Verbalab Parallel. How many pieces of glass?

[mesaboogie]

i ordered a Versalab off eBay, came with a Beseler adjustable board. Seller says it has a large peice of glass and 3 smaller ones. What's the 4 total for? I understood it only comes with 2 from various website descriptions. 4x5, and a piece for the lens/neg of up to medium format.

 

[paul ron]

http://www.versalab.com/PARALLEL.html

Maybe ask for the instructions by calling the phone number?

Oh be sure to check the alignment of your easel, not only the baseboard

 

[mesaboogie]

http://www.versalab.com/PARALLEL.html

Maybe ask for the instructions by calling the phone number?

Oh be sure to check the alignment of your easel, not only the baseboard

Ya that only mentions two. I will have to wait until it shows up and see. I just hope that's not one of them in 3 pieces lol.

 

[paul ron]

I made the alignment thing with mirrors. Found the instructions on the net a long time ago. It works great. The laser should be easier to use.

Curious to see what you think of it?

 

[Neal]

Dear mesaboogie,

You only need one piece of glass at a time. The small ones attach to the bottom of the lens (as it is installed on the enlarger) with rubber bands. The others sit on top of your negative carrier. It's pretty straightforward, you will have no trouble figuring it out.

Neal Wydra

 

[mesaboogie]

Dear mesaboogie,

You only need one piece of glass at a time. The small ones attach to the bottom of the lens (as it is installed on the enlarger) with rubber bands. The others sit on top of your negative carrier. It's pretty straightforward, you will have no trouble figuring it out.

Neal Wydra

Thanks. I guess what I read the website as saying there is 1 glass for 4x5 use, and 1 glass that is for up to medium format and double as the lens glass. Meaning 2, not four. Should arrive today so I will find out.

 

[mesaboogie]

I got it. Three pieces of glass the same size. They are for 135/120 carriers and the lens. Then a 4th for the 5x7" negs.

First impressions? 100x easier to use than a grain magnifier in the dark. I had gotten it extremely close but I think takes the cake. I should verify it later with the besalign negative I got with the BesAlign board I got too.

One thing I will say, the 23c III has slop. So even this getting it perfect is more of 1/16th inch +/- and finding center of the slop when doing movements on the handles. But with the head at 20", that dot off 1/16 is such a fine movement it's basically good.

I am happy with the purchase so far, even if I rarely need to use it.

 

[Neil Poulsen]

I bought one used, and I'm really happy with it. Very easy. One really only needs two pieces of glass, one for lens and large one that will span a 5" length for both 4x5 and 5x7. I think it's important that the glass be physically and optically flat, and not just a piece of window glass.

For some that are particularly fussy, Versalab will be a beginning, and they will optimize from there by adjusting for sharpness in corners. (Somehow?) But, I'm not that fussy. As long the Versalab indicates that my enlarger is aligned, then I'm satisfied.

 

[paul ron]

if you're printing one size most of the time, adjust for the height you'll use. if you switch head height, the realign.

i do 11x14s all the time n rarely 16x20s. so my head height stays the same n is aligned for that height +/- an inch.

glag it worked out for you.