Omega D series enlarger questions.

WILL WORK FOR FILM · Dec 18, 2016

So the "V" stands for variable condenser?

Bill Burk · Dec 18, 2016

WILL WORK FOR FILM said:
So the "V" stands for variable condenser?

Yes.

By the way you could use a 105mm lens with Hasselblad negatives...

WILL WORK FOR FILM · 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 I am understanding, a D11 without a variable condenser can be used effectively by changing the light source. Otherwise it would be impractical for 35mm format.

Bill Burk · Dec 18, 2016

It'll "work" but it's not optimum for 35mm.

I used it as-is for years. Then I got the proper condenser set. But I hardly ever used it.

I never got the variable condenser head.

But I moved towards fluorescent lights and never went back to using the condensers.

darkroommike · Dec 18, 2016

jnanian said:
...
the cones for the d3v are different... 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.

Yeah the D3 cones, and the ones for the E series 5x7 and F series 8x10 all push straight in, whilst the ones for the D2 push UP and turn 90 degrees. I'm also a big fan of the D3 and have mine pretty well tricked out.

Sirius Glass · Dec 18, 2016

WILL WORK FOR FILM said:
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?

I use an 80mm lens for the Hasselblad enlargements.

MattKing · Dec 18, 2016

In case it isn't clear, the auto-focus tracks are matched to a particular lens focal length, not a film format.
The 105mm lens and matched auto-focus will work fine for 6x6 negatives, but you will be limited with respect to maximum print size.
My concern with a D3 is that it doesn't offer an easily accessible manual focus option for lenses that don't have an accompanying auto-focus track.

removed account4 · Dec 18, 2016

darkroommike said:
Yeah the D3 cones, and the ones for the E series 5x7 and F series 8x10 all push straight in, whilst the ones for the D2 push UP and turn 90 degrees. I'm also a big fan of the D3 and have mine pretty well tricked out.

yeah
there was one accessory, like some sort of variable filter attachment that you could dial in the filtration for VC paper
i saw and didn't have the scratch to buy, and never saw again. it wasn't the color head but some sort of weird
inbetweenie sort of crazy thing they made to make people's lives easier. i still remember the beaded metal string/chain
you would pull up/down to adjust the filter from nearly clear yellow to dark red ....

tricked out is good !

Classic daughter · Feb 18, 2017

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 wish I had the knowledge that my dad had! I live in Amsterdam and cannot run Classic Enlargers. We are looking for a party who would be interested in taking over the business. Harry was an amazing source of information, and was passionate about Omega.

My sisters and I are deeply touched by everyone's respect for Harry on this forum. Thank you.

darkroommike · Feb 19, 2017

MattKing said:
In case it isn't clear, the auto-focus tracks are matched to a particular lens focal length, not a film format.
The 105mm lens and matched auto-focus will work fine for 6x6 negatives, but you will be limited with respect to maximum print size.
My concern with a D3 is that it doesn't offer an easily accessible manual focus option for lenses that don't have an accompanying auto-focus track.

The auxiliary bellows does that trick, Matt. http://store.khbphotografix.com/Aux...a-D3-D-4-B-E-and-F-series-Enlargers-Used.html

removed account4 · Feb 19, 2017

darkroommike said:
The auxiliary bellows does that trick, Matt. http://store.khbphotografix.com/Aux...a-D3-D-4-B-E-and-F-series-Enlargers-Used.html

they do do the trick !
and if you have a d3V and a aux bellows AND A RAIL
they will also do the trick/

===

i don't have time to search this thread for whoever suggested
the auto focus system ( rail+cone) wouldn't work sith the aux cone/bellows
instead of a cone, but they are wrong... i have toth an AUX CONE /BELLOWS
for a d3v (mill contract ) AND it works perfectly fine ( i've had the aux bellows cone for more than 2o years ).

Omega D series enlarger questions.

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