Want to Buy Versalab enlarger alignment tool

[Per Bjesse]

I am looking for a versalab enlarger alignment tool. If you got one you are not using, give me a shout!

 

[Zathras]

Hi, I just checked the B&H website and they have them in stock. Not cheap, but
it is available at the moment.

versalab parallel alignment gauge | B&H Photo Video

Shop B&H's in stock, large inventory for fast shipping, great service and everyday low prices on versalab parallel alignment gauge. For more info, please call 800-947-4415

www.bhphotovideo.com

 

[Per Bjesse]

Hi, I just checked the B&H website and they have them in stock. Not cheap, but
it is available at the moment.

versalab parallel alignment gauge | B&H Photo Video

Shop B&H's in stock, large inventory for fast shipping, great service and everyday low prices on versalab parallel alignment gauge. For more info, please call 800-947-4415

www.bhphotovideo.com

Thanks, yes I am aware. I'd like to pay less than that, and also I don't like buying new when there are so much stuff out there floating around. I know that I myself have so much photo stuff just piling up I could pass on for a reasonable buck to folks that would use it that I'd rather not contribute further to the mess

 

[logan2z]

You can save about $40 buying it at Freestyle.

Versalab Parallel Enlarger Alignment Gauge

Versalab Parallel Enlarger Alignment Gauge - The Versalab Parallel Enlarger Alignment Gauge is fast and easy. Imagine, right in the middle of a printing session in the darkroom you become suspicious that your enlarger is not aligned. Just set the PARALLEL…

www.freestylephoto.biz

 

[Per Bjesse]

You can save about $40 buying it at Freestyle.

Versalab Parallel Enlarger Alignment Gauge

Versalab Parallel Enlarger Alignment Gauge - The Versalab Parallel Enlarger Alignment Gauge is fast and easy. Imagine, right in the middle of a printing session in the darkroom you become suspicious that your enlarger is not aligned. Just set the PARALLEL…

www.freestylephoto.biz

Oh, thanks! That would be good last resort if noone has one just kicking around.

 

[btaylor]

Oh, thanks! That would be good last resort if noone has one just kicking around.

I was in a similar situation - really wanted the tool but not at the new price. Took awhile, but they do come up occasionally and are snapped up quickly. I got mine for about 1/2 retail. Great tool, accurate, easy to use. Be ready!

 

[ic-racer]

You can make your own for a few dollars too.

Omega Enlarger Alignment Tool

Following up on Greg Davis’s great video on aligning the Omega D2, I thought I’d post a photo of the Omega Enlarger Alignment Tool, so folks can recognize it. Laser alignment tools are also popular for this purpose or reference negatives. This tool can be used with any enlarger or copy...

www.photrio.com

 

[mshchem]

I've always wondered why one needs such a device. It's really a great tool but there's several older devices that Saunders made, Beseler etc.

Prices of goodies like this have gone through the roof. Must be nice tool!

 

[Don_ih]

Can't you just draw a square on a transparency, put it in the negative holder, turn on the enlarger, then measure the sides and diagonals of the projection? If it projects a perfect square with a perfect square in the holder, then it's aligned. Or is there something else to it?

 

[MattKing]

Can't you just draw a square on a transparency, put it in the negative holder, turn on the enlarger, then measure the sides and diagonals of the projection? If it projects a perfect square with a perfect square in the holder, then it's aligned. Or is there something else to it?

That won't check the alignment of the lens to the negative holder.

 

[Don_ih]

That won't check the alignment of the lens to the negative holder.

If the square measures true, check the grain at the edges of a projected negative with a magnifying glass. If that's good, it's hard to imagine anything else matters.

 

[ic-racer]

Can't you just draw a square on a transparency, put it in the negative holder, turn on the enlarger, then measure the sides and diagonals of the projection? If it projects a perfect square with a perfect square in the holder, then it's aligned. Or is there something else to it?

It can be tricky because what you use to draw the square has some width that will be magnified, making sub-millimeter measure difficult on the baseboard. Also, for the focus test at the corners, I found a scribed line in film base had too much depth to know the true focal point.

But, yes if the projection is geometric correct AND all 4 corners are in focus, all is good. You need both because you can have a skewed projection that is sharp (like when doing converging vertical correction) and you can have a parallel negative and baseboard (geometric correct projection) with a tilted lens making one corner out of focus.

 

[Don_ih]

Well, my point was that, unless you're aligning a school's lab full of enlargers that get heavy use or have a business aligning enlargers, it's hard to justify buying a machine to do what a single transparency can do. You can use an inket printer to print the square with lines extending to the corners - using the thinnest line that is still visible to print.

 

[ic-racer]

Well, my point was that, unless you're aligning a school's lab full of enlargers that get heavy use or have a business aligning enlargers, it's hard to justify buying a machine to do what a single transparency can do. You can use an inket printer to print the square with lines extending to the corners - using the thinnest line that is still visible to print.

Agree, of course the focus loupe is as much as the laser alignment device. Futile without the gla$$ carrier too.
As posted above, in absence of these essential items, one can make the laser alignment device for a few dollars (post #7).

 

[Per Bjesse]

What I ended up doing is following the path of https://kruegerphoto.com/blog/tag/zig-align/

This basically combines a 3d printed base with an adjustable laser sight for an airsoft gun ($20). I just received the base from a friend with a printer, so it will be interesting to see how well it works. It probably won't be a versalab but it also is going to be a tenth of the price. At the very least it will be interesting.

 

[Light Capture]

You can make your own for a few dollars too.

Omega Enlarger Alignment Tool

Following up on Greg Davis’s great video on aligning the Omega D2, I thought I’d post a photo of the Omega Enlarger Alignment Tool, so folks can recognize it. Laser alignment tools are also popular for this purpose or reference negatives. This tool can be used with any enlarger or copy...

www.photrio.com

Definitely lots of useful information in that thread. Probably all mentioned methods will work well.
Checking grain in all for corners is easy quick confirmation of adjustment.

I'm using machinist level to level the baseboard and than the rest. Or to take a note of exact level value and adjust the rest to be the same.
Using the same method for copy work and negative scanning. Makes a huge difference and is more than precise enough.
Good precise level used on longer flat base will be perfect for this (most machinist levels are on the short side).

 

[Per Bjesse]

So I went with a 3d printed base and a adjustable soft airgun laser sight. Total cost: free base printed by a friend, $20 for the laser sight. Adjusting the tool took a little bit of fiddling but it was not too bad. Overall a much cheaper route than a versalab or zig align commercial solution. I would recommend.