Question for Kaiser enlarger owner

[Seablister]

I'm a first time poster and have a question for an owner of a Kaiser system V enlarger. I have one coming and need some info. Please contact me off-line. Thanks

 

[crispinuk]

There's no need to be shy (unless the info you require is immoral or illegal )

FAQs here: http://www.kaiser-fototechnik.de/en/service04.htm
Instruction manual downloads here: http://www.kaiser-fototechnik.de/en/service07.htm

If you're in or near the UK I had very good service from http://www.thedarkroom.co.uk/ for spares and accessories.

 

[Esdanitoff]

Go ahead with your question, I own an multigrade autofocus

Greetings

Michel

 

[Seablister]

Kaiser question

crispinuk...thanks for the warm welcome


Esdanitoff...thanks for offering to help

I'm wondering if a 105mm lens is too long for that enlarger...for a 6x7 neg, that is.

Specifically, if I had a 105 installed and I ran the head up the post, which would I run into first...the top end of the post or the base of the post with the projected image?

Thanks

 

[Petzi]

It depends on the size of the baseboard, and the length of the post, there is a variety of these. They are interchangeable.

 

[crispinuk]

I've just tried it with my 105mm lens. Without the head extension arm (moves the head 80mm further forward from the pillar) the back edge of the projected image hits the pillar at about 1 metre height (about 400mm front to back projected image). With the extension the head will just make it to the top of the (1.5m) pillar before the back edge of the projected image hits the pillar. This gives a projected size of about 560mm front to back.
This is with a VCP9005 colour head, not sure if it would be any different for the other heads.

I hope this helps and I hope you enjoy your new enlarger.

Crispin

 

[Seablister]

crispinuk

Exactly what I wanted to know. Thanks. And it's obvious that you put some effort into getting an answer. I especially appreciate that. A double thanks.

I'm curious. Do you find the set up with the extension to be stable or a bit shakey?

Jim

 

[crispinuk]

Jim,
I would say that it doesn't affect stability to any noticeable degree with the head arm extension. The caveat here is that I've got the larger of the two baseboard sizes so it may be different with the smaller one.
If you're going to be using the head toward the top of the pillar I can recommend highly the focussing knob extension, unless you've got very long arms or eagle like vision .

Crispin

 

[Seablister]

Crispinuk

1) I didn't see the focusing knob extension in the Kaiser accessory list. Is that a third party part or available from Kaiser?

2) I assume that you have the longest post. Works OK?

3) With the Kaiser, what lenses do you regularly use and what size prints are the norm? And is the enlarger big enough for what you do or at it's limit?

The reason for the last question is that most seem to recommend 4x5 enlargers, even with med format negs. But they seem like overkill to me (at least at least when compared with high quality MF like Durst or Kaiser), unless there is something I'm missing.

Jim

 

[crispinuk]

Hmm, that's interesting as I can't find mention of the focussing extension anywhere either. It certainly looks like it's a Kaiser part, but doesn't have any identifying marks. It's basically a flexible 'rod' with a knob on the end that fixes on in place of the centre fine drive focussing knob (my head, being a 6x9, is fitted with the 6:1 ratio fine focussing knob). Hopefully someone else reading this can elaborate on this ?

I do indeed have the longest post. It works well for me, although my only previous enlarger experience was a couple of months using a Minox enlarger so I don't really have much normal size enlarger experience with which to compare it. I'm guessing that with the head up the top one would have to be very careful about head alignment to keep it parallel to the base board as misalignment is going to be more noticeable at the edges of very large prints.

I've got a 6x9 camera so I was looking for something bigger than a 6x7, which seem to be more common. I thought a 4x5 would take up far too much space. The one I have came up on a well known auction website and I managed to bag it and a 105mm APO-Rodagon lens for a very reasonable sum. It's probably a little bit bigger than I really need; I currently only print at 10x8, although it gives me some room to grow into when I want to make bigger prints. It turns out it probably takes up about as much space as a 4x5 but is very easy to dis-assemble and is light enough to move easily whereas a 4x5 like a Devere is more of a permanent installation. I'm not really qualified to talk about the merits of a 6x9 against a 4x5 but those discussions have come up before on APUG so you should be able to find something if you search the archives a bit.
One argument is that if you're using 6x9 it's easy to be seduced by the dark slide and you end up going to 4x5 before long anyway .

Crispin

 

[Seablister]

I have seen the fine focusing wands available for the Saunders/Omega LPL 4x5's, but that doesn't mean they will fit. Perhaps Durst have one that will fit. Kaiser seems to be "inspired" by Durst design. How does yours attach?

I have access to some pretty clever people in a metal fabrication shop who could probably help me out. But a description would help as a place to start.

Also, I take it the the Kaiser works for your needs and you have not felt the need to swap it for a 4x5.

Except for 6x9 negs, you might have preferred an 80mm lens instead.

 

[crispinuk]

I attached a couple of quick shots of the focus extension, sorry about the quality. There's a spindle coming out of the enlarger focussing knob that I assume the smaller fine focussing knob would have fitted on (the fine focussing knob is standard on the 6x9 and available as an add-on for the smaller enlargers. It simply slips over the spindle and is held by a tiny grub screw. I don't have the little hex key to hand otherise I'd measure the diameter of the spindle but I guess at this stage it's not relevant. So I guess it wouldn't be difficult to fabricate something similar. Maybe start another thread to see if you can get advice on whether another extension would fit. or where to get one from ?

I've had no urges to go to 4x5 yet, I tend to think I'd probably go to 10x8 and contact print anyway as I'm starting to generate interest in alternative processes. I'm more than happy with the 6x9 Kaiser.
Yes, if it wasn't for the 6x9 I'd probably have a smaller 6x7 enlarger and an 80mm lens.
Hope that helps,

Crispin

 

[Seablister]

Yes, this helps. Thanks for the effort. Much appreciated.

I see that 165 have looked in on our conversation. I never would have guessed there were more than a handful of Kaiser people out there.

Anyway, nice to meet you.

Jim

 

[Petzi]

I see that 165 have looked in on our conversation. I never would have guessed there were more than a handful of Kaiser people out there.

Kaiser make a well engineered and versatile enlarger, and with a few others leaving the market (e.g. Durst), the importance of their product is increasing.

 

[RogerFowler]

I too am on the lookout for the focus extension arm.
I had an email from Andreas Haerlin at Kaiser-Fototechnik - they stopped making these about 5 years ago.

So I'm scouring eBay !

 

[Jeff Bannow]

Don't know if it will fit, but KHB on eBay sells a focus extender for a Omega D2. It might be modified to fit your enlarger.

 

[edwardrt]

I would like some advice, I am having real difficulty in getting the rise and fall action of the head on the column adjusted properly, the head will go down easily using the handle but I can only get the head to go up by winding the handle and pushing the head up. My printed manual says that the top screws should be always tight and you adjust the movement by slackening or tightening the lower screws. An online version of the manual says that all four screws should be adjusted until it works easily.