Looking for a light mixing box for Ilford Multigrade 500 head / Focomat IIc

apasz · Jan 29, 2014

I'm looking for a 6x7 light mixing box for Ilford Multigrade 500 head / Focomat IIc.

Maybe can I ask a user to provide me with outline with dimensions to allow me to make it myself?

If not what if I use 35mm light box for 6x7? Faster printing speeds?

Many thanks,
apasz

rbrigham · Jan 29, 2014

Hi Apasz

I have a multigrade 500 to fit a severe 504 but I think the lamp house is the size for a focomat
the 35mm mixing box i have will not cover a 6x7 neg
my 6x7 box is 8x9 and 11.5cm high but looks very much like the 35mm and 5x4 mixing boxes

Odyssey sales in Brighton England may well be able to help you

hope that helps
good luck

robin

apasz · Jan 29, 2014

Thanks Robin for your help! I will contact them.

Actually I would like to cover 6x4,5 and 6x6 negatives,. My 35mm box is 4cm x 5,5cm and 10,5cm high. I found 35mm, 6x7 and 4x5" comparison (Ilford Operating Manual):

Thanks,
apasz

George Nova Scotia · Jan 29, 2014

The mixing box that I have for a Focomat IIc measures 7.5 x 9 x 15 cm with a 40mm drop from the dimples that support it. I also have the manuals if needed. I can make more measurements if needed.

rbrigham · Jan 29, 2014

Don't forget the plate the 6x7 box sits on
I personally use the 4x5 box with a 4x5 glass neg holder and framing shutters for all formats so maybe that would work for you
the MG500 head is so bright that I often still have to stop down the lens a bit just to give myself a chance to dodge a bit
the more efficient 35 or 67 mixing boxes would just compound thing further

robin

David Allen · Jan 30, 2014

I have a Multigrade 500 head on my De Vere 504 enlarger with all three light mixing boxes with their corresponding mounting plates. My darkroom is in Berlin (Prenzlauer Berg) and I would be happy to meet you there so that you can measure each of the light mixing boxes and their corresponding mounting plates.

Just send me a PM.

Bests,

David
www.dsallen.de

apasz · Jan 30, 2014

Thanks guys for your help!

I contacted Odyssey sales and I'm waiting for reply.

David, it will be great, I'm also located in Prenzlauer Berg I will send you PM and if searching fails I'll try to make it myself.

apasz · Jan 30, 2014

George, I have a question: does your manual also shows a light mixing box with a very small drop from the dimples? i make a comparison photo:

George Nova Scotia · Jan 30, 2014

The Leitz adaptor manual doesn't have any pictures of the mixing boxes.
Here's a link. The second paragraph mentions there are two versions; one for the Diffuser set up (which I have) and one that retains the condensers. I suspect the mixing boxes are different. In this (there was a url link here which no longer exists) there are pictures of other boxes. They seem to vary for each enlarger, the other box I have is for a Beseler 45 and it is almost the same except the drop is 45mm. If you have the 35mm box I would expect the drop to the same for the 6x7 box.

apasz · Jan 30, 2014

Thank you, George.

I own the original manual and it's quite funny because it says:

"This adaptor kit is supplied with just one light mixing box which is suitable for all negative sizes, limited only by your enlarger.

Information regarding the fitting of light mixing boxes is detailed in the ILFOSPEED MULTIGRADE 500 Operation manual, which must be read thoroughly before the equipment is used"

But Ilford Operation manual says that there're 3 light mixing boxes

I found also this photo on flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kennethluoto/3881689102/ with information: "Thanks! I've got the standard lenses: Leitz Focotar 60mm f4.5 and Leitz V-Elmar 100mm f4.5. And of course different light boxes for 35mm and 120mm in the Multigrade head."

Ok, maybe I will give a try the 6x6 holder with 35mm light mixing box.

Here's my box (4mm drop):

svs · Jun 29, 2014

Sorry, but how the story ended with the search for a 6x7 light mixing box?

apasz · Jun 29, 2014

I'm just using 35mm box for MF negatives. Just like my manual says:

svs · Jun 30, 2014

Thanks for the answer. How do you rate the quality of this kit?

youngrichard · Jun 30, 2014

Which adaptor kit do you have?

As the snippet from the manual states, there are 2 types of adaptor kit. Mine sits directly on the negative holding stage; the lamp housing is discarded. The second type sits on the lower half of the lamp housing, so that light from the 500H passes through the condensers and then through the negative holder.
So you need to specify which adaptor you have, else you may be talking at cross-purposes with each other. And although the dimensions of the boxes above the register plate will be the same in the 2 types, the drop from the dimples may be different.
For the record, I print 35mm and MF with the same 6x7 box, but the 35mm box doesn't cover MF, and using the 35mm box for 35mm negs doesn't seem to convey any advantage.
Richard

svs · Jun 30, 2014

I am interested the second type: "I'm just using 35mm box for MF negatives".

apasz · Jul 1, 2014

youngrichard said:
(..)The second type sits on the lower half of the lamp housing, so that light from the 500H passes through the condensers and then through the negative holder.
(...)

Thanks Richard for explanation. I have 2nd type. And like manual says: "This adaptor kit is suplied with just one light mixing box which is suitable for all negative sizes, limited only by your enlarger" So I'm just using it with suplied light mixing box. For now I like it. However I didn't have any other enlargers to compare with. I also made only small prints so far.

svs · Jul 1, 2014

Vignetting around the edges is not observed?

apasz · Jul 17, 2014

Not for a such small formats. I'll try with a bigger prints in August so will let you know.

Looking for a light mixing box for Ilford Multigrade 500 head / Focomat IIc

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