Omega E3--worth a kludge to fix up?

MattCarey · Oct 26, 2005

Hello,

I recently obtained 2 enlargers--Omega D-II and Omega E3. They came out of a garage, where they had been stored for 15 years. The lenses, lens-cones, etc. were stored in separate boxes which have yet to be found.

The D-II is destined for my brother (don't ask how or why we will move this old beast from San Jose to Phoenix!). The E3, with a cold-head, is staying in my garage--I mean, "Darkroom".

The problem arises in the lack of lens-cones for the E3. I have contacted Harry at Classic Enlargers (who got back to me really fast--what a good guy!). He let me know that the lens cones are not a common item. Reading the posts on his site, it sounds like without the cone, the enlarger is pretty much useless.

So, is it worth trying to kludge together a lens-cone for this beast? I have visions of coffee cans, hobby plywood and lots of glue.

The San Jose Photo Fair is coming up in about 10 days. I can cruise the tables there, but I don't hold out a lot of hope.

To put things in perspective--
I shoot mostly 35mm. Some 6x9, and a bit more 4x5. I recently obtained an 8x10 that has a 5x7 back. I had planned on contact printing the 5x7. Mostly, I was looking for something to enlarge the 4x5 negatives.

Thanks,

Matt

Paul Howell · Oct 26, 2005

I would give a try, I would even see what it would cost for a sheet metal shop to make cone or 2. May be a lot cheaper than buying another 5X7 enlarger.

Paul

jimgalli · Oct 26, 2005

Matt, as you know I'm always fiddling with shutters and the like. What I have is a bunch of square cone shaped black plastic things that were from crt cameras. They went from the cameras lens (small end) to a square crt display (large end) on an oscilloscope. Different shapes and lengths and tapers depending on the original intent. Just wondering if one of those or several would be a good place to start. I've got a pile of them and they're easy to cut up. Fairly soft black plastic.

Dave Wooten · Oct 26, 2005

How different is it from the E 5? Might be able to give some measurements for the cone....

MattCarey · Oct 26, 2005

jimgalli said:
Matt, as you know I'm always fiddling with shutters and the like. What I have is a bunch of square cone shaped black plastic things that were from crt cameras. They went from the cameras lens (small end) to a square crt display (large end) on an oscilloscope. Different shapes and lengths and tapers depending on the original intent. Just wondering if one of those or several would be a good place to start. I've got a pile of them and they're easy to cut up. Fairly soft black plastic.

I want to be Jim Galli when I grow up. All sorts of toys and tons smarter than I am...

We are ditching a scope camera in my lab right now. I set it aside, but didn't think of it. It was made for a graflok type back and has 4 screw-holes which will make it easy to mount on a board.

According to Harry--
"Cones ranged from 2 5/16" for the 135mm lens to 6 3/8"
for the 191mm lens. "

The 'scope camera (really a RHEED viewscreen--it doesn't look like it is designed for film) is 4.4". Should be in the right ballpark for a 150mm lens? I might be able to squeeze 4x5 out of it!

It will still take a little effort and skill (this from someone who uses a hand-drill as a mill to make lensboards...) but it is worth a try.

Matt

MattCarey · Oct 26, 2005

Dave Wooten said:
How different is it from the E 5? Might be able to give some measurements for the cone....

I'll try to figure out how they differ. I gather they were significantly different--Harry mentioned that the E3 is supposed to be the same as the E4, but with strait flourescent tubes (E3) rather than a circle (E4), but he didn't mention any relationship to the E5.

Let me see if I can find out how they differ.

Thanks,

Matt

removed account4 · Oct 26, 2005

hi matt

does harry have an aux/variable focusing bellows ?
i have one for my e4 and it makes life easy without a cone.

i almost bought an e3 ( before i found the e4 i settled on ) ... they are an odd bird. the cold light head is straight tubes ( not round like other omegalites) and it is always "ON" ... and there is a shutter on the lens area. does yours have the shutter, or would you have to devise a shutter mechanism for it too ?

you could easily find an aristo lamp and use it instead of the omegalite, and by using something like that you wouldn't have to deal with 1- the shutter mechanism, and 2- the need for constant split filtering because the omegalite is best for graded, not vc papers ...

good luck!

john

ps. stephen cooper at photographic systems ( http://www.pgsys.com ) might have a cone, he has weird stuff like that from time to time ...

Charles Webb · Oct 26, 2005

I am assuming your E3 is the Cold Light version, if so it also requires a shutter mechanism beneath the lens necessary for exposing each print the same amount. This little item often get lost from the E3 in storage. I use an auxiliary bellows unit on mine, even though I still have the cones. I have not done so, but believe a standard D 2 cones can be modified to work. I have also made E3 cones from coffee cans and sheet metal that work very well. I believe Jim G's plastic devices could be made to work. The tubes in my E3 are very old. and give off a greenish light, I was unable to find an exact replacement for them, but have used Coleman lantern florescent
tubes (two to a package) from the sporting goods dept. in WalleyMart with little problem. If you don't find the lenses that match the autofucus cams in the E3 the auxiliary bellows are a direction you may choose to go. The Aux,
Focusing device I am using is/was made by Omega called an Auxiliary Focusing Attachment Cat. No. 7435. For enlarging 4x5 negatives I would choose the D2 rather than the E3. Charlie......

jimgalli · Oct 26, 2005

Sounds like you're off and running. If you want the longer 5X7 lens my offer stands and I can pack it neatly in some longer crt "cones" for you. Also, if your crt camera was one of the ones with an electonic shutter, perhaps you could scavenge those parts also and adapt them keeping the old control circuit intact.

MattCarey · Oct 26, 2005

Charlie, John,

are you talking about this toy?
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/800426856-USE/Omega_Auxiliary_Focusing_Attachment_for.html

As to the shutter, this was somthing that was below the lens? I just dumped what would have probably been a possible fix. I was saving the actuator from an old hard drive as a possible "packard" like shutter toy. They can move in about 1/100s (if there isn't too much weight on them). Maybe I could put something like that together for it. There would be some light leakage out the sides, but it should be a good first pass.

Matt

removed account4 · Oct 26, 2005

MattCarey said:
Charlie, John,

are you talking about this toy?
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/800426856-USE/Omega_Auxiliary_Focusing_Attachment_for.html

As to the shutter, this was somthing that was below the lens? I just dumped what would have probably been a possible fix. I was saving the actuator from an old hard drive as a possible "packard" like shutter toy. They can move in about 1/100s (if there isn't too much weight on them). Maybe I could put something like that together for it. There would be some light leakage out the sides, but it should be a good first pass.

Matt

hey matt - -

it is like that, but has the right flange ( end that mates with the enlarger ) to fit with your e3 ... i am sure if you get that one, you can find a way to "mate it" ... they are intended for making "jewel prints", but i don't bother with cones ( on a d3v + e4 ) so i use one of those.

not sure if the packard would work. as long as you can figure out a way to open it while you want to expose your paper, that is the trick + i suppose if you could rig a "bulb" setting you could be in business

have fun!

-john

MattCarey · Oct 27, 2005

jimgalli said:
Sounds like you're off and running. If you want the longer 5X7 lens my offer stands and I can pack it neatly in some longer crt "cones" for you. Also, if your crt camera was one of the ones with an electonic shutter, perhaps you could scavenge those parts also and adapt them keeping the old control circuit intact.

Jim, looks like I have a couple of pathways. So, I'd be happy to take you up on your generous offer!

Matt

MattCarey · Oct 27, 2005

Charles Webb said:
For enlarging 4x5 negatives I would choose the D2 rather than the E3. Charlie......

I am beginning to see why the E3 is a bit of an orphan. Classic Enlargers doesn't work with them.

1) the cold light doesn't come on quickly, requiring a shutter
2) they are designed for 5x7--an obsolete (nearly) format
3) because of (2), the parts are scarce

Ah well...the DII is destined for my brother. This sounds like a good challenge.

Luckily, I have a Beseler 23C for 35mm and 6x9!

Matt

Charles Webb · Oct 27, 2005

The bellows attachment I have has a 2 1/2 inch cone that connects to the enlarger, the bellows is attached to the cone by a flat mount where the lens would normally be attached to the cone. The lens board is mounted beneath the bellows. Focusing is done with a standard type knob on a friction slotted 1/2 inch rod that connects from the flat mount device below the cone down to the lens board. The bellows device shown in the B&H ad
looks very similar but does not have the cone on the top to attach to the E3
lens mount. I realize what I have written here is as clear as mud, but I did try! Charlie..........

MattCarey · Oct 27, 2005

Charlie--

luckily, I have been looking at this stuff enough that it made perfect sense.

We have the San Jose photo fair coming up in 10 days or so. Time to sift through the tables of fun. Who knows, somebody may be dying to get rid of some old E3 stuff.

Matt

Charles Webb · Oct 27, 2005

Matt,
I have found E3 parts and pieces in the strangest places. A very nice fellow in California had a replacement electric shutter and a couple of cones. He was under the impression that what he had was very valuable and rare his asking prices were completely un reasonable. I asked him to check around the camera shops, dealers etc. to see what his treasures were worth. He did so and sold them to me for his price 0f $70.00. I still feel he was high, but I wanted the stuff so I bought it. Have since purchased several other LG format items at very reasonable prices. E3 parts are much like gold,
it takes some prospecting to find it! Good luck! Charlie.....

MattCarey · Oct 29, 2005

Here's an update--

the original owner of the enlargers came up with some parts--most notable, lens cones for both the D-II and the E3. Looks like I don't have to "steal" the D-II from my brother nor make a lenscone myself. I think the only real problem left is the shutter--but I can probably make due with lenscaps and long exposures.

Matt

Donald Miller · Oct 29, 2005

If you can't find the shutter for the E3, you could possibly use a Packard shutter with a electrical solonoid actuator. I was considering going this route on a Durst for use with a HID lamp at one time. Possible sources for solonoid actuators are W W Grainger, and Johnstone Supply. The pneumatic actuator could be removed from a Packard and the electrical actuator used instead.

Omega E3--worth a kludge to fix up?

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