Omegalite D2

[Melvin J Bramley]

Can an Omegalite D2 be used with Ilford VC filters?

 

[Paul Howell]

The Omegalite I have is circular florescent, you need a yellow correction filter, then with VC papers, at which time you can use VC filters to some extent. What I don't recall is the difference between the older Kodak Polycontrast filters and the newer ILford filters in terms of the contrast. I have an Omegalite, I printed on graded papers, as grade 2 and 4 have become hard to find and my electric shutter has stopped working I just use my standard condenser head. I dont recall what yellow filter, maybe a 30?

 

[Paul Howell]

Do you recall the CC factor for the yellow. I also put the yellow inside the lens cone over the lens, then added a VC filter on top.

 

[eli griggs]

My 5" x 7" Omega E came with the Omegalite and a large yellow filter lain over the lens inside the light head

I'll see if the yellow filter, in mine, has an intact and complete nomenclature for filter type and intensity, that I can share with you.

Cheers

 

[MattKing]

In case you haven't seen it, here is KHB's take on the Omegalite: http://www.khbphotografix.com/omega/Specialty/Omegalite.htm
With a flourescent source, the behavior with variable contrast papers is going to be, at the very least, different.

 

[Paul Howell]

BTW, do have the electric shutter? The Omegalite is somewhat difficult to use without one, the florescent tube had a delay when turned off, and it a moment or two to come up to temperature, with longer exposure not as notable as when printing with short times. I found it worked well with 4X5, doable with 6X9 but 6X6 and 35mm, most of the light is blocked and times become very long. I have the shutter, on list to do is to get it working.

 

[MarkS]

Variable-contrast papers, and their filters, are all designed for tungsten (3200K) light. As provided by condenser-head enlargers with incandescent bulbs, or dichroic color heads.
I use a stabilized cold-light head, which provides a blue light meant for graded papers. Not ideal- but I've successfully printed on modern VC papers for many years. Certainly contrast grade spacing is not consistent, and high-contrast negatives can be difficult, but I've almost always been able to make a good print. In the past I used a CP40Y filter above the negative, but eventually decided that it wasn't necessary.
The yellow-green light from the fluorescent Omegalite will certainly cause contrast-grade issues with VC papers. Problems like slow lamp start-up/shutdown, and brightness increasing with temperature, might be larger problems. But testing will give you your answers- just be ready to use a lot off paper finding out.