No work around.

 

[mgb74]

...Also condensers 6" dia for 4x5, maybe 4 for medium format, 3" for 35 mm film and 50 mm lens. You can use bigger ones than required, but you lose efficiency and maybe dark corners. No work around.

Why would a larger condenser (i.e. 4x5 for a smaller film format) result in dark corners?

 

[darkroommike]

D2 requires lens cones for different focal lengths, Flat board for 50 mm lens, around a 3" cone for medium format, and a 5 or 6" for 4x5 There is no work around,

Also condensers 6" dia for 4x5, maybe 4 for medium format, 3" for 35 mm film and 50 mm lens. You can use bigger ones than required, but you lose efficiency and maybe dark corners. No work around.

You could get the DV lamphouse with the third condenser, it's an easy replacement for the regular sets and uses the 6-inch condenser set.

 

[Ronald Moravec]

Why would a larger condenser (i.e. 4x5 for a smaller film format) result in dark corners?[/QUOTE

It will not if you use a 150mm lens. With the proper 50, there is a mismatch in how light enters the lens

 

[Kilgallb]

My D2 has only the single condenser for 4x5. It works well on 6x6 and 35mm, just less light. No problems with corner illumination.

 

[Ronald Moravec]

Best tip I ever got. Condensers are soft glass and will chip if they collide and the chip will show in every print. Clean condensers with soap + water, dry with microfiber. Put the bottom one in place, then make a sling from string and lower the top one slowly. Two slings opposed 90 degrees even better. Reclean the flat surfaces as required.

Store condensers in dust free box in a cabinet and you will not need to clean again for 20 years.

Do not buy wide angle lenses for a condenser enlarger. Long story, but just do not do it

 

[Rick A]

I have a filed out 35mm full frame negative carrier I'd part with, and a full set of 6" condensers including the variable.

 

[BetterSense]

D2 requires lens cones for different focal lengths, Flat board for 50 mm lens, around a 3" cone for medium format, and a 5 or 6" for 4x5 There is no work around,

Also condensers 6" dia for 4x5, maybe 4 for medium format, 3" for 35 mm film and 50 mm lens. You can use bigger ones than required, but you lose efficiency and maybe dark corners. No work around.

I have a DII and I have found neither of these to be true. I have a flat board for my 50mm and cone for 135mm and I print all formats from half frame to 4x5 with the same condensers.

Also, a Cree 4 inch ceiling light drops right into the condenser head after you take off the lamphouse. No tools needed, fits right in, and is about 1 stop faster but 1 grade lower contrast than a 100W incandescent, and only 10W so no negative popping.

 

[darkroommike]

By the book, and in my experience, a flat board works for 50mm lenses and 75mm lenses just fine, for 6x7 through 6x9 you need something around 90mm to 105mm and again the book says flat board, but for a lens of 4 3/8 inches use a 2 3/4 cone (I have a 1.5 inch cone, not sure where it came from fits the D-2). 4 3/8 inches is 110mm, so a flat board for 105mm and a 2 3/4 inch cone for a lens with a focal length just 5mm longer (go figure). My 105mm likes a 1.5 inch cone just fine. The shortest lens I know that covers the 6x7 format is the 80/5.6 El-nikkor but on a condenser enlarger it might vignette a bit (it's fine with a diffusion light source). When I first started I had only one lens board and to facilitate lens plate swaps I switched out the straight slot #6 screws for knurled screws I made from longer strait slotted screws, knurled nuts, and a bit of epoxy. For the 135mm and 150mm a 2.75 inch cone is good and for a 160mm a 4.5 inch cone but again I used a longer cone on my 150mm since I did a lot of wallets on my machine for the studio I worked at and need the longer extension with the 150mm for the small prints.

 

[BobMarvin11225]

"Do not buy wide angle lenses for a condenser enlarger. Long story, but just do not do it"

I've read that many times, but I have an Omega B-8, sort of a 2/3rds size, 2-1/4 X 3-1/4, D-2. I use a 60 mm WA Companon with the [hard to find] auxiliary condenser intended for a 75 mm lens to make 16 X 20 prints from 6 X 6 and 6 X 4.5 negatives. It works just fine.

 

[Ronald Moravec]

"Do not buy wide angle lenses for a condenser enlarger. Long story, but just do not do it"

I've read that many times, but I have an Omega B-8, sort of a 2/3rds size, 2-1/4 X 3-1/4, D-2. I use a 60 mm WA Companon with the [hard to find] auxiliary condenser intended for a 75 mm lens to make 16 X 20 prints from 6 X 6 and 6 X 4.5 negatives. It works just fine.

That`s great. 40 mm Focotar and 45 mm Schneider APO work fine on diffusion, not on a D2 or Focomat 1C or Tri color (forget the brand)