Omega DII questions

I have an old-looking Omega D2 enlarger. Is there a way to lock it so that it won't slide up and down? With the springy things, it will stay where you leave it, but I keep moving it by accident when focusing. Is there a knob missing from my unit?

Does one need a different condenser to print smaller formats, or can the 4x5 condenser be used for 6x6 and 35mm?

Is it possible to get a color head for this enlarger, and are they expensive?

On my D2V, there is a knob on the right side near the column that allows locking.

Same on the D-II. There is a knob on the right side for clamping the carriage to the column.

Here are good references for both the DII and the D2:

http://www.khbphotografix.com/omega/Discontinued/DII.htm

http://www.khbphotografix.com/omega/Discontinued/D2.htm

The lock for the head is just below the focus knob - as seen in the photo of the D2

this is very weird... i was about to post something about this , i was offered one of these today with the full set for 100$

It seems mine is missing then. I have no little knob like the one pictured in the D2 picture. Instead there is a small knob that is screwed into the part that slides up and down the rails, right over the center of the right rail. It looks like if it went far enough in, it would hit the rails and lock, but it bottoms out before it hits the rails. I have no idea what it's for.

Sounds like you have the knob, but something isn't right. Maybe the threads are damaged, or maybe someone has put a washer in there that doesn't belong.

I just took a look at mine, and inside the channel on the right side there's a leaf spring above the locking knob for the carriage. The purpose of this spring would seem to be holding the carriage in alignment while the screw is loosened. If you unscrew the knob all the way, the spring will pop down and interfere with the knob. Could this be the problem? To re-install the knob after unscrewing it, push up on the end of the leaf spring from below so that the end of it sits above the screw.

Condenser:

Yours is the DII, not the DIIV, it appears. I suspect it is the older one with the thinner (steel?) rails, not the newer version with the larger aluminum rails and the crank? The DIIV had a V (that is, a variable condenser) which is in under the lamp. There were brackets where you would slide a smaller condenser in, which changed the condensers focus. Prior to that, they supplied a smaller condenser in the same sized can, which you had to change. The condenser is matched to the focal length of the lens. If you print 35mm with your 135mm lens (assuming that is what you have), you'll probably be able to make a 5x7 print, unless you turn the enlarger around and print on the floor (not much fun, unless you are making a 30x40, which you won't be able to do with your setup). If you change the lens to a shorter focal length you are supposed to use the smaller condenser or the variable. You could try it and see what you get, though.

One thing you could do is to put a circular piece of opal glass under the condensers in the "can". That would, in effect, change what you have to a diffusion enlarger and it probably wouldn't matter that the condenser is mismatched. It will slow your exposures. Otherwise, you may be able to find the other condenser, but it probably won't come when you whistle. I know I don't have one. I've been using a DIIIV since 1964.

Well I couldn't really see anything in there, but when I screwed the knob all the way in till the threads end, it still didn't lock the column. So I unscrewed the knob all the way, figured I had nothing to lose. I heard a loud CLANG sound which was probably that leaf spring falling down. I thought that was a bad thing based on the previous post but I looked up into the rails and there is now a bout a 10mm spacer between the screw and the rail. The screw now can hit against the spacer and clamp the enlarger to the rails, so it's fixed.

I suspect it is the older one with the thinner (steel?) rails, not the newer version with the larger aluminum rails and the crank?

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yep.

If you change the lens to a shorter focal length you are supposed to use the smaller condenser or the variable. You could try it and see what you get, though.

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Yeah that's more what I was going for. I know they made other condensers but was wondering what would happen if I tried using a shorter lens with the 4x5 condenser. I have 3 enlargers right now including a 6x6, a 23C with colorhead, and this DII. I'd really like to get rid of a couple. I don't even have a non-pinhole 4x5 camera nor do I shoot color or formats larger than 6x6, and I'm starting to wonder if I ever will do either. I could stick with the DII cause it would seem more flexible for format sizes, but not really if I can't get any other condensers. Or I could keep the 23C but I haven't warmed up to it; I don't have any negative carriers for it and it's kind of big.

More confusion: The model sequence is D-II (earlier version where carriage rides freely on smooth rails), D2 (geared rails and crank for raising and lowering the carriage), D2V (geared rails plus variable condenser).

There's no reason you can't use the 4X5 condenser with 35mm. It's just going to give a slightly longer(minimally) exposure time. You will need a different lens mount to use a shorter lens. for a 50/80mm it's a flat plate, not the cone.

You will need a different lens mount to use a shorter lens. for a 50/80mm it's a flat plate, not the cone.

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I think I have the flat plate now. I was able to focus with my 135mm lens ok, but maybe when I go to larger sizes I will run out of bellows.