What is special about enlarger bulbs?

Jon King · Mar 19, 2009

http://www.centennialbulb.org/cam.htm

I like that fact that their first web camera only lasted 3 years! As Nicholas said - underpowered by the fact you can see the filament in everyone's digipics

Stan160 · Mar 20, 2009

Ian Grant said:
Specialist bulbs will still be permitted but as types change & volumes decrease then some bulbs will rocket up in price.

Ian

Already started. Philips discontinued production of their 75W and 150W E27 enlarger lamps a year or two back (a commercial decision, not as a result of legislation). A smaller manufacturer started production of equivalent lamps, but the retail cost is around 3x greater.

Not that I need to worry for a while. After hearing about the discontinuation I rounded up 17 lamps, including three from a shop that was running down its stock prior to closure, for the original labelled price of £1.50 each!

Ian

fschifano · Mar 22, 2009

Enlarging lamps? Get 'em here by the boatload if you want: http://www.topbulb.com/search/results.asp?p=1&keyword=enlarger&strOption=AND&sortby=watts&sortdir=

Wade D · Mar 23, 2009

I used opal bulbs that are made for vanity mirrors (3 inch globe) for many years with good results. Now I use a compact fluorescent bulb and have not had any problems with it as well. This is for my 6x6 enlarger. I'm in the process of putting together an LED light source for an old Elwood 5x7 enlarger that I have.
I got the idea from a post here at APUG. Seems promising.

BetterSense · Mar 23, 2009

I would have anticipated problems with using CFLs. Many of them do not start instantly, and also they have a warm-up time. Not to mention, the color spectrum is only an approximation of that given off by incandescents. What kind of CFL are you using, and do you use multigrade printing filters?

Toffle · Mar 23, 2009

BetterSense said:
I would have anticipated problems with using CFLs. Many of them do not start instantly, and also they have a warm-up time. Not to mention, the color spectrum is only an approximation of that given off by incandescents. What kind of CFL are you using, and do you use multigrade printing filters?

I've been wondering the same thing... especially the start up/warm up time. I can't imagine that you would have the same control over the printing process with these bulbs.

Jon King · Mar 23, 2009

BetterSense said:
I would have anticipated problems with using CFLs. Many of them do not start instantly, and also they have a warm-up time. Not to mention, the color spectrum is only an approximation of that given off by incandescents. What kind of CFL are you using, and do you use multigrade printing filters?

(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

That thread has some information. I did testing on a few other bulbs after I posted those plots. The effective color temperature does change the contrast of the "no filter" exposure. For me, a CFL would work well for split grade printing, but the intermediate filters would probably give results more contrasty than their grade would suggest.

I believe Ole uses/has used a CFL but has a shutter in the enlarger to control the exposure, and keeps the light on continuously to get around the warm up problem.

fschifano · Mar 23, 2009

I tried a CFL (daylight balanced) in an Omega B600 and in an old Bogen enlarger. It failed the suitability test immediately. Light output was very uneven with these two machines.The situation did not improve after than lamp had reached operating temperature. The image of the spirals was clearly visible on the baseboard. Color temperature be damned. If you can't get an even spread on the baseboard, it's already useless.

Wade D · Mar 24, 2009

The CFL I have is a couple of decades old since I last used it. It did require a warm up time and I just kept the red filter in place till the actual exposure. It worked well with Polycontrast filters. I just set up the darkroom again after 23 years so I'll have to see if it still works. The newer ones are instant on and smaller so I will have to test them. Maybe an LED light source like I',m planning for the 5x7 enlarger would work well in the 6x6cm also.

What is special about enlarger bulbs?

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