Mid Format Enlarger

[arigram]

Is there a risk of being escorted to Guantanamo bay prisons for highjacking a thread?

 

[Marco Gilardetti]

Looks as if I am stuck with only being able to do a maximum of 6x6 unless the 67 neg carrier fits the older machine and the 66 box allows sufficient light coverage.

There are good chances that the neg carrier may fit, but take for granted that light coverage will be insufficient. I know you didn't ask for advice, but if you're on the 6x7 trail, I suggest buying a 6x7 Durst machine, check how many accessories they have in common, keep the ones you are going to use, and resell your current unit.

Of course the M605 "classic" should be the most likely to have a high compatibility level.

You can also ask Durst if they sell a "Sirio" to "Classic" conversion kit (they did with many enlargers in the past, and the "Classic" is quite recent so chances are high that they may still have the kit if it ever existed).

 

[Ole]

Durst Tech Support in Brixen, Italy at tel 0472/810111 ...

Addendum: In large parts of the world, "Brixen" is also known as "Bolzano". It's in that part of Italy called Alto Adige - or Südtirol, depending on the language.

Just to clear up a possible source of confusion...

 

[pentaxuser]

Marco and Ole. Many thanks for the useful information. This is the second try at sending. Most nights at about this time I have problems with the APUG site. It is about now that the U.S. East Coast members have got home from work and are beginning to sign on. It could be coincidence but I suspect not.

Pentaxuser

 

[Christopher Nisperos]

Thanks for your help. Just a couple of things for clarification. You mention the switchable mixing box set to the 67 position but my M605 only has a 66 position. Can I take it that from what you say this covers 67? You'd think that Durst would have labelled it 67 but its clearly 66 on mine.

I have a sirioneg carrier which certainly takes 35mm inserts, 645 inserts and 66 inserts. I have measured the gap without inserts and it is a max of 6 cms x 6cms, so I presume that the serioneg carrier accepting 67 is different. As this was the only sirioneg carrier I got with the Durst, this may explain why there is no mention of anything to do with 67 in the accompanying handbook.

Looking at the 6x6 sirioneg carrier it would appear that a 6x7 opening would be possible within the same overall outer dimensions of the carrier so hopefully the logic of this would lead to the belief that a new 67 carrier would solve the issue of enlarging 67 negs in the M605 enlarger.

In the case of 35mm, 645 and 66 the metal inserts come in packets labelled SIVOPAR 35, 645 and 66 respectively and the metal inserts are labelled sivoma and sixma followed by 35, 645 and 66 respectively.The sixma going in the lower part of the carrier and the sivoma in the upper.

Presumably there is also a SIVOPAR 67 packet which contains two metal inserts called sixma 67 and sivoma 67. If I obtained these and the carrier which covers the 67 negs I could project 67 negs glassless just as I do with 66 negs.

Alternatively I could use the 67 sixma metal insert and the SIVOGLA AN special glass to prevent the formation of newton rings.

In fact I have the SIVOGLA AN packet which seems to have 3 identical pieces of glass in it. These measure 6.5cms x 7.5cms and it says on the packet that it is to be used in place of the upper format mask.

As each piece of glass looks identical but were in the same packet I am assuming that each piece is indeed identical and there are 3 pieces to correspond to the upper format mask for 35mm, 645 and 66.

In fact if I am right then one pice of glass would be sufficient as I can only have the neg carrier set up for either 35mm 645 or 66 at any one time. The only need for three pieces of glass would be if I had three SIRIONEG carriers set up for anti-newton glass in 35mm, 645 and 66.

Does this sound a logical deduction on my part?

So quickly summarising. I can use the 66 box for 67 negs but need a 67 carrier and a set of 67 inserts which are called SIVOPAR67 and consists of sixma and sivoma metal pieces. Alternatively I can use anti-newton glass Sivogla instead of the upper metal insert so I'd have the sixma 67 lower metal insert and the sivogla upper insert.

This is all getting quite complex to set out on paper and I appreciate that two minutes face to face in conversation withthe enlarger beside us would resolve things simply. Unfortunately it can't be that way.

Crucial to the issue and simplifying as much as possible: Does the 66 lightbox cover 67 adequately and can I obtain a 67 carrier which has the same outer dimensions as the carrier which goes up to 66?

I presume Durst in Brixen is U.S. based. I am U.K. based and would want to contact a U.K agent first before considering the U.S. with its additional possible problems of postage and payment.

Thanks

Pentaxuser

Good questions (I have the same enlarger, same problems). Any Durst-philes have some answers?

Christopher

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