Omega D series enlarger questions.

WILL WORK FOR FILM · Dec 18, 2016

I am seriously considering purchasing an Omega D3V or D11 enlarger. I plan to mostly print 35mm for now but expect that large format is in my future. I currently develop my own B@W negatives and feel that I am ready for the next step in the photographic process. I am also tired of being gouged by my local lab.

I am looking for insight as to what to look for when a perspective enlarger is found. There is not much information online. Do these two enlargers require separate assemblies for different formats? What accessories should I expect to come with a D series enlarger? Which lens focal length do I need to get started with 35mm negatives? etc...

Any and all replies are appreciated.

removed account4 · Dec 18, 2016

have you been to harry taylor's website classic-enlargers ( http://classic-enlargers.com )
it has EVERYTHING you may want to know about omega enlargers.

the d3v requires different rails and cones depending on the format (it is auto focusing ),
there is also an aux condensor lens in the head. the d2 also uses lens cones but no rails. make sure if you get one of
these enlargers it includes the additional lens ( condensor ) some may disagree, but it really won't do as well with smaller formats without it.
if you can find an auxillery focusing attachment ( lens cone with bellows used for making jewel prints ) you don't need additonal cones or rails
you can just use that .. ( that's what i do ). for 35mm you will need a 50mm lens, 90mm for 120 and for 4x5 either a 135 or 150.

have fun !
john

ic-racer · Dec 18, 2016

Search for the D3 owners manual on-line.

WILL WORK FOR FILM · Dec 18, 2016

There is a D11 for sale locally. Would you consider it a viable option compared to the D3V?

Old_Dick · Dec 18, 2016

I've done business with these folks, http://www.khbphotografix.com . Nice people, great service.

darkroommike · Dec 18, 2016

jnanian said:
have you been to harry taylor's website classic-enlargers ( http://classic-enlargers.com )
it has EVERYTHING you may want to know about omega enlargers.

the d3v requires different rails and cones depending on the format (it is auto focusing ),
there is also an aux condensor lens in the head. the d2 also uses lens cones but no rails. make sure if you get one of
these enlargers it includes the additional lens ( condensor ) some may disagree, but it really won't do as well with smaller formats without it.
if you can find an auxillery focusing attachment ( lens cone with bellows used for making jewel prints ) you don't need additonal cones or rails
you can just use that .. ( that's what i do ). for 35mm you will need a 50mm lens, 90mm for 120 and for 4x5 either a 135 or 150.

have fun !
john

Supposedly, Classic Enlargers has closed with the demise of Harry Taylor. I thought his daughter was going to run it but maybe not. The D3V was reputed to be Harry's favorite enlarger.
The D3V is a nice machine, and the auxiliary bellows makes it a great machine. But when using the aux. bellows the autofocus does not work, not a big deal, but the AF is nice, works best if all your easels are one inch high, I use a piece of plywood under my shorter easels to get the height to 1 inch.
I have four tracks and setups, enlarger will only accommodate three tracks at a time, I find I rarely use the 35mm track and flat lens board, so my usual configuration in the machine is 75/105/135.
The AF is not super precise but keeps you in the ballpark as you raise and lower the head.
With big enlargers (and Omega D-series enlargers are BIG) I find myself using a 75mm lens for most 35mm enlargements, small prints are a pain with the head so close to the baseboard, I can always switch out for a 35mm lens if I need more magnification.

If you can get an autofocus D3V for the same price as an old D-II (no elevating crank, just push-pull and no DV head) go for the D3V!

removed account4 · Dec 18, 2016

hi mike

the site is still up, and i am certain the OP can search for information on the enlargers.
he just won't be able to get the services harry offered/ questions answered, unless he has a ouji board !

john

darkroommike · Dec 18, 2016

jnanian said:
hi mike

the site is still up, and i am certain the OP can search for information on the enlargers.
he just won't be able to get the services harry offered/ questions answered, unless he has a ouji board !

john

Nor will he be able to purchase anything.

removed account4 · Dec 18, 2016

hi mike

you are right ... my mistake i didn't say that outright, i lumped maintenance, parts advice, enlarger do-dads, knowledge &c
under services he offered. maybe his daughter has a collection of the rails and cones and plans on continuing
to sell them to people who need them ?

i agree that KHBPhotographics are great! maybe if you are in pickle you can buy parts from them ?
regarding rails and cones ... search for a auxilery focusing cone for doing jewel / wallet sized prints
you won't have to worry about cones or additional rails as long as there is 1 rail.
i don't know much about the D2, OP, i only have and have used a D3V and an E4

here's a thread about D2 / DII enlarger-parts
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

WILL WORK FOR FILM · Dec 18, 2016

darkroommike said:
Supposedly, Classic Enlargers has closed with the demise of Harry Taylor. I thought his daughter was going to run it but maybe not. The D3V was reputed to be Harry's favorite enlarger.

The D3V is a nice machine, and the auxiliary bellows makes it a great machine. But when using the aux. bellows the autofocus does not work, not a big deal, but the AF is nice, works best if all your easels are one inch high, I use a piece of plywood under my shorter easels to get the height to 1 inch.

I have four tracks and setups, enlarger will only accommodate three tracks at a time, I find I rarely use the 35mm track and flat lens board, so my usual configuration in the machine is 75/105/135.

The AF is not super precise but keeps you in the ballpark as you raise and lower the head.

With big enlargers (and Omega D-series enlargers are BIG) I find myself using a 75mm lens for most 35mm enlargements, small prints are a pain with the head so close to the baseboard, I can always switch out for a 35mm lens if I need more magnification.

If you can get an autofocus D3V for the same price as an old D-II (no elevating crank, just push-pull and no DV head) go for the D3V!

I have very recently been told that the D3V is impractical for home use and hard to get parts for as the cones are not interchangeable with the other D series comparators. it seems that you might disagree. please explain.

Neal · Dec 18, 2016

Dear Will,

Find a D5 with a dichroic head and buy it. I have a DII in the attic and keep it only for sentimental reasons. I used a D3 at work for several years and in comparison to my D5 it was a PITA. If you know what you are doing with electrical things and only plan on printing b&w it can even be converted to 120V operation quite easily. A condenser head will work nicely but I love the convenience of simply dialing in a little more (or less) contrast.

Good luck,

Neal Wydra

mgb74 · Dec 18, 2016

Be aware that the DII and the D2 are similar, but not the same.

Both used the same style lensboard that came in a flat version for 50mm and 1 or 2 different "cone" versions for longer lenses. Fairly easy to find if they don't come with. Same applies to negative carriers.

Is it a darkroom enlarger or a basement enlarger? The former may not have been used for a while, the latter has been left in a damp environment with dust, mold, and rust. So big things to check:
bellows (cracks/tears)
inside of light dome (rust, discoloration)
condensers (all there, no cracks/chips, fungus)

It would really help to look at a good working one to get a sense of how it feels in terms of movements.

removed account4 · Dec 18, 2016

WILL WORK FOR FILM said:
I have very recently been told that the D3V is impractical for home use and hard to get parts for as the cones are not interchangeable with the other D series comparators. it seems that you might disagree. please explain.

there are 2 versions of the d3v as well, one was a millitary contract version and some things were different than the original d3v to accomodate the aero film ( condensors, negative carriers, lamp housing &c ).
the cones for the d3v are different ( from what i learned when i had the wrong one ! ) than the dII and d2 ...
you can probably find parts on ebay, through the classifides ads here ( someone is always selling omega "stuff" ) and other places.
not sure why it is impractical for home use, i've had one since about 1988 .. its a great enlarger.

Bill Burk · Dec 18, 2016

The D-II is a condenser enlarger which comes with the condensers for 4x5. The 4x5 condensers aren't "great" for 35mm but if it's all you have it will work.

I had a glass cutter create a circular piece of opal glass that fit into the barrel to turn the enlarger into sort of a diffusion enlarger.

There are tons of accessories for it, some easier to find than others. The dedicated condensers are hard to find.

But you won't need the dedicated 35mm condenser lens assembly if you turn it into a diffusion enlarger or change over to a fluorescent-light/type "Omegalite" or Aristo Grid/Zone VI light source.

There's a lot more I could say about it but it remains my favorite enlarger...

Sirius Glass · Dec 18, 2016

Always buy an enlarger that will handle bigger formats than you currently use. Especially if you frequent APUG. SING: We will, we will get you!

MattKing · Dec 18, 2016

KHB is definitely your friend: http://www.khbphotografix.com/omega/Enlargers.htm
I should get a commission .

Sirius Glass · Dec 18, 2016

MattKing said:
KHB is definitely your friend: http://www.khbphotografix.com/omega/Enlargers.htm
I should get a commission .

+1

WILL WORK FOR FILM · Dec 18, 2016

So the D3V that I have the option to buy has the standard three racks. they are set for 50mm, 105mm and 150mm. would that work for 35mm negatives(50mm lens)?

removed account4 · Dec 18, 2016

yup the 50 for 35mm, like the "normal" for the format ...

you need the variable condenser
http://www.ohio.edu/people/schneidw/darkroom/images/enlarger_variable_cond.jpg
not sure how ez they are to find if you have to search for one.

WILL WORK FOR FILM · Dec 18, 2016

After some confusion and a bit of head scratching I believe I have figured out the way the D3 rack system is intended to work. The 3 available autofocus focal lengths are determined by the racks that have been installed with a fourth left as auxiliary for a focusing attachment if needed. The unit I am looking at has a 50mm rack meant for 35mm format. A 105mm rack meant for 6x9 med format. And a 150mm rack meant for 4x5 large format. The only limitation I see here is that if I intend to buy a Hasselblad I will have to get a different middle rack. Does this sound about right?

darkroommike · Dec 18, 2016

WILL WORK FOR FILM said:
I have very recently been told that the D3V is impractical for home use and hard to get parts for as the cones are not interchangeable with the other D series comparators. it seems that you might disagree. please explain.

In my opinion the D3/D4 is no harder to use or support than a D2/DII, most often the D3 you buy will already have focusing tracks and cones supplied with the machine, the lenses might be missing or have moved on when the original user "upgraded". Mine came with 3 tracks a "special" for 50mm lens, a 75mm track and Kodak 75mm and a 135mm track with an Optar. I bought a flat board and mounted a 50mm Nikkor, upgraded the 75mm lens, bought a 105mm track (that was hard to do at the price I wanted to pay, bought the right cone for the 105mm (Nikkor again), and upgraded the 13r to an Omegar I had laying about. And got the aux. bellows for $5.00 at a swap meet. And I replaced the original head with a DV I got on Ebay. None of it was hard or very expensive.

darkroommike · Dec 18, 2016

Bill Burk said:
The D-II is a condenser enlarger which comes with the condensers for 4x5. The 4x5 condensers aren't "great" for 35mm but if it's all you have it will work.

I had a glass cutter create a circular piece of opal glass that fit into the barrel to turn the enlarger into sort of a diffusion enlarger.

There are tons of accessories for it, some easier to find than others. The dedicated condensers are hard to find.

But you won't need the dedicated 35mm condenser lens assembly if you turn it into a diffusion enlarger or change over to a fluorescent-light/type "Omegalite" or Aristo Grid/Zone VI light source.

There's a lot more I could say about it but it remains my favorite enlarger...

If you have the 6 inch condensers you can add the DV box and aux. condenser. All you remove is a spacer in the old head. Finding a good original Omegalite is a good trick, the paint inside the head is very fragile and the real correct lamp is no longer made. An Aristo is the better choice.

darkroommike · Dec 18, 2016

jnanian said:
yup the 50 for 35mm, like the "normal" for the format ...

you need the variable condenser
http://www.ohio.edu/people/schneidw/darkroom/images/enlarger_variable_cond.jpg
not sure how ez they are to find if you have to search for one.

There are several on Ebay right now.

David Brown · Dec 18, 2016

Neal said:
Dear Will,

Find a D5 with a dichroic head and buy it.

Neal Wydra

All things being equal, I would second this. However, if you have found a D3 you think is priced right, who are we to say no.

Arklatexian · Dec 18, 2016

WILL WORK FOR FILM said:
There is a D11 for sale locally. Would you consider it a viable option compared to the D3V?

I have owned a D11 (some different to a D2), for many years and last year added the variable condenser set-up making it a D11V. I am pleased with the result. The D11V is not auto-focus like the D3V but having gotten used to the D11 over the years, I don't miss the Auto-focus feature. Just be sure that whatever you buy is in good condition. Omega Ds will last for a long time as long as they are taken care of.....There is good advice on where to look for manuals and such earlier in this post.....Again, I like my rig, I hope you are as pleased with whatever you buy.....Regards!

Omega D series enlarger questions.

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